The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1848-10-25

DRAMATIC DEATH.-We have lately seen
going the. 5unds of the newspapers an account,
in the main correct, of deplorable tragedy
that occurred on the boards Of the Nashville
Theatre some fifteen years ago. The editor OF
this paper was on the stage personating the
'Friar,' when the deplorable accident occur
red, and as we observe one or two slight er-
rors in the account as now published, we
deem it proper TO make the correction.
A number of young men, with one or two
exceptions, Printers. engaged in the different
offices in Nashville, formed themselves into a
Thespian Corps and rented the Theatre with
all its scenery, and commenced giving dramat-
ic representations. They had performed two
or three weeks when Mr. J. J. Mclaughlin, a
young gentleman from Hopkinsville, n.y., oil
fine personal appearance, great dramatic tai
ent and energy of character, presented himself
to the managing committee for a situation.
His offer was accepted, and after assisting in
the representation of the drama of Rob Roy,
"Bertram, or the Castle of st. Aldobrand,
was announced, and he TO perform the part OF
Bertram. The day the piece was to be perform
ed, Mclaughlin visited the steamboat landing
to bid good by to friend who was leaving for
the East, and was accidenty taken off by the
boat aud carried some twenty miles down the
river, when he was put on shore and had TO
walk all the way back to the city, where he
arrived about sunset, completely exhausted,
and looking wild and excited to an unusual de-
gree. His associates, to whom he had greatly
endeared himself by his frank, manly deport-
ment, offered to postpone the play to some
other evening, but he, to whom the manage
ment had been given, strongly insisted that
there should be no disappointment, and re-
marked with forced smile upon his counten-
ance, that if the others were ready he was, and
he would "play Bertram as it never had been
played on those boards" He kept his word.
Evening came and the theatre was lighted
and the house was soon filled with the beauty
and fashion of the city. The play had pro-
crossed nearly to the close and had given gen.
eral satisfaction, not only 10 the audience but
Laughln appeared greatly excited during the
play, and when not on the stage he sought
some corner apart from the others, but no no.
tice was taken Of this, and he was suffered to
commune with himself alone. In the ending
of the play Bertram stabs himself and dies, and
Mclaughlin not having provided himself with
a weapon for the occasion, accepted Spanish
dirk from gentleman who had been admitted
behind the scenes. As the tragedy wore TO its
denouem ent his excitement increased, and the
gloomy spirit of the play was upon him with
a power that made strong impression of re-
atty upon the hearers, aud made them shud-
der as he pronounced the following, accompa-
MED by the plunge Of the dagger that brought
him to his death:
"Bertram hath but one foe on earth.
And he IS here Iota6s hinasey.l
1t was at this moment that he plunged the
weapon to his heart. 1t was doubtless the
suit of the excited feelings of the actor, who
had too absorbingly entered into the dreadful
spirit Ofhis hero. We charilab suppose that
he had no premeditated design of ending his life
with The play; but his complete Identification
of feeling with the part he acted, led him to
suicide as a natural consequence. He drew
the bloody weapon from his bosom and throw
ing it from him tell at full length upon the
stage.
The hallucination, if such we may call it.,
did not end with the plunge Of the dagger
His feelings bore him along still further
There is still, after some exalama tons of sur
prise from the tragic monks, dying sentence
for him TO repeat. He raised himself on his
elbow and went through it with startling eff
feet:
with burst of exuliation.l
Il died no felons death
A warriors weapon freed warriors soul"
While he was pronouncing these, the last
words of the tragedy, his eye and manner were
fearfully wild; the blood was falling from his
bosom upon the stage and running down to,
wards the young gentleman who had persona
| ted the then lifeless lady lmogene! As soon
as the last words were pronounced he fell back
wards-to rise 40 more. He lived from Thurs
day night unit! Saturday morning. when he
expired in much pain.
His remains were attended TO the grave BY
1 his companions, who raised a marble slab to
memory, on which is Inscribed, if we recollect
| right. the last words he spoke upon the stage