The record-union., 1896-12-18
HERMANN, THE MAGICIAN.
DIES SUDDENLY OF HEART FAIL
URE IN HIS PRIVATE CAR.
Was One of the Best.KnoWn Men in
the Profession Throughout
the World.

fIOCH ESTER IN. ), Dec. 1I.-frO-
fessor Alexander Hermann, the magi-
clan, who appeared at the Lyceum The
ater last night, concluding an engage
ment of three performances, died this
morning of heart disease in his private
car while on the Buffalo, Rochester and
Pfttsburg road on his way to Bradford,
Pa, where he was to open an engage
ment this evening.
Professor Hermann was as well as
usual when he left this city this morn
ing at 7:3O He had passed the night
in his private car, and was in bed when
word was sent from it to the station
master at Great Valley that he was ILL.,
and that physician was desired. Be
fore physician could get to the car
Hermann was dead. The car was
taken on to Salamanca with the body
When he took leave of Manager
Pierce of the Lyceum after the per-
formance last night Hermann was in
apparently perfect health. He was en-
tertained at the Genesee Valley Club
later. and seemed to be all right when
accompanied to his private car by sew
eral of his Rochester friends
One of the last acts Of Mr.. Hermann
ed theatrical company in this city.
The American Cousin Company broke
up at the Academy here last week. and
yesterday Hermann was made aware
of the fact. and Immediately telephoned
the hotel where the company were stop
ping to send him the bill of $50, and to
tell all the members to come to his
show last night and he would have
their railroad tickets to New York all
ready for them.
Alexander f. Hermann was a Ger
man. His father was celebrated
physician in his way, and had a very
large practice in Paris. where he set
tied soon after his marriage Hermann
was born in Paris about fifty years ago
lis father was one of the best magi-
clans in Europe, but made no use of his
powers in public. Herrmann's eldest
brother adopted magic as profession
when boy, and wanted Alexander to
act as his assistant. His father object
ed, and Alexander was kidnapped by his
brother and taken to st. Petersburg
when he was II years of age Within
three years he was farmore clever than
his brother. and at the age of IA he
ceased to act with him, went alone to
Spain and made his debut before the
Queen.
From this time Hermann was the
recognized master of hand magic. He
made his first appearance in America
at the Academy of Music, New York
about twenty-five years ago, and since
then he took out his papers of citizen
ship and fixed his permanent residence
in this country. He made three tours of
the world and possessed medals and
tokens from the rulers of almost every
nation. He spoke Spanish, German,
French, Chinese and Russian as we'll as
he did English. He wrote a great deal
for newspapers and magazines. built
two theaters. was interested in many
theatrical ventures, and has lost a
great deal of money in Wall street. He
always travelled in his own parlor car.
and carried from four to five horses in
a car built for their accommodation
He owned one of the largest steam
yachts in the New York Yacht Club
and a park and villa on Long Island
and belonged to over 100 clubs in Eu-
rope and America. He leased McCalrs
Opera house in Philadelphia in the fall
of 1888, and changed it's name to Herr
mann's Theater. After holding the
playhouse for year he disposed Of it
to other persons. He took the old San
Francisco Minstrel Hall in New York,
fitted 1t up at great expense and also
renamed the place Herrmann's Thea
ter. The building was badly damaged
in January. 1891, by fire, which de-
stroyed the Fifth-avenue Theater.