The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-05-25
HOW DALEY DIED.
Noted Fun Maker Maintained His
Reputation to the Last.

Chicago, May 25.-Peter F. Daley.
who died aSturday at the Auditorium
Annex, gave UP his life because of his
devotion to duty and because he was
oed sne to play the game" to the
a week previous to his death with Joe
Weber's Merry Widow Burlesque
company, Mr.. Daley contracted a Sc
we're chill: and Monday night. the
opening night found him with a tenn
perature of 104. He insisted, never
theless. on playing his part, the role of
Caramel de Jollidog. and went through
the performance on sheer nerve. ~
After the play he went to bed with
a high fever which never abated.. DR..
Francis w. Mcnamara, a boyhood
chum, attended him constantly all the
week, staying at the bedside night and
day, but the Monday night performs
ance had done its work.
A few minutes after Mr.. Dailey's
death cablegram was received by
Charley Ross and Mabel Fenton, who,
with Daley, were members OF the Joe
Weber show, that the pope had grant
ed Kate Condor dispensation so that
she might be married to Daley.
Miss Condor, as she is known on the
stage, was the wife Of e. Burke Scott,
who disappeared seven years ago.
Scott has not been heard from since,
Miss Condor visited Rome, saw the
pope. obtained the dispensation and
cabled Ross and Miss Fenton. who are
husband and wife.
/ The cablegram said that the pope had
agreed that Miss Condor and Daley
might be married August &c. Mr.. Ross
promptly sent a cablegram to Miss
Condor, apprising her of the death of
the man whose wife she expected to
become.
JOked to the Last.
At 10 o'clock in the morning Joe
Weber, his brother Max. and L. J.
Rodriguez. Weber's manager, were
summoned to Dailey's apartments by
phone.
sPete's dying" was the message
from DR.. McNamara.
It was true, but the spirit of the big
jovial man would not be quenched.
How are you feeling?" asked Mr.
Rodriguez gently.
''Oh, fine and dandy" replied Daley
with a ghost of his old time hearty
laugh. Just drank two quarts OF
milk
Fine said Mr.. Rodriguez.
Fine for the niilkman,' came the
reply instantly.
Deceived by the comedians apparent
ly good condition Joe Weber and
Rodriguez left the hotel at II o'clock
to prepare for the matinee perform
ance. Max Weber, who ran the streets
of New York as a 10-year-old boy with
DALEY, remained with DR.. Mcnamara
I'm glad did now" said Mr.. Weber
simply after it was over. He was glad
to have Mac and me with him.
A touching incident connected with
the actors death was the frenzied grief
of his old negro servant, who had at
tended Mr.. Daley for many years. The
negro was dazed that his employer had
passed away. He appealed brokingly
to the hotel authorities "to keep peo-
pie away and let him be alone with
his dead.
Joe Weber stood at the bedside Of his
dead friend for ten minutes after the
body had been arranged by the ply
sician. Then, throwing back his Shout
ders. he turned away sharply.
"Wen," he said, I've got to go and
make up"
An hour later he was keeping his
audience in a roar as Disch, his bur-
lesque imitation of the role of Nish. the
secretary, in 1.-THE Merry Widow" A
few in the audience had learned Of Mr..
Dailey's death before entering the the
alter, and a few more heard the news
as the performance progressed. But
| few were aware that it was boyhood
chum of the little comedian on the
stage whose deathbed he had just left,
or that outside in the lobby Max
Weber, an even older "pap' OF Dailey's,
stood in the doorway gazing with set
face at the passing crowds and waiting
for his brother to finish the perform
anca