IRVING SAYLES DEAD.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume 1, Issue 3, 9 February 1914, Page 8

IRVING SAYLES DEAD.

A SUDDEN CALL. THE INQUEST., An enquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of Mr Irving Sayles was held at the morgue this afternoon by Mr H. W. Bishop, District Coroner. Edith Sayles wife of deceased, stated that her husband was 42 years of age and always enjoyed good health. Yesterday morning he* did not seem very well and he complained of heart palpitation. . . . ' Dr Edward. Jennings said he was called to see the deceased yesterday at 12.30 and found him dead in his bedroom. He made a post mortem examination of the body and he found considerable adhesion between the liver and tho diaphragm, pointing to past chronic 5 inflammation. The liver was also much enlarged, as was the spleen, while the lungs were normal-. There was fluid in. the pericardium: The heart was enlarged, flabby, and pale, and apparently in an advanced state of fatty degeneration. • John Thomas Sutton, the licensee of the Dominion Hotel, gave evidence as to the collapse and subsequent death' of Mr Sayles.

The .Coroner returned a verdict that the deceased died from embolism of the coronary artery.

That glad comedian, Irving Sayles, has taken the last call.

" Irving Sayles! What follower of vaudeville is there who has not heard df Irving Sayles?" asks Martin C. Brennan, in " Footlights." ~"For almost a decade he has been synonymous with the most striking figure in the variety business of Australasia.' ■ By a paradox, Irving Sables was known as one of the ''whitest:''•■ men on the vaudeville stage. And he had been on it for 32 years. ■

v Born in Quincy, Illinois, U.5.A.," on February 16/'1872, Irving Sayles was in his forty-second year when his death came yesterday. His'early days, so he said, were spent in those depredations dear to thelreart of the littler coloured boy—chicken stealing. At that.he was an adept—and already Very fleet of foot.

At ten years of age he joined the famous Haverly Minstrels, as a member of the drum corps in the street parades, and a triangle beater in the first part of the show. With this organisation he played, in all the principal centres of America for some considerable time. "Next he vras with Leo Johnson's Georgia Minstrels, 1 and with them played all the "smalls;" It was with J.ohnson's that Sayles first did his "Silence and Fun" act, which, afterwards amused* Australia so much.',. For six years after he left Johnson's Sayles was with Richards and Pringle's. Minstrels, doing his -own special work, in addition to playing in sketches and dancing in a clog sextette. Another season passed with Sawyer's Minstrels in Chicago—the first continuous show in America. From there he went', to the Hick's and when they amalgamcied with Sawyer's he. came to Australia with them in 1888. The same year saw him in New Zealand. The show broke up and was reOrganised, and another Australasian tour resulted. Savles played Quambo in "Uncle Tom's" Cabin." In'lS9l Sayles joined" Frank Smith at the Alhambra, going from there to the Gaiety, Melbourne. In that theatre commenced his partnership with Charlie Pope—perhaps the happiest corner duo, from a financial point of view, that this side has known. ' In those days Sayles was a runner to be counted with over 50, 75, and even the 100 yds. He ran with the professionals, and it is said that he was never beaten. In challenge matches he beat such men as Delaney, Sharp, Delohrey, and Franks. The partnership ended, he began work with the late. Harry Rickards's, where he was joined about five years ago by his partner, Wharton. Some two years ago, when the old first parts were abolished, ' Sayles and Wharton '' teamed'' in vaudeville, and have won their way to success steadily ever since. Always on the stage, Sayles was a natural comedian. - His gags were mostly new, and those who worked with him say that he relied on'his spontaneity to carry him through. Off stage it is said that he was a sportsman, and the friend of many. '>