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 a 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 , Of death, &C
cording to Mr.. Reds physician, DIR.
G. S. Herbert, was congestion of the
lungs and kidneys, which resulted
from the actors collapse when he
endeayored to break off the use OF
narcotics.
Reid, who was six feet tall and
whose normal weight was 40
pounds lost sixty pounds before the
end came. Up to about a week ago
relatives said he was improving and
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 a picture early in November
when he suddenly collapsed.
He was advised to take a long
rest and started on a 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
II was a 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
euLeTcu inc HlOllOu piCtuECSsflH inc
early days OF this industry, s asso-
ciating with Selig, Vitigraph and
Universal . So. 3 &.
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
Fla rrar'S Carmen" N..' e-.. F..
Well Liked Actor 81. -.
His ascendency in the motion pic
ture then was rapid and he became
one of the best liked actors in<Holly-
wood and New York. Reid was, re,
narkably versatile He was deep
student and lover of books. He
was. deeply interested in chemistry
aid psychology and was an accom-
p,ished musician, the violin and
stringed instruments as well as the
saxaphonei ranking among his favor
ed interpretativel instruments.
He was married to Dorothy Dav
export, motion picture actress
WI ON he met years ago when she
was starring at, Universal City, ano
he was. an assistant director and
utility man. They had one child and
adopted second. / s.s. "a
,.Z. 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." E
He had been unconscious for
many hours but in his last tais 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.
have come back"
He had called his wife mamma"
since the birth of their son, Billy,
five years ago.
Sympathy For Widow.
Representative OF all phases of
motion picture work offered their
sympathy TO his widow, little Billy
and tho tiny daughter the eeids
adopted some time ago. TriH-rs TO
thc -'saA actor were many.
1--WE have lost one o. lr