The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1905-01-10
eETTlNA GERARD DEAD.
Noted Opera Singer Passes Away In
Roosevelt Hospital at New York.

Noted Opera Singer Passes Away In
Roosevelt Hospital at New York.
New York. Jan. 10.-Bettina Gerard,
the actress, died in Roosevelt hospital
Sunday. The woman was removed
from her apartments on West Forty.
flrst street Saturday and at the hospi-
tai the name Of Elizabeth Witter was
given. 1t was stated that her body
was claimed under the name Of Ord
way.
The cause Of her death is believed to
have been acute pneumonia. The body.
1t is understood, will be taken to
Washington.
The last engagement of Bettina Ger
ard was with the Marriage Of Kitty
company. At Decatur, Ill.,. Miss Ger
ard left the company suddenly. Her
first appearance OH the stage was in
1890 in THE Seven Ages" In 1902 she
appeared at Niblo's and later was with
Dixie In "Adonis."
Miss Gerard was the daughter Of the
late General Albert Ordway, for some
time the commanding officer of the
National guard of the District of CO.
lumbia- She had been on the stage for
about twenty years and had played i'm
light opera. melodrama and vaudeville
In recent years for three seasons she
has taken the leading role in IN Old
Kentucky" Her mother and q seven
teen year old daughter reside i'm WASH
tnRtnn Some TINA a
married a man by the name of Witter,
When admitted to the hospital she
was In very serious condition. Less
than three weeks ago Bettina Gerard
was seen on Broadway. Miss Gerard
told her friends that she never felt
better IN her life Since her return
from Decatur Miss Gerard had not
been seen by any Of her old friends.
She had been married seven times.
and on various times within the past
seven years had been a patient in the
hospitals Of this city suffering from
troubles due to her mode Of life.
From convent in Georgetown in
her early life she was sent to Mrs.
Burr's fashionable school in Washing
ton. She was a musician and linguist,
beautiful Of face and figure, could ride
with the best and excelled in all out
door sports.
The career Of Bettina Gerard was
one Of contrasts. Her life began amid
the refined surroundings Of a wealthy
and distinguished family In Washing
ton. One week upon the stage, show
ing flashes Of brilliancy and with
features and form little impaired.
she would appear only to be found mex:
week ILL.,
Bettina Gerard was ttirty-five years
Of age. Soon after her debut in Wash
lngton Arthur Padelford, member OF
J. wealthy Baltimore family. met her,
and following a short wooing they
were married. They went abroad. and
three months later. came the report
that In Austria the young husband had
applied for and obtained a divorce.
Soon afterwards she went on the'stage.
The list Of husbands Betttna Gerard
had IL Interesting. They were Arthur
!. PadNifords ndliionaire: John ]. |
Raeffel, a singer; Harrison j. Wolfe.
IN actor: w. q. Beach, an actor; Phil
p Schuyler. the well known theatrical
lgent; Frank Turner. vaudeville per-
,ormer. and Francis C. Writer, vaude-
fille performer. Mr.. Witter was Will,
Ter at her death. BY his direction the
,ody was sent to Washington for
burial. Coroner's Physician Weston |
made an examination Of her body and !
lecided that the woman had died Of |
lcute pneumonia, sA 81
General ordway died in 1897 In this
;ity. - II