Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-08-02
DEATH OF NOTED TENOR
A SHOCK TO new YORK
Late Adyices Said He's Con-
vaIescing; Was Near Death
in Spring.
-. Anaociafed - ID - F.veninr

BY Associated Press 10 Evs-y Eveninr.
New York, August z.--The last word
received here from Naples was that
Fnrico Caruso was improving nicely
and that his voice would not be per-
manently impaired by his illness.
When the tenor sailed for Italy on
May % he appeared still TO be very
in although his physicians insisted he
was on the road to recovery.
Carusos illness first began last
Christmas week when he suffered an
attack Of pleuisy- His condition
growing worse. he underwent an
operation TO relieve him Of an ac-
cumuIation OF pus in the pieural
cavity. Ii was deemed advisable 70
operate again for a secondary abscess.
After these operations. Caruso con-
/ tinued in a serious condition for more
| than a week.
Early in February he suffered an
attack Of heart failure. His friends
were called 10 his bedside and two
priests visited him and one administer
1 ed extreme junction.
4 group Of specialists were con-
stantly at the bedside Of Caruso figntr
! ing to save mis- life.
/ During the latter part Of February
/ the condition of the famous singer i'm
proved slowly. but steadily, although
/ il was necessary for him TO undergo
third operation for another small
abscess. A few weeks later he was
removed to Atlantic City where he
rested UP preparatory to his return tc
Italy.
Word Of the first illness Of Carusc
at the time he was stricken WITH
pIeurfsy came as a shock 10 his many
friends in this country and abroad a.
ne had been singing with the Metro
tolitan Opera Company during tbs
present season, here and in Philadei
phia, and was enjoying one Of the bes
seasons of his life.
Up to the time of his sailing fol
Italy, reports were current that Caru
SOS voice had not withstood th'
ravages of his many weeks Of Illness
These were stoutiy denied by hi
friends.
thousands OF friends who wer
gathered at the pier Cheered him il
his gallant effort, but he gallantly de
clined to give an encore until mex
season.
Caruso, looking pale and much thin
ner. doffed his hat in acknowledgment
of the greetings of the crowd.
Police reserves and dock guards ha
great difficulty in holding in chec
great crowd OF admirers as the
greeted Caruso> when he went aboar
. tAe steamship.
When Caruso left for Italy he al
/ peared confident he would return
America next fall and again take h
, place With the Metropolitan oper
+ Company.
shortly after he had arrived
! Italy, however. reports began 70 dri
! back TO this country that ne woul
+ not sing again before the America
4 public in his old voice. Caruso. hov
\ ever, Immediately cabled a denial
: these reports. declaring that wis
i want TO show that l have not 10
: my voice will do SO al the prop
! time and place"
! Reports reaching Rome at this til
s. stated Caruso would be able 20 sn
!. in New York by next winter. thoul
= friends reluctantly admitted ut v
i never be quite The same aSaI
i C'aruso was also reported TO be hsi
= a secluded life in hotel near Naph
= News of Caruso's death. on the he
a Of continued reassuring reports frC
Continued on page s.