The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1923-01-26

sanitarium in Hollywood where he
had been under treatment for more
than month He had been uncon-
scious for nearly two days during all
of which his wife, Dorothy Daven
port, was at his side .-
The direct cause 81 of death, &C
cording to Mr.. Reds physician, DR..
G. S. Herbert, was congestion of the
lungs and kidneys, which resulted
from the actors collapse when he
endeavored to break off the use OF
narcotics.
Reid, who was six feet tall and
whose normal weight was 100
pounds lost sixty pounds before the
end came. Up to about week ago
relatives said he was improving and
would be able to resume work In
the studio OF the famous players,
Lasky corporation by July at tns
latest.
Contracted Habit Two Years Ago
I'm winning the fight, mamma, .
was his invariable greeting to his
wife when she called on him. Mrs.
Reid said her husband contracted
the drug habit during an illness
nearly two years ago. He was work
ing on picture early in November
when he suddenly collapsed.
He was advised to take a long
rest and started on mountain trip
with Mrs. Reid, Teddy Hayes, his
trainer, and H. H. Muller. On his
return to Los, Angeles, his candition
showing no Improvement. he went
10 the sanatarium. Shortly before
Christmas his family made public
the cause of his breakdown, Mrs.
Reid declaring she believed the in
formation might aid in arousing the
American people TO the necessity OF
suppressing the narcotic traffic.
Fight To Finish
1t was fight to the, finish to
conquer the drug habit his, family
made known and during the past
month he was close to death on
several occasions. At Christmas he
rallied and indications were that he
was on the, road to conyalescence
and only few days ago his con
dition was reported showing such
signs OF improvement that his return
to the screen was set for next July.
Reid was born in st. Louis, Mo-,
in 1892 and educated in New York.
His stage career began in vaude-
vile with his father in THE Girl
and The Ranger" and later he
entered the motion pictures In the
early days of this industry, asso-
ciating with Selig, Vitigraph and
Universal. - 3 5.
His entrance was as general util-
ity man and he wrote, acted and di-.
rected. He was later employed by
D. W. Griffith in the production OF
The Birth of a Nation" and enter
ed the Lasky employ in Geraldine
Farrar's Carmen" =.
Well Liked Actor
His ascendency in the motion pic
ture then was rapid and he became
one of the best liked actors inSHolly
wood and New York. Reid was. re.
markedly versatile. He was a deep
student and lover of books. He
was. deeply interested in chemistry
aid psychology and was an accom-
pIished musician, the violin and
stringed instruments as we'll as the
saxaphoneI ranking among his favor
ed interpretatiye instruments. r..
He was married to Dorothy Dav
export, motion picture actress
WI ON he met years ago when she
was starring at Universal City, AND
he was an assistant director and
utility man. They had one child and
y 49,.
-. Filmdom Mourns Death
Filmdom today mourned the
passing of Wallace Reid. His death
came as he lay in the arms OF his
wife, known in the screen world as
Dorothy Davenport, and just after
he had mumbled in semi delirium
"God-I-please." TX. &c.,. ID
He had been unconscious for
many hours but in his last talk with
his wife when his mind was clear,
he seemed to be aware, relatives
said, that death was almost upon
him. At that time he said, Tell
them Mamma, have won my fight
that | have come back" a g
have come back"
He had called his wife mamma"
since the birth of their son, Billy,
five years ago. LII
sympathy For Widow.
Representative OF all phases of
motion picture work offered their
sympathy TO his widow, little Billy
and the tiny daughter the .eeids
adopted some time ago. TriN'-s,s to
The 'saA actor were many.
Owe have lost one o. I-lr