New Britain herald., 1921-08-02
News Comes As Shock To World As Last Re- ports From Italy h. dicated That He Was On Road To Complete Recovery
Was First Stricken During Christmas Week, But Sub sequently Rallied and Re
 turned to Old Country.

Naples, Aug. o. (By Associated Press)-Enrico Caruso, world famous tenor, died here today.
 The condition of the singer which had been considered satisfactory un- til recently, became grave yesterday, peritonitis developing and another operation being considered necessary. From the beginning of his relapse, however, there was a serious concern over the outcome, and last night his life was despaired of. During the night the condition of the patient grew worse steadily and the career of the great artist came to an end with his death at an early hour this morn ing.
 Operation Sunday. London, Aug. 2, (By Associated Press).-Enrico Caruso, world fla nous tenor, underwent an operation Sunday, over the results of which the surgeons are pessimistic, says an Ex- change Telegraph dispatch from Rome today. quoting a Naples mes sage. Caruso was said to be ex- tre1nely weak yesterday afternoon, the weakness of his heart necessitating infection of 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 were at his bedside.
 The tenor was until a week ago on the way to recovery from the long illness which began in New York last winter early in the operatic season, when suddenly he had an unexpected 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 ioper- ate Immediately.
 Reported As Improved.
 New York, Aug. 2.-The last word received here from Naples was that Enrico Caruso was improving and that his voice would not be perma- nent1y impaired by his illness.
 When the tenor sailed from New York for Italy on May 28-he ap- peared to be very ill and weak al though his physicians insisted he was on the way to recovery and would soon regain his health abroad.
 Taken Ill in December.
 Caruso's illness first began during last Christmas week when he suf- fered an attack of pleurisy and was confined to his suite in the Hotel Vanderbilt. His condition becoming worse the singer few days later underwent an operation to relieve him of an accumulation of pus in the pleural cavity, exudate having col lected between the pleura and the lungs themselves. It was deemed ad- nJ- ondary abscess.
 After these operations Caruso con tinued in a serious condition for more than a week and was lowering be- ; tween life and death,
 Relapse in February.
 Early in February there was an- other sudden turn for the worse and he suffered an attack of heart fail ure. His friends were called to his bedside and two priests visited him and one administered extreme unc- ton, the belief being the singer was near death A number of specialists were constantly at the bedside o Carllso fighting to safe his life. They were aided in their work by the use of oxygen which was administered tt the patient in an effort to carry hin through the crisis.
 During the latter part of February the condition of the famous singer improved slowly but steadily al thought it was necessary for him tt undergo a third operation for an other small abscess. A few week later he was removed to Atlantic Cit. where he rested preparatory to hi return to Italy
 Had Wonderful Season.
 Word of the first illness of Carus' at the time he was stricken witt pleurisy came as a shock to his man friends in this country and abroad a he had been singing with the Metro ' politan Opera Co.,, during the pres ent season here and in Philadelphi and was enjoying one of the bes seasons of his life.
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