LAURENCE IRVING DIED TO SAVE HIS WIFE
Laurence Irving, the noted actor, son of the late Sir Henry Irving, died trying to save his wife. F. E. Abbott, of Toronto, was the last man to see Irving alive.
“I met him first in the passageway,” he said, “and he said calmly, ‘Is the boat going down?’ I said that it looked like it.
“‘Dearie,’ Irving then said to his wife, ‘hurry, there is no time to lose.’ Mrs. Irving began to cry, and, as the actor reached for a life-belt, the boat suddenly lurched forward and he was thrown against the door of his cabin. His face was bloody and Mrs. Irving became frantic. ‘Keep cool,’ he warned her, but she persisted in holding her arms around him. He forced the life-belt over her and pushed her out of the door. He then practically carried her upstairs.”
Abbott said: “Can I help you?” and Irving said, “Look after yourself first, old man, but God bless you all the same.” Abbott left the two, man and wife, struggling. Abbott went on deck and dived overboard. He caught hold of a piece of timber, and holding on tight, he looked around. Irving by this time was on the deck. He was kissing his wife. And as the ship went down they were both clasped in each other’s arms.