New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-12-15
KITTY BLANCHARD IS DEAD
Mckee Rankin'S Wife browns m
Bathtub, Physician Says.
HAD A CEREBRAL ATTACK
Was Original Billy Piper in The
Danites" and Henrietta in
THE Two Orphans

Mrs Oii,cra Rankin. who as N'"
Blanchard naS the FIRST BILLY Piper ma no
DauitoS" and a member Of thc original New
YORK cas-; of "Thc Two Orphans, was
found lead Yesterday I'm a hathtuh fun 81
water in hci apartment AZ tho Hotel H'lI'-
claire. 18th street and Broadway. Or Glib
the hotel physician. said Mrs. Rankin hao
hcer stricken with cerebral hemorrhaSe
lie thought she had fallen into the tub ana
drowned Coroner Uolenstcin agreed with
Jr. Glib. and said there was nothing Sus-
ricious about the d.ath.
Mrs Rankin was tho vile Of Arthur Nc
Koe Rankin. an ac1or and playwright o.
the old school Two months ago Mr. Rank
ir went on tour. leaving his wife at the
Beleclaire. She changed her rooms after
ne left town and when he returned last
Tuesday Mrs Rankin tried 10 get back the
old suite If rooms. she was unable to d"
so. and thcv retained tho smaller suite.
when MIR Rankin returned home Ncstcr-
day afternoon he was met 10y q chamber
maid. who was running from his apartment
She told him she had occasion TO go into his
wife's rooms and found the body Of Mrs.
Rankin in the bathtub. The water was
lukewarm.
Kitty Blanchard made hOr last appear
ance OH the stage nine years ago at the
Ivceum with Miss Annie Russell in The
Girl and the Judge" More than a quarter
Of a century ago she played Billy Piper in
The Danites" and Henrietta in The Two
Orphans
Like many other actresses. Mrs. Rankin
did not devote her time TO any special
thing on the stage. She was dancer
took part in stock companies and also APP
peared i'm vaudeville. So well was she
thought Of that four years ago her friends
and associates I'm the theatrical profession
Got together at the Broadway Theatre ana
gave her benefit. Nearly 7cV was real
lied
In 1857. when she was ten years Old she
made her first appearance as dancer
under tho management of John Drew the
elder Her first speaking part was Anger
ica ina The Secret and Mrs Rankin used
10 relate with amusement aH incident oil
that important occasion.
Next she appeared in Cincinnati, where
.he loined the stock company, playing lille
slowboy in Dot and also played i'm A
Willow Copse" THE Ticket-Of-Leave-M Man
and The French Spy her talent as
dancer Deius utilized iu the pantomimic
role.
came d star, touring through the West IN
East Lynne" THE Hidden Hand, Little
Barefoot" and a. round of similar plays
popular at tine time lcr next venture was
III Boston. where she originated the part
OF Naomi Tishc iu Booertsoms School
and also played in Caste "Black-Eyed
Susan" and The Field of the Cloth OF
Cold iu all of which Mrs Rankin was
associated with some of the best known
actors and actresses at the Hub.
When Selwyu's Theatre Company came to
New York TO play an engagement, Mckee
Rankin and Kitty Blanchard were among
its members. The company remained here
a. few weeks, and, upon their return to Bos-
ton they were married. shortly aiterWafd
Ar and Mrs Rankin leased a theatre in ST
Louis. and it was there the first American
presentation Of The Bells was given, I'M
Ger the title OF THE Polish jew
I'pon their return to this city Mr.. and
Mr. Rankin were engaged for the initial
ur0ductiou Of The Two Orphans and
ley also appeared later in The Danites'
IN 1851 the Kankins appeared I'm London
in Inc Danites.' Their next production
vas "I,,' play with an atmosphere SINH
lar to The Danites.' Then Mckee RANKIN
built the Third Avenue Theatre, in New
YORK Among the opening attractions for
tne hous. were Joseph jefferson, Clara
Norris, J Is. Emmett and Richard Mans
field.
The two daughters of Mr.. and Mrs
Rankin are themselves well known to the
public The elder, now Mrs sydney Drew,
8ppeared I'm The Bauitcs' when quite
YOUNG The other daughter. Phyllis Ran
Kin. made her initial stage appearance at
q special matinee given az Palmers.
Mrs Rankin. before ner sight became inn
paired several years ago. was considered
one Of the best amateur photographers in
New York having made many artistic por-
traits Of her pretty daughters.