Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-11
WASDUETO PNEUMONIA
DEATH OF II. wINFRED ooFF,
GRAND OPERA SINGER.
Came Here to Appear at Bslasco Thea
ter Last Week-Sketch Of
His Career.

After an Illness of less than one week
H. Winfred Goff, one of the est-known
baritone singers in the country. died at IL
O'Clock last night at the Homeopathic
Hospital. Death was due directly to pneu-
monfa. His mother, Mrs. Lucy p. Golf of
New Bedford. Mass, was the only member
of the family at the bedside when death
occurred, and she was so greatly Frustrated
by the shock that she Is under treatment.
To carry out one of the last wishes Of the
singer, his mother has planned to have the
body cremated Friday, and If she Is able
she will leave later the same day with the
ashes for the family home in New Bedford.
: Mr.. Goff. who had just completed tour
with the Savage Grand Opera Company,
in which he had the part Of the American
consul, 'Sharples," in Madame Butter
fly,' came to Washington February 2. to
take part in the grand opera performances
last week at the Beiasco Theater. Upon ar
rival here he complained slightly of a cold.
which he had contracted during the stay
of the Savage company in st. Louis. but he
thought so little of the ailment that he re-
hearsed and promised to be behind the
footlights at the opening last Monday
evening. Sunday, however, he was con-
siderably worse, and he complained OF
rheumatism in his feet. and the Monday
stitute in his place in Carmen" Mr.. Thos.
Green and other friends of Goff became
much alarmed at his condition later in the
week, and Wednesday the singers mother
was summoned by telegraph.
Until her arrival Golf had been under
treatment in his hotel, but he became so
much worse Friday that he was transferred
to the Homeopathic Hospital. and that same
evening the physicians declared pneumonia
had developed and they regarded the pa
tents condition as hopeless. He was un-
conscious almost all of Sunday until his
death at midnight.
Rapidly Forged to the Front.
II. Winfred Golf was thirty-seven years
Of age. He was the son of Mrs. Lucy P.
and the late Hiram Gof of New Bedford,
Mass. The possessor of voice which at
tracted much attention even in his school
days. Mr.. Golf rapidly forged to the front
in musical circles in and about Boston In
the early nineties. and, seeking still fur
Their advancement in his chosen profession
he went abroad in 1894, and for eight
months was pupil of Vannucinnl In Flor
ence.
While spending vacation in Scotland, in
1895, he was called into the company of Au-
gustus Harris, which. later the same year
presented standard grand opera at Coven'
Garden He sang Teiramund. In Lohen'
grim and Escamfllo, in Carmen being
associated with such artists David
Bispham c. Hednont, Franklin Glide, Alice
May Estey and others.
When Mr.. Golf came back to the states
he went to New York. where, in 1900. he
joined the Savage-Grau Grand Opera Com
pany. He was a member of that combina-
ton for about a year. when he was trans
ferred to Mr.. Savages St. Louis company.
He remained with that organization most
of the years since that date filling all the
leading baritone parts.
Mr.. GoH created in English the role OF
Scarpia in Puccinis La Tosca,'' and also
in English the part of Iago in Verdi's
"Othello." His greatest success was as
Rigoletto last year. He spent a few weeks
in Munich and Paris last year studying
Wagnerian and other operas. and during
the summer of 1906 he was in Paris study
ing under the direction Of Jean de Reszke
Mr.. Golf opened the season of 19O8-O7 In
this city, when he took the part of Sharples
In the initial production of Madame But
terfy." 1t was his intention to go abroad
Immediately after singing in Washington
last week. and he had engaged passage to
sail from New York next Thursday.