The Washington herald., 1910-09-09
FREDDIE GERHARD
CLAIMED BY DEATH
Noted Sportsman and First
Nighter Passes Away.
ONCE LOVED LILLIAN LANGTRY
to Actress by Oscar
Wilde and Followed Her Through
Ups and Downs Until 1880, when
They Parted Abroad and He Came
Back to Wed Another.

New York. Sept. S-Frederick Gebhard
died at Garden City. L J.. to-day.
For thirty years he had been one OF
the most widely known men about town.
He was an interchangeable first-nighter.
He knew everybody on the stage. and
liked TO associate with actors and ac-
tresses. lie was interested in racing, and
owned at one time a celebrated stable Of
runners and a famous collection Of fast
trotters He liked a good fight or a good
gamble.
When his father. Frederick Gebhard.
died. young Gebhard got, as did his sis
ter Mrs. Frederick Nelson. the income
on a trust fund which amounted 70 $4,000
a year.
In 1852 he became famous on two con-
tinents as the admirer OF Mrs. Langtry.
The Jersey Lily landed in this country
for the first time on October o, 1SS2, in
company with her chaperon, Mrs. La
bouchere. During her second week here
Mr.. Gebhard met her. being introduced by
Oscar Wilde. Gebhard expressed his adj
miration for Mrs. Langtry freely around
the Union Club and other clubs Of which
he was a member. He was seen driving
with Mrs. Langtry nearly every day. His
equip -ges were always at her command.
Admiration Leads to Woe.
When the actress went to Boston Mrs.
Lab0uchere refused 20 accompany her
or account OF the notoriety that had re-
suited from Gebhard's attentions. The
directors Of the Union Club held meet
ing TO consider Freddy Gebhard's case,
but they decided to do nothing
At Philadelphia Mrs. Langtry and the
New Yorker were friends, as in st. Louis
and Chicago.
The St Louis Democrat publish
ed an article In regard to the relations
OF the actress and the New York club
man on January II. 1883. while Mrs
Langtry and her friend were in that city
Gebhard met Col. Cunningham. editor OF
the paper. in the lobby OF a hotel. He
called Col. Cunningham a liar. The colo
mel challenged Gebhard to fight duel.
but Gebhard refused 10 accept the chal-
lenge.
On the evening of May 1s. 1888, when
Mrs. Langtry was back in New York,
Gebhard got in another row on the Lily's
account ~ II was just outside OF Del
monico's William Sanford. a friend Of
Gebhard's. playfully remarked that he
was going to call on Mrs. Langtry that
night. Gebhard called him a liar. and
Sanford struck the young man twice IN
the face. The next night Gebhard and
Mrs. Langtry dined at DelmonicO's. and
Sanford sat at a table nearby. The fight
was not renewed.
During Mrs. Langtry's extensive tour
Of the United States. Mr.. Gebhard was
with her and accompanied her to San
Francisco. When she returned to Eng
land. he went across on the next steam
ship. In 1890 there was an estrangement
and they We're never on friendly terms
thereafter.
WEEDS Baltimore Beauty.
On March 13, 1884. Gebhard married
Louise Hollingsworth Morris in Balti-
more. She was a famous beauty Of the
Maryland city and the wedding attracted
a great deal of interest and was attended
by society folk from several cities. Some
how Mr.. and Mrs. Gebhard drifted apart,
and in 1901 Mrs. Gebhard got a divorce.
She was awarded heavy alimony. Soon
after the decree was granted, she mar
ried Henry Clews. ir.
Shortly after IT was reported that Geb-
hard was going to marry Drina de Wolfe.
well-known actress, but he insisted
that he never intended to marry again,
He resumed his life among the clubs.