Evening journal., 1921-08-02
CARUSO, FAMOUS TENOR,
DIES Nv NAPLES TODAY
contlnued dom First Page.

However, ne sank Steaully. ttls
agony increased. His strength waned.
injections Of camphor were re-
quired every two hours to stimulate
his fluttering heart.
His breathing was difficult and be-
came increasingly labored.
His wife, who also maintained
her courage, remained at the bed
side for hours.
She saw her husband steadily
drawing nearer to the gates OF death
but remembering the successful
fight he made against what were
considered overwhelming odds dur
ing his previous illness in New York,
she maintained her composure and
confidence that he again would
weather the storm.
The operation originally had been
planned for some time today. But
during the night the specialists saw
Caruso failing so rapidly that they
feared he could not survive until
dawn 1t was decided to operate at
once.
Following the operation surgeons
stated that Caruso's death was only
matter OF hours.
At 4 a. m, his heart ceased to
beat. His relapse was sudden and
unexpected. especially in view OF the
fact that he had been feeling un-
usually well and that he believed he
had regained his voice.
Only a week ago he received
visit from the celebrated tenor, Mon
tesani and the soprano, Dehilalgo,
before whom he tried his voice.
They agreed that II retained all its
former beauty.
All Italy was saddened by the
death, but here in Naples the effect
was most profound.
Many persons had Kept an all
night vigil near where Caruso lay
dying. At dawn more we're recruit
cd to the crowd. only to learn that
the golden voice was stilled. Women
wept as the word sped. Men re-
moved their hats and crossed them
selves.
The last word had been that Ca
russo was determined not TO die. His
worshippers did what they could.
Hundreds offered prayers for his re-
covery. The gifts they tried to send
to his chamber varied from the
cheapest flowers to the most mag
nihcent offerings.
The last picture many had OF the
singer was when he first arrived his
face slightly tanned by the Italian
sun. his shoulders well back and the
ever present smile on his face.
That was when he was well, conf
dent that his voice had not been
impaired and when he was on the
way to Pompeii TO offer thanks for
his recovery.
The next that Naples heard was
that he was again threatened with
death.
The general confidence that Ca
ruso's glorious voice again would
ring from the stage in the passages
from Samson" or sob through
"Pagliacci." was enhanced by the
singers own confidence.
AS he stepped from the Presidente
Wilson on arrival here last May, his
step was sprightly. He declared nc
had tested his voice during the voy-
age from New York and that he was
a well man.
s "a summer at Sorrento will b'
enough" he said.
8 He went to his villa there. He tool
g his usual keen Joy in life, devotini
= some time to music, more to his lii
Il tie daughter Gloria, and a great dea
o Of resting.
IS lie boasted that he could feel hi
strength growing. Visitors were in
n fected by his own assurance an
b carried the word that Caruso tn
B. great was himself.
Occasional stories which reache
the outer world that Caruso wa
discouraged and that he had con
} fessed a doubt as to his recover
were denied promptly. On one occa
}, sion he sent a cablegram to tn
United Press denying a story whic
"a had been carried to America. Tha
story. now proves true, was tha
~ never again would the great tenc
wait for the curtain TO rise that h
, might dash out from the wings
receive the tumultous applause
his admirers.
In the last weeks at Sorrent
'p Caruso convinced himself that b
had shaken off the ill-luck whio
or pursued him from the time an eftoi
was made to bomb him at Havan
n That incident was followed by Oh
theft of Jewels. on the stage in N
p Metropolitan opera house he was II
iured by a fan and still later
Sc burst a bloOd-vessel in the throa
Then came the long and serio'
illness in New York. When he ma
recovered from that and come hon
Is he was confident that all his uo'
bles we're over. He declared he h'
made a fresh start and that
Ct. would be many years before al
I,ssss other man could claim the title
I7s the greatest singer"
i7s Arrangements for the funer
800 were not completed today. The sin
er's American wife was almost pre-
trated after her long vigils at q
ct bedside, but Caruso's relatives al
An employees stood ready to take char
354 Of most of the details
ss9g The death hardly had been a
''0 nounced before condolences We
pouring in by wire. These car
I'D from all classes-from the humble
1b peasant who had seen his "PagliacC
of TO rulers who had decorated him.
10 It was expected that Caruso W
N be buried after one OF the most ii
pressive funeral services ever CO