New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-08-03
Despite Conviction of His
Full Recovery After I'LL
ness Here New Abscess
Brings Unexpected End
Weakness Prevents
Action by Surgeons
Acutely Suffering Early in
Morning, Tenor Sue
cumbs at 9 O'clock:
His Wife Is at Bedside

Speeidt Cable 10 The Tribune
Copyright. 1921. New York Tribune Inc.
NAPLES, Aug 2.-Enrico Caruso
is dead
The golden-voiced tenor, who, un-
til recently had been considered well
on the way to recovery from his i'll
ness of last winter, failed to recover
from sudden relapse and the end
came this morning. The physicians
diagnosed the cause as peritonitis,
resulting from an abscess between
the liver and diaphragm.
Caruso's death, his friends here
said, was the result of an impru-
dence risked when he made his pill
grimage to the shrine of the Ma.
donna at Pompeii in fulfllment of q
VOW he had made in New York that
when he recovered his voice he wmld
pay visit Of thanksgiving.
Caruso tried his voice last week.
and his friends found in it all the
melody and power that had brought
the musical world to his feet. Over.
Joyed, the tenor Immediately set out
on the journey to Pompeii. accom-
panied by his wife.
Cold Settled in Stomach
After his visit to the shrine. Caruso
imprudently visited the excavations.
where he caught cold, which settled
in his stomach. Four specialists were
called into consultation at his hotel in
Naples last night. They insisted that
an operation was the only hope of saw
ing the patients life. He was suffer
ing excruciating pains and it was
necessary to inject camphor into his
veins every two hours to support his
heart.
NAPLES, Aug (By The Associated
Press).-Caruso's death at o'clock
this morning at the Hotel Vesuvius in
this city came almost as an echo Of
his avowal. less than a week ago, that
he soon would be singing again as in
the old days. He had been brought
here from Sorrento in a desperate eff
fort to save his life
Only few days before Caruso had
been able to visit the famous sanctu-
ary of Our Lady of Pompeii, giving a
thanks offering for his recovery He
had gone also 20 the wonderful Island
of Capri, where he attended a lunch
con in his honor. But soon afterward
unfavorable symptoms in the form of
a high fever manifested themselves,
and his wife telegraphed to Rome
specialist to come to Sorrento 1t was
then discovered that a new internal
abscess had developed.
Too Weak for Operation
Caruso's removal to Rome for an op-
Grafton was advised. but he showed
such weakness that it was Impossible
to transfer him further than Naples,
where he arrived by sea Sunday eve
ming. Four eminent physicians were
called, and their examination showed
the presence of subphrenic abscess,
accompanied BY severe peritonitis.
An operation at noon to-day was de-
cided upon, but the patients condition
became suddenly worse at 4:30 in the
morning, and he died soon afterward.
In order that Caruso should not tire
himself the attending physicians or
dered him not to speak, so during his
last night he uttered no word
Wife At Bedside
Present at the bedside were his
wife. who was Dorothy. daughter Of
Park Benjamin, of New York; Caruso's
little daughter, Gloria, and his son,
Rodolto, his brother. Giovanni. several
nephews and the composers Vincenzo
Bellezza and Paolo Longone
The burial of Caruso will take place
tomorrow amid national mourning at
the Church of Santa Maria Gracla in
Naples. it is understood.
For time after his arrival in Italy
Caruso showed improvement, his ma
tive air having a beneficial effect
Nevertheless, he conserved his strength
anu 1OE tUic IcdSOU WAS ODliRSQ 10 re-
fuse a request TO sing at reception
given by the Admiralty TO Crown Prince
Hirohito of Japan.
That his voice remained strong and
clear was evidenced when recently he
sang before the soprano Hidalgo and
the baryrone Montesanto, who expressed
their delight.
Depression Comes
There was grave anxiety, however,
when Caruso only few days ago be-
gan to show signs Of depression. The
rising temperature, which had char
acterized previous attacks, required,
and steadily his condition grew worse
until Saturday. when ne suffered from
violent pains in the abdominal region.
The medical consultation followed, and
it was apparent that the patient was
not only suffering acute physical pain,
but that his heart was weakening
rapidly. Oxygen was administered
and other measures were taken to pro-
long his vitality. 4
Caruso himself wanted to proceeds
Immediately TO Rome, but he was dis
suaded from this because such q jour