New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-03-25
HANGS HIMSELF At SEA.
English Actor Despondent Be-
cause of Family Trouble.
DOG TRIES TO FOLLOW HIM
Another Man Dies from Pneu-
monia on Cunard Liner
Campania.

A week ago, when the Cunard liner Cam
pania was about to leave Liverpool for
New York, a stalwart Englishman, about
thirty-five years old accompanied by his
young and comely Wife walked aboard and
talked affectionately at the ships rail. Be-
side them was a hybrid dog wagging its
tail and looking up into their faces. Pres
| entity the couple embraced; the woman
went ashore, and for moment The dog
was perplexed. He started to follow his
| mistress. but came back to the ship and sat
! at the feet Of his master.
on Saturday week later to the day the
animal stood in the same place and saw
| the body of his master consigned to the sea
| I'm a weighted sack some five hundred miles
cast of this port.
It was the denouement Of some domestic
differences that had crept into the married
lives of Charles Sterling, vaudeville
actor. and his young wife, trick cycIist'
known in the music halls of England as
| Beautiful Lillian"
Sterling was an athlete. and, assisted by
| Kiss half collie and half airedale terrier
! had entertained thousands of persons
throughout the British Empire. lie had
been receiving salary of 500 week, but
recently the demand for his act had de-
clincd, and with what little money he had
saved he started for this country, intend
ing TO try the theatres here.
Before leaving England he made ar
rangements with the government that his
dog should be permitted to go back with
him after he had finished what he called
his visit to the cities OF the world"
In accordance with the rules Of the ship
Kiss could not share his masters state
room nut a place was made for him be-
tween decks with the butcher. It was here
with his dog that Sterling spent most OIL the
voyage.
There were rumors about the ship that
the actor was exceedingly jealous OF his
! wife and that there had been a quarrel,
! but the butcher, who was perhaps more In
{ innate with Sterling than any one aboard,
denied H. On the third day out Sterling
became melancholy, and at times was
| hystercaL Talking with his dog seemed
| to be the only means he had of getting
back to normal state Of mind.
Friday he became violent and had to be
taken TO the ships hospital where he was
| made prisoner. The next day an orderly
| assigned TO watch him slipped out OF the
! hospital before daylight and told the ships
| doctor that the actor had threatened to
| Kill the ten strongest men or The ship.
| Within a few minutes a quartermaster.
| the bos'n and four sailors went to the
! hospital with DR.. Bruce, and found the
door locked The lock gave way before the
pressure Of half dozen men, but still
! they could not get in for Sterling had bar
! rlcaded the entrance with everything nova
| bic in the hospital
When the men finally entered Sterling
| could not he seen, but when they drew
aside the curtains OF an adjoining bath
room they found his body dangling from
| rope made of twisted strips OF sheetng.
| lie was cut down promptly, and for an
| hour Dr. Bruce tried i'm vain TO restore life.
In the afternoon at eight bells the Cam
pania was slowed down to steeraseway,
| and while Captain War; read the burial
service Sterllngs body was consigned to
| the sea.
| Kiss made an effort to follow II, but his
| leash in the hands of the butcher restrained
| him.
| An hour after the burial Captain War;
| was called again 10 read the service over
| the body OF Alfred Y. Buckley, twenty-five
| years old, who died In the forenoon from
| pneumonia. Buckley, accompanied by his
| sister, was on his way to Buffalo to visit
sister who is married there.