The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-27
FANNY DAVENPORT DEAD
THE wELL-KNOWN ACTRESS HAD
ENLARGEMENT OF THE HEART.
Never Regained Her Health After Her
Chicago Enga cement Last Spring,
When She Collapsed.

DUXBURY Mass Sept 26-Fanny Dav-
export (AIrs. Melbourne McDowelD died at
her summer home. Melbourne Hall, at half
past 10 o'clock tonight of enlargement of
the heart Miss Davenport had never fully
recovered from her severe illness early in
the summer, when she was forced to sus-
pend her Chicago engagement, but up to a
week ago 1t was thought she would in time
enjoy good health again. A few days ago.
however, a change was noticed. Since then
she has been gradually sinking and to-day
it was announced that death was only a
question of a few hours. Her three sisters
had already been notified, and, with her
husband, were at her bedside when she
peacefully passed away. Her brother-in-
law, William Seymour. was notified yester-
day of her condition. and is on his way
mere He will take charge of the funeral
arrangements, the nature of which will not
be known until he arrives.
Miss Davenport occupied a unique posi-
ton on the American stage. She was one
of the foremost of the female stars, while
she held high rank as a producer of plays
and In this latter work she achieved a great
success. Her Sardou plays were put on the
stage with lavish scenery and costumes, and
she was fortunate in finding in the heroine
parts specially adapted to her style of i'm
presentations. Her last manager was Mr.
Ben Stern, who succeeded Marcus Mayer
in that position.
Fanny Davenport has filed out a very
broad page in the history of the American
slase, anu while a wide difference of opin-
ION mas existed in regard to her exact ar
tlstlc status, there can be no doubt at all
win reference to her long and remarkable
vogue as popular and progressive actress.
For nearly thirty years she was identified
IN a most conspicuous manner with the
tneater In this country. period quite I'M
equaled in the experience of any other act
stage.
Born April 10. 1850. she inherited the stage
as blrthr1ght, her father being +. L. DaV-
export, an actor of great ability and wide
celebrity 1t was while residing for a time
IN MHondon, engaged in the support of w;
an English lady, Miss Elizabeth Vining,
ana two or three years later their first child
was born and christened Fanny. Returning
70 America during her early childhood, the
little girl was constantly thrown into pro-
fessional society of the best class and it is
small wonder that her mind became en-
tirely absorbed in plays and players.
AT a tender age she appeared in the cast
OF "Metamora' at the Boston Athenaeum
and when but eleven years old made her
first appearance in New York at Niblo's
Garden in play entitled Faint Heart
Never Won Fair Lady From that day
until recently she has been continuously as
ISOLATED with the stage, playing first
soubrette parts and subsequently joining
MIS- JOnn Drew at the Arch-Street Inca ter,
Philadelphia, where she attracted the atten-
ton of Augustin Daily. In 1869 she became
identified with Days Theater, New York
then on Twenty-fourth street. where she
played Rosalind. Lady Gay Spanker Nancy
Sykes, Lady Teazle, Leah and many other
characters. AS Mabel Renfrew in "Pique'
she created a sensation and the play, hav-
ing a run of $50 nights, gained a stellar
prestige for the actress, OF which she was
quick to take advantage. Recognized an
important and beautiful star, she played
success DlaVS
French TRANSACTIONS and then entered upon
new career as a producer of Sardous
plays, originating in this country the same
characters that Bernhardt created in the
French capital. Fedora" Theodore. -
CLEOPATRA "Gismonda" and la Tosca"
were produced by her in a most lavish man.
ner, and during the past ten years she en-
joyed a princely income from these lurid
but intense plays. Last fall Miss Daven-
to produce jean of Are on lavish scale
but unhappily this costly experiment proved
failure.
She was twice married Her first husband
was Edward Price, then an actor, but now
a theatrical manager from whom she was
divorced. Her second husband was Mel
bourne Mcdowell, her leading man. Mr..
Mcdowell recently opened the season with
the Davenport plays, Blanche Walsh TAX
ing the roles formerly played by Miss Dav-
EXPORT. Fanny Davenport has two brothers
in the profession-Edward l.. and Harry
Davenport. The latter played in Indianap-
oils last spring and is now III London with
1.-THE Belle of New York Miss Daven-
ports last engagement was at Englishs
Opera House last winter when she gave her
great revival OF Cleopatra"