The Red Cloud chief., 1896-10-23
DEATH OF HENRY E. ABBEY
\ N"jcd theatrical Manager IL ~ Nor,
Passes tuaN SuIdCnlN.

Passes iva, Suddcnl,.
Wv NcrE. oct. 49, Ecnry T.. Nb
toy. 0f the great cpcratir ana tHta,ri.
ca hrT "f Abbey. SchocNcl ~ t;rau,
died early this morning in his rooms
III The Osborne hotcl from hcmorrharc
OF the stomach. With him at the end
were his daughter and Mrs. Kingsley.
mother of Mr.. Ahbry's first wife. The
present Mrs. Abbey. who recently
brought suit for divorce. is said 70 lc
In Europe.
VIZ. Abbey had been heard of hu,
little publicly since the publication uf
his wifc'S action for divorce. and the
reorganization OF his firm, which
caused such u sensation in the amuSc-
mcnt world n few months ago. Only
his intimate friends knew where he was
living. and they had no intiinatiun Of
the seriousness of his condition. For
This reason the nnuuncemcn Of his
death came a. a complete surprise.
Henry T.. Abbey Wa born in Akron.
Ohio, in 1876 and vas the successor of
his father aS n jewclcr there. Then he
became n icwelcr at BHffalo. y. Y. In
1sdP he managed u summer opera com
pany NJ Akron. In 1870 he was Ned
ADAMS advance agent anu a year later
IN conjunction with Adams leased the
Akron. Ohio. opera house and failed for
a large amount. In 1876 Abbey aS.
sumcd control ~ Tn. Academy Of Music
in Buffalo. lie took as a partner John
IL. SchoeHcl. whom he made manager.
a year later they acquired possession
OF the Fark theater In this city. On
October 10, 1882. fire broke ont In the
thcater and spoiled Mrs. Langtry's
American debut. In 1882 he and Nsur-
ice Grau took the Metropolitan opera
house here and lost $3.50. 600. The firm
Of Abbey & Schocfcl Their managed the
Grand opera house in this city. Booth's
thcatcr. the Park and fremont thea
ters IN Boston; the Metropolitan opera
house in this city. and the Lyceum
,heater In London.
Abbey. SchocfTel & Grau brought
Patti. B%crnhardt. Irving and Terry.
Coquelir and Hading to this country
and the history Of the partnership is
that OF the u conspicuous par, OF
the American stage during the last de-
cadc and a half. Each man. important
by means Of his special knowledge u.
his division of the business and 10y rca-
son of his marked personality, com.
bincd in the firm n power for the ron
troll Of theatrical affairs which has
been seldom approached in this conn
try. They Tadc the distinct reputa-
ton for themselves Of being men
" hose words were their bonds. and il
has been taid within the last eight
years that the nrtl merely had to cable
any distinguished artist in Europe or
America that their services were de-
sired. and. II disengagcd. the aid Of
the artist was theirs. The firm had
che ahsolu," confidence Of singers and
actors alike. They never went back
on their promises.
Toward the end of last MAY the
firm. about whom financial difficulties
Ind been collecting for some time.
were compelled TO assign. The oper-
attic ventures of the three since 1901
had given them great profits. but with
two or three exceptions their dramatic
undertakings were disastrous. not only
swallowing up All the great gains of
the opera seasons. hut running the
firm into such debt that they found
themselves. as q firm and as individ-
uuls. practically stripped Of every dol
lar that they owned.
Early N August papers in a suit for
separation were served on Abbey by
Florence T.. Abbey. the allegations be-
ing cruelty and abandonment. Mrs.
Abbey, who, in former years, was well
known on the stage m Florence Ger
ard, was married tn Abbey in Boston
four years ago. In his answer Abbey
alleged that his wife was insancly ieal.
Gus and for years had subjected him to
n degrading system OF espionage
through the agency of the servants.
He said he had taken his daughter
away because her mother was poison
ing the child's mind against him. The
was pending when death cut
II short.