Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-08-03
CARUSO KNEW DEATH
WAS NEAR At HAND,
ALL ITALY MOURNS
Thousands Bow in Sorrow as
Body is Borne to Naples
Church.
DEATH BEAT THE SURGEONS
End of Great Singer Came Be-
fore They Could Perform
Operation.
~ Associated press to Every Evening


Naples. August b. sorrowing Naples
and Italy today paid tribute 70 the
memory Of Enrico CarusO. the great
tenor, who died here early yesterday
morning. Thousands gathered at
soiemn requiem mass celebrated AZ
the church of Madonna Della Gracia,
or stood uncovered along the streets
leading 70 that edince, while the fuuer-
al cortege passed. IN the choir which
assisted IN tho ceremonies were many
men and women who have played
steiiar roles on the Oporatis stage.
sorrowing scenes AZ Funeral.
Scenes of extreme patnos were en-
acted All day yesterday az the Hotel
vesuvfus following the death of the
man acknowledged TO be the premier
tenor Of his generation Neopoiitans
Of every class stood in line FOR many
hours to nie past the bier ~ Car1so
which was placed IN the room where
he had died From time % tinre the
silent procession would pause whiis
Some man or woman would kneel FOR
a moment beside the body and offer
prayer.
The body was clad n evenir clothes
and over IL was shed the mellow
light of four candles. two at the head
and two az the feet. At the dead
tenor's side were gsriands n roses
arranged personally by Mrs. Caruso.
Knew the End Was Near.
The master singer. who had FOR
nearly a quarter of a century enacted
roles in which death was an unseen
player. apparently wac cognizant ~
his critical condition, following his
sudden Illness on Monday. Just before
he sank into the corna which was fhe
prelude to the end. ne sad to his
son, Rodolfo:
Il feel very III. This tine it win be
difficult to escape"
Newspapers 0f this city, IN telling
Of the death of Caruso quote one of
the attending physicians az saying.
II and my colleagues believe Caruso
never fully recovered from bis Illness
in New York last winter. His long
sickness from pleurisy weakened hfs
e~sstance.r
Caruso, according 10 estimates in
the newspapers. left fortune OF about
30 900 900 lire. Cat the normal vaIue
of the lire this would represent about
the sum of ss.0o0.0oo)
Relapse Came Suddenly.
The great tenor had been brought
here hurriedly from Sorrento. on the
Bay OF Naples, where less than week
ago ne avowed his returning strength
and expressed the conviction that he
would sing again as in the days gone
BY.
He had been able to visit the famous
sanctuary OF Our Lady of pompeii
cry. he went also to the wonderful
Island Of Capri, where he attended a
luncheon in his honor. But soon af-
terward unfavorable symptoms. in the
form Of a high fever. manifested them
selves. and his wife teiegraphed TO a
Rome specialist to come TO Sorrento.
It was then discovered that a new in
ternaE abscess had developed.
Caruso's removal TO Rome for an
operation was advised, but he showed
such weakness that it was impossible
TO transfer him further than Naples.
where ne arrived BY sea Sunday even-
ing. FOUR eminent physicians we're
called in consultation, and their ex-
animation showed the presence OF a
subphrenic abscess. accompanied by
severe peritonitis.
Sank Quickly 10 Death.
An operation at noon Monday was
decided upon, but the patients c0udi-
ton became suddenly worse at $50
yesterday morning and he died soon
afterward. Prior to this heart stimu-
lation was resorted to hourly.
In order that Caruso should not tirs
himself the attending physicians or
dered him not to speak, so during his
last night he uttered no word. not even
speaking to his wife, who remained in
the room until the end. OF the men,
bers OF his family present at the DEATH
bed the most pathetic was his old
mother, who had always clung ob-
stinately to her little home. despite her
sons efforts 70 accustom her to tina
material comforts Of life.
Present also at the bedside were his
wife. who was Dorothy, daughter OF
Park Benjamin Of New York; Caruso's
little daughter. Gloria. and his son.
Rodolfo; his brother, Givonni; several
nephews and the composers Vincenzo
Bellezza and Paolo Longone.
For a time after his arrival in Italy
Cause showed Improvement. has nA-