The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-04-24
Joe" JEFFERSON
PASSES away
End Came at Palm Beach After
Day Of UnconscIousness.
DEATH NOT UNEXPECTED
Was Over rs Years Of Age, and Made His
Debut In "PIlans" at Age Of Three,
at Washington.

ndusttu MS NllhlAss
At his death bed were his wife. his
sons, Charles p. and Frank Jefferson; his
nurse. Miss Mabel Bingham; DIR. r. B.
Potter and his faithful old servant Carl
Kettler.
The end was not a surprise TO his fam
ily. Ever since his last sinking spell.
which came after rally on THURSDAY
morning and which was followed by an
apparent Improvement uptil Friday. the
family had been waiting for the end.
Mr. Jefferson's condition Saturday night
grew steadily worse and the family, VINO
had retired. were summoned from their
beds and DR.. Potter was called. The pa
uents condition continued 10 grow
worse all through today and the brief bull
letins from the bedside contained no word
OF encouragement.
The illness OF Mr. Jefferson. which end
ed in his death, was contracted, 1t is be-
lieved, while on a recent visit 70 his son,
Csarles B. Jefferson. at Hobe Sound,
a few miles above Palm Beach. where he
went 10 meet his friend, former President
Cleveland.
1t is believed that from a slight indLs-
cretion in his eating there he suffered
an attack OF indigestion. Since his return
10 his home this condition grew steadily
worse, with slight rallies until the end.
The body of Mr.. jefferson will be taken
10 Buzzards Bay on a special train, leav-
ing here this evening. accompanied by
all the members OF his family. who are
here. New York will be reached Wednes-
day morning. and the family hope 10
get to Buzzards Bay the evening Of that
day
DR. Potter. the family physician at the
Florida home. Lived three miles from Tho
Reefs. and went occasionally to the bed
side OF his patient, feeling that Mr. JEFF
ferson might survive But when the hrst
critical period occurred he spent most or
his time there. and called DR.. Worley
of *. Augustine, specialist for con-
sulta tion.
Ii was the heroic fight the veteran sc-
TOR was making against death and his
great determination TO survive in order
that he could reach his Northern home
that resulted in the few temporary
changes for the better. On Thursday he
was we'll enough to take nourtshment and
10 retain It. At one time he called for
chicken broth. and then thought he was
well enough 10 eat the meat But this was
cenied him. DR. Potter was so confident
Thursday at clock that he told a re-
porter that he believed Mr.. Jefferson
would recover But the next day brought
the most serious and last change for the
worse from which Mr.. Jefferson could
not revive.
YOUNGER THAN SUPPOSED.
MANY persons are astonished TO learn
that he was not over so years but that he
was born on Feb 90 1929. in Philadelphia
the child OF Joseph and Cornelia Frances
Jefferson He came OF a good theatrical
stock, for his people had been connected
With the stage for three generations back.
His great grandfather was in a way a
og GA era nj VI
came to this country In 1I95, was an ad-
u,lrable actor and earned considerable
fame His father was not noted, but was
highly esteemed Cor excellent personal
traits
When he was 3 years old Mr.. Jefferson
made his stage debut as the child In 'Pi-
znrro" at the Washington theatre. Later
h gave limitations on the same stage of
men now forgotten. In the same theatre.
toc. he appeared as a pickaninny with
Thomas d Rice when that negro imper-
sor etor sang the original "Jim Crow"
song At the age of he began acting IN
earnest. and accompanied his father on
long tours on the rcad In the unhappy
davs of transforming. on one of these
trips he followed the United states army
into Mexico.
When he was 70 he returned to New
York and Joined the stock at Chanfrau's
National theatre. where he met a young
1nEliSh actress, mhrFAffi NleUenNs lEtCk
aye. who on May ls, 1850 became Mrs.
Jefferson.
in autumn OF that year the two young
people played together at The olympic
theatre The following season Mr.. Jeffer-
son was a member OF the Niblo's Garden
company, in which were also Lester Wal
lack, Rufus Blake Mrs. John Drew,
II ether OF the present popular favorite,
and Charles Wheatleigh.
BECAME A MANAGER.
Mr.. JEFFERSON became manager and
went through the south, conducting brief
seasons in various places He concluded
this experience with a stay in Philadsl-
phia and a short season in Baltimore. In
1856 he made tour in Europe and studied
the methods OF the actors OF London and
Paris
IL was in this same year that Laura
keene opened her famous theatre in this
city. In 1857 Mr.. Jefferson made the first
OF the great hits with which his name
continued 10 be identified AS Dr. Pan
gloss he became the talk OF the town.
but he was to achieve for greater tri-
umphs.
He then went TO the Winter Garden
theatre. which was under the manage
nent OF William Stuart and Dion Bouci-
cault. when the latter's Cricket on the
Hearth was brought out. and jefferson
placed before tho public his touching EN-
bodiment Of Caleb Plummer. which he re-
vived with no little success a few years
ngo. He also wrote version OF oliver
Twist" I'm which James w. Wallack. Jr..
achieved a great success as Fagin.
In 1861 Mr.. Jefferson's wife died and ne
entered on a roaming career. lie was
now generally recognized not only as "A
popular actor. but as an artist OF consum-
mate skill Re bad shown that he could
touch the entire range OF feeling from
polished and exquisite humor 10 simple
and moving pathos. He had yet 10 find the
role which enabled him 10 unite In it
the entire resources % his art
BACK TO RIP VAN w1NKLE.
rn 1s1i feoy, J,,iv fiii Nov>r,har IA