The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-08-05
GOLDFNVOICE SILENT
Enrico Carusc Passed Away
At Naples Today
WAS ON WAY TO HEALTH
Underwent Surgical Incision
Sunday, Which Proved Fatal;
Born In 1873


Born In 1873
Associated Press Dispatch.1
Naples, August 2.-Enrieo Ca
russo. world famous tenor, died
here today.
London, August 2.-Enrico Ca
russo. world famous tenor, underwent
an operation Sunday, over the results
of which the surgeons are pesslmis-
tic, SAYS an Exchange Telegraph dis
patch from Rome today, quoting a
Naples message. CaruSo was said to
be extremely weak yesterday after
noon, the weakness OF mis- heart
necessitating injection camphor every
two hours.
The operation. the dispatch says
was for an abscess between the liver
and the diaphragm, which caused
acute peritonitis. Caruso's wife and
his brother are at his bedside.
The tenor was until week ago on
the way to recovery from the long ILL
mes which began in New York last
winter, early in the operate season,
relapse and was removed from Sor-
rento to Naples.
He arrived at Naples Sunday night
adds the message, and the specialists
who were called in decided to operate
Immediately.
Caruso's illness In New York.
New York, August 1.-THE last
word received here from Naples was
that Enrico Caruso was improving
nicely and that his voice would not
be permanently impaired by his i'll
ness. When the tenor sailed from
New. York for Italy on May 20 he ap-
peared TO still be very Ill and weak
although his physicians insisted that
he was on the road to rapid recovery
and would soon regain his health
abroad.
Caruso's Illness first began during
last Christmas week when he suffer
ed an attack of pleurtsy. His con-
dition growing worse, the singer q
few days later underwent an opera
ton to relieve him of an accumula-
ton of pus in the pleural cavity, ex-
udate having collected between the
pleura and the lungs themselves! II
was deemed advisable to operate
again for a secondary abscess.
Hovered Between Life and Death.
After these operations Caruso con-
tinued in a serious condition for more
than a week and was lowering be-
tween life and death. Early in Feb
ruary there was another sudden turn
for the worse and he suffered a heart
attack. His friends were called tc
his bedside. Two priests visited him
and one administered extreme unc-
ton, the belief being the singer was
near death.
A group of specialists were con.
stantly at the bedside Of Caruso fight
ing to save his life. They were aided
in their work by the use of oxygen
which was administered TO the pa.
tient in an effort to carry him through
the crisis.
During the latter part of February
the condition Of the famous singer
improved slowly but steadily, al.
though 1t was necessary for him tc
undergo a third operation for an.
other small abscess. A few weeks
later he was removed to Atlantic Cit,
where he rested preparatory to his
Word of the first illness of Carusc
at the time he was stricken with
pleurisy came as shock to his many
friends in this country and abroad a!
he had been singing with the Metro
politan Opera company during thu
present season, here and in Philadel
phia and was enjoying one Of tn,
best seasons of his Life.
Many Messages Received.
Messages from all parts of tn,
world inquiring as to bis illness were
received at the Caruso apartment
They were sent not only by person.
known in the world Of music, Bu
from many admirers who had sat il
his audiences at some time In tn,
twenty five years Of his career as al
opera star.
Up to the time of his sailing TO,
Italy, reports were current tina
Caruso's voice had not withstood tn,
raVages OF his many weeks of i'll
ness: These were stoutly denied b,
his friends. When Caruso left fol
Italy, he appeared confident that h,
would return to America next fall
Metropolitan Opera company.
Shortly, however, after the teno
had arrived in Italy, reports began t.
drift back to this country that h,
would not sing again before tn,
American public in his old voice
Caruso, however, Immediately cablet
a denial OF these reports declarin,
that when l want to show have no
lost my voice will do so at tb,
proper time and place"
Early this month word came from
Italy that Caruso was not recoverinJ
as rapidly as had been expected AMI
seemed depressed, but friends declar
ed his voice was returning and tina
he sang short time each day.
News of Death Great Shock.
Reports reaching Rome at this time
stated that Caruso would be able Il
sing In New York by next winter
though friends reluctantly admit IL
will never be quite the same again.
Caruso was also reported to be liy.
ing a secluded life in a hotel neal
Naples, never mixing with the othel
hotel guests, and taking his meals II
his private suite.
News - of Caruso's death on thu
heels Of continued reassuring reports