Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1906-12-11
SYLVIA DIES IN
DIRE POVERTY
Sad Ending Of the Once Stage
FaVOrite Who Married
Henry Hilton
CHARMER OF THE Rich

NEW YORK, Dec. 11,--Sylvia Ger
IRISH, the former Casino star. to marry
whom George 6. Hilton, Jrs renounc-
ed a fortune Of many millions and
thereby created one Of the most extra
ordinary scandals in New Yorks re-
cent social life is dead at her home
on Morris Heights. &c
The actress, who had been destitute
since her husbands death several
years ago. passed away after a long
illness caused partly by want It is said,
and partly by the sorrows that fol-
lowed fast upon her meteorie career.
Most New York theatregoers re-
member when sylvia Gerrish was not
only the reigning favorite at the CAST
no, but was known from sea to sea.
Few women have lived such varied
lives at she, and fewer still have had
the chance to wreck so many fortunes.
She was born away out West-just
where there is doubt-but in the
height Of her fame she used to tell adj
mirers a story of how SHE was taken
prisoner by the Digger Indians, camp
ed on a reservation near her home, and
reserved by the chief to be the bride
Of that one of his three sons who
should Guido the other two in physical
combat The actress related that she
was saved from this fate because, after
vanquishing one OF his brothers, the
young buck whose prowess seemed
likely TO win her as his wife fell dead
himself as he killed his second brother.
When she had grown up Miss Ger
IRISH, or Miss Rollins in private life,
found she could sing and became So
prano in a Western church choir. She
was brought to New York by her
brother, George Rollins, and was the
toast OF the town inside a year.
Returning from a trip abroad, where
she frollicked with English noblemen
and amazed English noblewomen, she
sang In tights at the Casino one night
while all New York's bon vivants and
Henry Graham Hilton lavished flowers
and gold upon her from the boxes.
Won the Heart Of Hilton.
Hilton was instantly smitten. He
was the son Of Judge Henry Hilton,
adviser and business associate OF the
merchant prince, A. T.. Stewart and
many times n millionaire. The father
had married his son TO Agnes Sanxey,
a beautiful Brooklyn girl, and had
taken him into his firm. II was the
Judges ambition to have the boy con-
troll the greater part of his fortune,
and the latter seemed to he realizing
his fathers fondest hopes.
But the sight OF Sylvia Gerrish
wrought a tragedy In the Hilton fam
ily Young Hilton began showering
favors upon her to the neglect of his
wife. When she went abroad he fol-
lowed her, and he was always at her
side, so completely captivated that all
New York saw and gosslped.
Hilton's wife Rugged her sorrow
closely until the shame, neglect and
disgrace OF it all killed her. Her hus-
band went to the funeral, and returned
the Casino star. Within a few months
they were married.
Hilton, Sr. ragged, fumed, demanded
an annulment and when his love-
stricken son refused threw him out
Of the firm and changed his win SO
that Henry, Jr, got only $4,000 when
his father died.
But Hilton and his actress-w wife
seemed to care not a whit that the
golden fortune had been snatched from
them. While their money lasted they
taught the town gay lessons in ex-
travagance; when it was gone they
retired TO a big, barn-like house in the
Bronx. overlooking the Harlem, where
they lived quietly until the death of
young Hilton some years ago ended
that romance forever.
From that day Sylvia Gerrish flour
ished no more. The former star went
from poverty to want; she mortgaged
the Mt. Morris house. The Jewels that
admirers showered on her in former
days went 20 buy bread, and a year
ago her brother George was compelled
to go to her aid, though he himself
was very poor.
Illness followed on the heels OF pow
erty, for the pampered favorite of mill
lionaires could not stand the pinch Of
want. Prematurely old and sorrow
stricken, the decline OF Sylvia Gerrish
was almost as rapid as her rise. She
died practically friendless and alone.