The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-06-06
Lillian RusSeIl-MrS. Moore,
Dies From ShipbOard Injury.
She Had Been FavOrite of the
American Stage Many Years.
OPERATIC CAREER UNIQUE
She Was Chorus Girl Until She
Was Discovered by Pastor.
Sang in His Theater a Week
Before Her Parents Knew.

Pittsburgh, June 6.-Mrs- Alexander
p Moore, better known to the Ameri-
] can public as Lillian Russell, and for
years one of the notable figures of the
stage, died early today from compli-
cations resulting from an injury re-
ceived aboard ship while she was re-
turning to the United States from
Europe recently.
days, and her condition late yester
day became grave and eminent
specialists were summoned for con-
sultation today. She died at 2:2o
o'clock this morning.
Funeral services of Mrs. Moore will
be held in Trinity Protestant Episco-
pal church Thursday afternoon.
The body will then be placed in a
vault until a suitable mausoleum can
be erected by her husband, Alexander
P. Moore, publisher of the Pittsburgh
Leader.
Chicago, June ct was in Chicago
that Lillian Russell laid the foundation
of what became a spectacular stage
career.
One of eight children. she was born
in Clinton, Iowa, Dec 4, 1851, and
when but six months old was brought
to Chicago by her parents.
Her father, Charles E. Leonard, was
a printer by trade, and soon after his
arrival here became a member Of the
printing fiji m of Knight & Leonard.
Heart, Helen Louise Leonard, later to
become Lillian Russell first took up
the study of vocal and instrumental
music.
Voice Gift From Childhood.
Even as a child her voice was mark
ed by its quality and unusual sweet
ness. Early On life she took up choral
work in a Chicago church choir.
When she was IA she moved to New
York with her parents and there took
up the study of opera under Leo
Damrosch.
Her first appearance on the stage
was far from an operatic role for she
engaged herself at the age of 5 in
the chorus of Edward E. Rice's Pin
afore' company and appeared at the
old Casino theater in New York.
During her engagement with the
Pinafore company and while living in
boarding house in New York Tony
Pastor. on visit to friends IN the
hear the young chorus girl rehearsing
one of her songs.
Pastor Discovers Her.
Becoming interested Pastor az
ranged a meeting. Later he offered
Miss Leonard an engagement at the
old Tony Pastor theater at $50 week
1t was Mr.. Pastor who hit upon the
happy name which was to become SO
famous-"Lillian Russell
The name became a by-word almost
over night
Miss RusselTs debut with the Pastor
forces was on February Z. 1881, in
the Pirates of Pensance." Within
a few weeks she was a star of the
first magnitude.
1t is a matter of unique history that
Miss Russell had been singing at Tony
Pastors theater for a week before her
mother or other members of the fam
lily were aware of the fact.
Miss Russell sang in the Casino the
aA SG1 wnro1 LaEo
& Fields company for several years,
and later Joined the McCaun Opera
company.
In this company she was the prima
donna until her own company was or
ganized. With that company she
starred in various roles in America
and Europe and later turned to vaude-
vile.
Was Married Four Times.
During a later period she Travelled
and lectured.
1t was soon after her first entry to
the stage that Miss Russell met and
married Harry Braham, musical di-
rector of the Pinafore company. In
1885. she had divorced Braham, and
while she was appearing in THE
Sorcerer" and THE Princess of Tre-
bizonda' she married Edward Solo
mon, musical director of the Casino
orchestra.
Following her divorce from Solo
mon. she was married in 1894 to John
Chatterton. known professionally as
Signor Perugini, a tenor with whom
she sang. She married Alexander P.
Moore, Pittsburgh publisher, in 1912.
In her last years she gave her life
to the improvement of the conditions
of the poor in her home city. Those
who enjoyed her friendship said she
was earnest in that work; those whom
she benefited swear It's so.
When last seen in public-after re-
turning a few weeks ago from Europe,
where she studied immigration prob
lens at the request of the government
she was still beautiful and lovely.