The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1907-09-05
AMERICAS GREATEST ACTOR,
PASSES AWAY IN NEW LONDON,
AFTER SHORT ILLNESS.
ROSE FROM CLERK
IN DRY GOODS STORE
Sketch Of the Life Of Player, Who,
for Years, Was at the Head Of the
Drama In the United states-Death
Caused by Liver Disease.


on the American stage, passed away
at six a. m. Friday at his summer
residence, Seven Oaks, Ocean avenue.
Death was directly due to disease OF
the liver, aggravated by complica-
tions. DR.. A. H. Allen, local physi-
clan. who has been In charge since
Mr.. Mansfield's arrival here from Sar-
anac Lake, N. Y, states that death
was not entirely unexpected, although
this fact had not been made public.
Was Up Three Days Ago.
Mr.. Mansfield's condition had been
reported as excellent.
Il was stated that he stood the Jour-
ney well from Saranac Lake and that
he was up and around his home here
until three days ago. Then turn for
the worse set in and Mr.. Mansfield
was confined to his room. Yesterday
DR.. Mcclellan. of Pittsburg. was sum-
moned. DR.. Allen said Friday that
he had feared the worst for several
days.
Did Not Recognize Loved Ones.
There we're several conditions that
prevented his getting well. Dur
Ing the great actors last moments he
lay in a condition Of coma and did not
recognize the loved ones at his bed
side.
There were present at the time OF
his death his wife, his brother Felix,
his young son, George Gibbs, and the
physicians and nurses.
Complete Breakdown Last Spring.
The intense nervous strain under
which Richard Mansfield worked caus-
ed a complete breakdown last spring
while he was playing an engagement
In Scranton, Pa, though he had been
in poor health for some time. He recov-
cred sufficiently to enable him to
make a voyage to England. The Eng
| lish climate failed to benefit the actor
and several weeks ago he returned to
this country and went to Ampersand,
in the Adirondacks. Mr.. Mansfield
longed to be at his summer home In
New London, Conn, and several days
ago he was taken there in his private
car.
Sketch Of Richard Mansfield.
Richard Mansfield was born on the
island of Heligoland, then a British
possession, in the German ocean
where his parents were sojourning al
that time, May "a, 1857. He was de
scended from a family CT actors on
his mothers side. She was the fam
GUS prima donna, Nine. Mansfield Ru
dersforf. Mansfield's early youth was
passed In England and on the CONT
nent and his education was received
at various places. He studied for q
time in a private school In Germany
and then went to Derby; England. II
was while at the latter place that he
made his first appearance as an actor
filling the role Of Shylock In class-day
exercises.
cIsrk In Dry Goods Store.
Il was the desire of his mother thai
Mansfield become an artist, and aftel
leaving his studies he took q course II
art for a time at South Kensington
Family reverses later compelled the
future actor to seek other means ol
support and he decided to come tt
the United States, where he secured
clerkship In the mercantile estab
lishment of Jordan, Marsh & Co. o.
Boston. He remained with the Bos
ton house for some time and thu
senior member of the firm became
one of his fast friends. He had no
entirely forsaken his art, and he wal
known to have done some paintini
while employed in the commercial lin'
In Boston. In 1875 he returned u
England, hoping to sell some Of hi
paintings, but he failed in this an,
for a time 1t is said he was on tn
point of starvation.
Takes to stage 40 Last Resort.
As q last resort the disappointe'
artist accepted an engagement with
strolling company of actors at ss
ary OF S15 q week and by hard worl
he soon began to rise In his profes
sion. After appearing in England 10
several years he returned to the UNI
ed States and made his first n
peaIance In this country ~ "nrs
mez" In the opera LES ManteAli
Noires' at the Standard theater I
New York ON September 2s. 1874
When the opera RIP Van Winkle
was produced he was given the pa
Of Nick vedder and IN the personihc'
ton OF this character he was . 81
cess. Shortly after that Mansfiel
was given place In the company I
A. M. Palmer At the Union Square tn
: ater. where he took the part Of Tira
: del In the Partisan Romance"
Married Dsatrles Cameron.
September is. 1882. Mr.. MAnsfs
larvied, Bsatries Cameron, his lea
ag woman Tor several seasons, q
tns con was bosn. Mr.. Mansfield h
: . beautiful home n Riyeralds drt
I In New York city Just sonth Of o.
Hupdspd spd Fourth 6trset He y