New-York tribune., 1912-01-03
SON OF CHARLES DICKENS
DIES HERE SUDDENLY
Alfred TennySon SuCCUmbS to
Attack of Heart Disease at
Hotel AStOr.
ON A LONG LECTURE TOUR
Lost Fortune as Ranchman in
Australia-Henry Clews Heads
Plan to Aid Destitute
Heirs of Novelist.
ON A LONG LECTURE TOUR

Alfred Tennyson Dickens. eldest sur
yiving son of Charles Dickens, the nov
elist, died est evening at the Hotel AS
tor from heart disease, superinduced by
an attack Of acute indigestion. He had
planned to lecture last night at Kings
ton. Early in the afternoon, while in
the lobby of the hotel he suffered re-
newal Of an attack of indigestion that
seized him on Monday evening and had
TO be carried TO his room, where he was
put TO bed
Between 3 and 4 o'clock Mr.. Dickens
told A. Siemerlng, his private secre-
tary, that he felt better. He dictated a
letter to the manager of his lecture bu-
reau at his home in Melbourne, Aus
tralia, and then dropped off to sleep. A
little after ) o'clock he awoke and asked
his secretary IL he had notified his
cousin, G. w. Lawrence, Of Pelham,
about his illness While the secretary
was penning he letter Mr.. Dickens
raised himself on his elbow. clapped his
right hand TO his heart, gave gasp ana
fell back on his pillow, dead.
George w. Traylor, the assistant msu'
ager Of the hotel, summoned DR.. S. s
Burt. the house physician. and DIR. c..
Perley GRAY, but Mr.. Dickens had been
dead several minutes before they reached
To- his sistet. Mrs. Kate Perugini, in Lon
don. and to MS daughter. Miss Katherine
Dickens. I'm Melbourne. The body was
removed to the undertaking establish
ment of A. ''ckelberg. No. 034 Eighth
avenue. where 1t will be held pending In
structions from relatives.
Mr.. Dickens recently left his sheep
farm in Australia. where he had been
since he was twenty years old, and went
20 England 70 lecture on his fathers life
and work Early in September he ex-
perienced a slight sunstroke on cricket
field near Lordon. He went to Boston
carly I'm october to begin his lecture tour
of America, and appeared in New York
on October 10. and then went as far
West as Denver.
M on New Years Day.
At Indianapolis last Friday he lectured
before an audience of five thousand per-
sons and was afterward the guest of
James Whitcomb Riley. the "Hoosier''
roet. and Meredith Nicholson, the story
writer. After dinner the three posed in
a group for their pictures. MIR, Dickens
came right OH 10 New York and spent
Sunday with his cousin In Pelham. He
ma ssed New Years Day in his suite at
the Astor debating letters, and started
70 go TO the theatre in the evening, but
was prevented by Indigestion.
. Mr.. Dickens was born at Devonshire
House. opposite Marylebone Church,
London. on October %, 1915. Lord AL
fred Tennyson, Poet Laureate, was his
eodfather. He went to school first at
Boulogne, France with his three
brothers, Frank. Sydney and Harry
They were ct Boulogne five years. AL
fred returned to England to attend
Brackenburys Military School at VIM
bledon. While he was there his rather
was writing Great Expectations" and
Alfred used to tell how members of the
family discussed the book among them
selves and how his father often read
aloud to them at Gadshill.
At the age OF twenty Alfred went out
to Australia to lead the life OF pioneer
that his father was always referring to
IN his books. After two years he was
Joined by his brother. Ted" Dickens.
The boys communicated regularly with
their father. the last letter having been
written three weeks before the novelist's
death. At that time Alfred was at
Corona Station, fifty miles north OF the
present site Of Broken Hills. New South
Wales
Alfred entered extensively into cheep
Continued on seventh page.