The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-10-14
A GR[A7. ACTOR; 0.
DIES Suddenly.
Sir Henry Irving II Expired. |E:',''' ed
Soon After Leaving
the Theatre.
NO INTlM,ATIO')'N' } \
OF HIS DEATH. !.
5t --------- ------ - -. 8
E1c Had Just Returned TO His. lis
Hotel at Bradford After
Playing Beckett, When
He Sustained An
Attack Of
Syncope.
I (By Associated Press.)

LONDON. October 13.--The English
speaking world has suffered an irrepara-
bic loss by the sudden death Tonight OF
Sir Henry Irving, who was universally
regarded as the most representative Eng
3lish actor Of con ontemporary times.
4 Sir Henry died literally in harness. He
was giving series OF farewell perform
ances III the English provinces and this
week was playing an engagement at
Bradford, appearing in several faYoritc
roles. Thursday ho presented King
Rene's Daughter" and The Bellies" and
seemed to be In excellent health, taking
the exhausting part OF Matthias In the
latter play with all the vigor Of youth.
Tonight, before an enthusiastic audi
ence, he portrayed one OF his most char
actcristlcally intellectual parts, the title
role In his own stage adaptation OF Lord
Tenneyson's s ''Bccket.s' with marked sue
cess. .S s 81
After the performance Sir Henry re-
turned to his hotel reac ching his rooms
at II 80 O. clock, when 1t was observed
that he was in great pain. Physicians
were Immediately summoned. but before
they could arrive Sir Henry was t4s seized
with an attack of syncope and expired
within few minutes, without having
uttered a word. In the presence Of Bran
stoker. who had been his immediate
manager for ma ny years, and a few
other intimate friends. IA The event ca,is-s
cd the greatest pain and conformation
among the members OF the company.
Tho Associated Press tonight received
the following telegram from Sir Henry
Irying's manager, Bran Stoker: II
VERY terrible news. Sir Henry Irving
ing from the theatre to the hotel tonight,
and died suddenly y. ss
Raised the Standard.
Il TO the last moment Of his life. Sir
Henry Irving g heart was ID Inc work
TO which he had devoted his career-thc
raising the standard of his art. On
Wednesday he was entertained at lun-
chcon In The Bradfoard town hall, at
which the mayor presented him an ad-s
dress from his admirers. z In replying to
Z the address, Sir Henry spoke OF himself
as one, the sands Of whose life were
fast running out, but no one then pres
ent had the slightest idea that the end
would come SO soon He proceeded in
his reply to eloqucntly advocate the es-
5tablishment OF theatres by municipalities.
"because." he said. II believe that by
this means the standard OF tho true
drama as distinguished from miscella-%
ncous entertainments would be success
i fully upheld.
Sir Henry's last appearances in Lon
don were made last summer, following
his serious illness, when the enthusiasm
at the nightly receptions accorded him
in the historic Drury Lane Theatre will 4
long be remembered Since then he has,
been engaged in touring the provinces
and contemplated another visit to the
United States
His Career.
S9 Sir Henry Irving. whose name was
originally John Henry Brodrlbb. was
born near glastonbury England. Febr,i-
airy g. SIS. He was for a time clerk
In London; but adopted tho theatrical
profession, his first appearance being in
Sunderland In 1876 IIe appeared for the
first time In London at the Princess
Theatre In 1859 after which he went to
Manchester, where he renamed for five
or six years He returned to London in
1866. where his first marked success was
ms Digbv Grant In Alburv's Two
Roses. This was in 1870. and was fol-
lowed by his nowarfnls impersonation Of
Matthias, in 1.-THE Bells
Ii His next noteworthy parts were
Charles T. Eugene Arnm and Richele,l,
In the plnvs 80 named. In 1874. mt the |
iLvceum Theatre. he sustained the mart
OF IIamlct so successfully as to raise
,himselfto the first nlace among Engllsh
actors. His chief Shnkespeartanpa n pa rtS arc |
Macbeth, Othello Shylock and Richard |
III, 5gf
q, He leased tho Lvceum Theatre In 1875
and put on from time to time various OF
Shnkesrearr's Mays. sustaining In them
the nrincfnal character and supported !
bv Miss Ellen Terry.
a Among his more recent roles were
Rocket. In Tennvson's play King Ar
thur Nanoleon In "Nndarne samssene,"
, i
Continued on Third Page,)