The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-29
Afflicted for Several Months with Hic-
coughs. MaIady that Ended
His Life Yesterday.
WORTH OVER TWO MILLIONS
ONE OF THE WEALTHIEST ACTORS
ON THE AMERICAN STAGE.
Was Familiar Figure at Washing
tOn-JeffersOn, Robson and Good
win His Wnrmest Friends.

WASHINGTON, April 2S.-Sol Smith Rus
sell, the actor died at the Richmond Hotel
in this city at 2:lO o'clock this afternoon of
perpetual hccOugh. Mr. Russell had been
i'll for some time from this malady, but dur
ing the past few days the disease took a Sc
rious turn and since early morning the end
had been hourly expected. Those present at
the bedside of the veteran actor were Mrs.
Russell, Miss l.. Alice Russell, Mr.. and Mrs.
Frederick S. Berger and Edward 1. Rosen-
field. Mr.. Russell was hfty-four years of
age. The deceased will be buried in Rock
Creek Cemetery. near this city.
The funeral services Will take place
Wednesday afternoon from the residence
of Mr.. Berger. a brother-in-Iaw of Mr.. Rus
SELL to whose home the remains will be re-
moved from the hotel tomorrow. Mr.. Rus
sell was an Episcopalian and the burial
service of that church will be read over the
body by the Rev. J. A. Perry, the rector of
st. Andrews Episcopal Church, of this city.
Numerous kilograms of coincidence have
been received from many parts of the
country and a dispatch from New York
says that a party of intimate friends will
be in Washington OH Wednesday to attend
the funeral Mr. Russell leaves a widow
and two children, Miss L. Alice Russell, and
"A son, Robert Z. Russell. of Minneapolis.
Mr.. RuSsellS death followed an illness of
more than two years While his condition
was so serious as 10 prevent the continu-
ance OF his work on the stage, Ii was not
until last Thursday that the end was seen
to be near and his friends and relatives
gave up hope. On Thursday morning he
was able TO go out for a short time and as
usual, during good weather. was wheeled
about the parks in his chair. His figure
had been familiar one at the local thea
terS during his illness, particularly at the
matinee performances. He seemed 10 take
especial pleasure in witnessing the work of
Joseph Jefferson, for whom he had great
friendship; Stuart Robson, Nat Goodwin
and William II. Crane. He was usually
wheeled 10 and from the theaters In an
Invalid chair. He was considered one of the
wealthiest actors on the American stage,
his real-estate holdings including many
properties in Minneapolis. The total value
of the estate is said TO be more than 81
0OO,OG0.
Sol Smith Russell was born at Bruins
wick. Me, on June Is. 1S4S. He followed
the Union army as drummer boy for a
time. but left the military service at Cairo
ILL.,, where he sang in the theater, acted
small parts and beat the drum in the or
chestra. Later he joined a travelling com
pany. and in 1865 he played in De Bars
Theater in st. Louis: first appearance in
New York, 1871; joined Days company IN
1874. For a number of years he starred in
his own company in Edgewood Folks,
Felix McCusick, "A Poor Relation anC
Peaceful Valley"
Mr.. Russell was last seen in Indianapolis
three seasons ago, when he played "A
Bachelors Romance" and THE Hon. JohI
Grigsby" to crowded houses. He had &
unique temperament and quaint person
ality that entirely dominated any character
in any play in which he appeared. He wa:
a true impersonator; he never caricaturec
and never burlesqued. His command of pa
thos was almost as complete that oil
Joseph Jefferson Mrs. Russell is a daugh
ter of the late William I. Adams, known
to juvenile readers as OLIVER Optic.