The New York herald., 1921-08-03
CARUSO COLLAPSES
AND DIES SUDDENLY
Continued from First Page.

Continued from First Page. :,
penned by Caruso at Sorrento under
Gate or July IL last do not believe
II when they tell you my voice Is gone.
wrote Caruso to his friend and confidant
Of fi,e years II am feeling fine, and ]
shall yet have voice to sell for twenty
years to come.''
For several pages this the singers
last letter TO his private secretary ran
on in Carusos most happily facetious
vein "Ah. Zi-ato." he wrote in one
paragraph, these old streets of Sor-
rento look TO me almost like the good
broadway. because I meet in them SO
many New York people this summer"
Could Not Credit Report.
To Mr.. Zirato the news was brought
by newspaper reporters and at first he
refused to credit II. 1T is impossible !"
ne cried. 1T cannot be true !" The
reporters had. found him in the Caruso
suite In the HQte' Vanderbilt, which he
and his bride are. occupying at the
singers request.
Less than an hour later the private
secretary was informed of the tenor s
death. Even when there wese shown to
him the flarlng black headlines in the
afternoon newspapers he strove yet to
discredit the cabled news. Seemingly
convinced at last. he flung himself into
a chair in the beautiful apartments
wherein his friend had begun his last
grim fight for life seven months ago
and wept.
Seated beside the stricken secretary
was his young bride. who sought to
minister to his grief. Then Zirato
steadied himself. Opening drawer in
his desk he tenderly drew forth the
letter from which he read the extracts
already quoted. "Ah, and see hero -
he exclaimed. HE always was so
merry. such a joker See. he renfem-
bers that my wife and I are occupying
bis own apartments here and he says:
Dear Bruno. ! hope this long letter
from me- so full OF the C nonplace
things. may not spoil the delights of
your honeymoon!" This was too much
for the emotional secretary. As his
guest left him and his bride, both were
sobbing.
cover the TOP soon." He Wrote.
Another recent message in Caruso's
bold chirography was received last Sat-
urday by Frank Garlichs, OF the Metro
"a
postal card on which the tenor had
scrawled:
"Salutations to all the boys. Feeling
fine. Expect to be over the top soon"
That final phrase the recipient con-
strued. doubtless as It was Intended, as
voicing the sender's full confidence In
his early restoration to complete vigor
One other there was In the Hotel
Vanderbilt who felt the shock most
keenly. 1T takes half my Iife" THAT
was the comment made by Antonio
Scotti. famous baritone of the Metro
politan, whose voice had mingled har-
moniously with that of his friend and
compatriot scores OF times in such cele-
brated duets as In The Pearl Fish
ers' or II Forza del Destino." For
quarter Of a century they had been close
friends as wei! as fellow artists sharing
a worlds homage. The baritones hand
some head was bowed in grief as he
said:
"A tribute? What tribute could
pay TO such a man--to such a great,
warm heart as his? To have saved his
life would have given anything or all
l have, but, Of course. we were all
powerless to spare him"
Surprise to Physicians Here.
Only on Monday night. Mr. Scott,
said. he had read a letter written re-
Gently by Caruso to another friend In
this city. . In Ii the tenor. spoke cheer
fully OF his improved coalition and cx-
pressed confidence that he would again
be able to sing at the opening OF the
next New York operatic season. The
barytone himself had received several
letters from Caruso since the latter
reached Italy. the most recent about
two weeks ago. They related only 20
matters. Mr.. Scott said. and
made no reference TO the writer's re-
Scotti were born in Naples, but they
did not meet until they sang together
in Milan. Thence Scott went TO Covent
Garden. London, and was there largely
instrumental in bringing the attention
OF the management TO the then little
known tenor.
HonOrcd by Lotos Club.
Enrico Caruso had shared with Jean
and Edouard de Reszke and a very
few other gifted vocaiYs,s the honor OF
having been entertained at special din
ners rendered by the Lotos Club He was
their guest five years ago ana signalized
the occasion by delivering a speech in
English which increased the popularity
he already enjoyed. The Lotos Club
yesterday capied 10 Mrs. Caruso this
message: Our deepest sympathy in
your great bereavement"
For years the tenor of the golden
voice had occupied as his New York
home suite Of sixteen rooms on the
twelfth floor of the old Hotel Knicker-
booker. at Broadway and Forty-second
street. now the Knickerbocker business
building. The present tenant OF the old
Caruso suite, frm of business build
ers. memorialixed the death of the for
mer occupant In. a silent tribute with
n cessation OF all work for a period OF
two minutes.
II. C. Coppicus, head OF tho Metro
politan Musical Bureau, concert man
ayers for Caruso, made public last night
a statement advocating establishment
in the MetrOnoiIfan 0nera Houaa 80 /,