The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-08-02
WORLDS GREAT TENOR
FAILS TO RALLY AFTER
OPERATION At NAPLES
Passing of Famous Singer
Comes as Surprise
America Mourns.

Naples, Italy, Aug. 2-By
The Associated Press. .)-EnricO
Caruso, world famous tenor,
died here today.
CargSO was operated on re-
Gently for an abScesS between
The liver and the diaphragm,
which caused acute perItohILs.
The ARTISTS wife and his brOtner
were at his bedside.
The tenor was until a week
ago, on the way to recovery
frGm the long illness which be-
gan in New York, last winter,
early in the operate season,
when suddenly ne had an uneX-
pected relapse and was removed
from Sorrento to Naples.
He arrived at Naples sunday
night, and the specialists VINO
were called i'll, decided to Oper-
ate Immediately.
The condition of the singer which
lad been considered satisfactory
until recently, became grave yes
terday, peritonitis developing. and
another operation being consider
ed necessary.
From the beginning of his re-
lease, there was serious concern
over the outcome, and last night
his life was despaired of. During
the night the condition of the pa
tient grew worse steadily and the
career of the great artist came to
an end with his death at an early
hour this morning.
IL was at 80 O'Clock that hope
for the singer was virtually aban-
doned A sinking spell set in at
that hour, and CarUso died shortly
afterward.
New York Meurns.
| New York, Aug. 2.-The death OF
Enrico CarusO beneath the skies Of
I bis own Italy today caused sorrow
On every highway and byway OF
| New York.
Here he was loved by all; the
poor of East Side tenement, the
wealthy of Fifth avenues stately
mansions, The countless numbers
who filled the seats of the Metro
politan opera house between the
sparkling pit and the sombre gal
IerieS whenever the Incompatible
tenor sang a role.
On the stage Caruso always was
cheerful. His gaiety in responding
to curtain calls, his gracious S0"s
and unexpected tricks, his mex
haustible energy, aroused an al
miration that knew no boundaries,
creeds or birth.
The possession of a voice that
thousands considered the most per
feet ever given to man palled
upon the great tenor and he would
express a regret that he could not
be Just an ordinary somebody.
THE burdens of my gift are
greater than the rewards" ne
would say.
Personal friends knew Caruso to
be as cheerful in private life as
on the stage. Trouble seemed to
follow him, yet he kept cheerful
and undismayed.
Last December a dishearteni1g
series of mIshaps preceded the i'll
ness which led TO his death. On
the eighth he strained his side
when making an energetic exit aft
er the aria ''Vesti la Giubba" IN
"Pagliacci."
Two days before Christmas ne
| Law in bed, his chest under treat
ment for "intercostai neuralgia"
! III
la Juive" was not denied the 10Y
of hearing him, for he left his sick
room and sang the role OF "Eleaz-
ar"
This was his last appearance on
the stage.
Christmas he spent in bed. and
the next day came word that pleuT-
isy had attacked him.
Three days later ne burst blood
vessel in his throat during a per
fformance OF "Elisir d. AmOre"
/ il Brooklyn, but he brayely carried
on.
Tells Son OF Death.
Culver. Ind, Aug. 2.-Enrico Ca
russo, Jr., son of the famous tenor,
was enroute to Chicago when in
formed of his fathers death this
morning. Young CarusO, who is a
student at Culver Military academy,
left here early with committee
from the academy, in charge Of an
exhibit the school is presenting al
the Pageant of Progress, being held
in Chicago.
When word of Caruso's death was
received through the Associated
/ Press. officials at the academy
wired ahead of the train. Young
i Caruso received the message at
Plymouth, Ind, where he immedl-
ately left the Culver party anf
started back to Culver.
New York, Aug. 2.-The last
word received here from Naples
was that Enrico Caruso was i'm
proving nicely and that his voice
j would not be permanently impaired
by his illness.
When the tenor sailed from New
York for Italy or May IS. he ap-
/ peared to still be very i'll and weak
although his physicians insisted
THAT he was on the road to rapid re
! covery and would soon regain hii
health abroad.