Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1855-09-19
a THRuLTNG NARRATIVE.

! A late number Of the n. I. II souRe puOllSh-
I ed the following statement Of man who had
/ been arrested near the river, supposed to be
insane, and meditating suicide. When bro't
before the magistrate, and asked to account
! for his strange conduct, he replied:
ssMy name you already know, for 1 saw you
note it in the Court. l am by profession an
actor. was educated for the ministry, but
/ after my college graduation, becoming stage
mad, left home to commence the exciting
+ life Of the theatre. Having in the opinion of
my friends disgrac-d myself, all intercourse
+ with er recognition by them was henceforth
I at an end, and ! was left to make or mar my
own fortune without one single word OF inter
+ est from those who should have been my coun-
sellors. From the day left my fathers house
1 ! have never received one solitary line,
heard a single syllable from either father, bro
I ther or sister TO show that they knew thai was
dead or alive. I was to the full proud as
/ they could he and have never asked from any
! Of them forgiveness, Or even recognition OF
ms existence and never shall. In my profess
sion was successful; rose rapidly from rep
rcse0tiug the inferior characters of the drama
4 to the aeIneation OF the lovers and the heroes,
and bid fair to one day shine as a star Of no
mean Erilianey. Ny reputation was unspllied
/ bv those vices which too frequently detract
from the good qualities Of the ,trical men, and
/ altho' sometimes annoyed by the petty jealou-
/ s. Of rivals, l was considered as promising
actor and 4 rising man. In the height Of my
/ success married Il girl connected with tine
/ theatre We had one child and were happy.
For two years we lived pleasantly, improvi-
IDENTIFY spending all the money we earned, aad
making no provisions for the future. At this
time was engaged as leading actor in South
crn city, and my wife also played in the same
establishment. Connected with the company
was man who had takcS an unaccountable
dislike to me, and who had on several Gcca-
sions caused me no small annoyance by his i'm
perfect knowledge Of his parts and oae even
ing had occasion TO reprimaRd him severely
The next night was his benefit, and he was to
play RoIla in the play of Piz&rro. I was not
in this piece, but went in the front OF the house
to witness the performance. The play went
smoothIy on until the fifth act, until the scene
where Rolla crosses the bridge bearing Cora's
child, which he has rescued from the Spaniards,
in his arms. Ny wife was the Cora Of the ev-
ening and she had our child with her. When
RoIla came on in the rescue scene, aftef
snatching the child from Pizarro, he rushed
upon the bridge holding it hlgh above his
head, and while in this position he dropped
my boy deliberately [ shall ever thinlI) from
height of ten feet to tae stage belos-the
child y.ls instantly killed, bat the whole affair
passed of as an accident, and nothing could
a., -,
into our house. My wife could not bear to re-
main in that city, sowe came North. was not
known in New YOrIl. and we arrived here in
bad season, after the companies were made up;
and as our necessities forced us TO do some
thing, we were compelled to accept engage
ments to perform subordinate parts. We had
been but two months in the city, and | could
see that our great grief was killing my wife,
Many a time have | seen her personating char
acters Of comedy, dancing, and, while on the
stage, seemingly the most joyous and mrthful
being in the world; yet stepping from the
boards sob like child, until the business of
.he scene called her again before the lights,
and she would resume her part with tears still
wet on her cheeks. This could not go on. She
fell sick, and I could not afford an attendant,
but had to undertake the double duty of tax
ing care Of her and keeping my engagement
a, the theare, for my salary was all had to
live on, and l mus play see my wife die IN
want. Ny earnings We're insufficient TO meet
the demands Of food and medicine, and one by
one every valuable article vi furniture onward
robe went to the pawnbrokers. have gone
hungry 30 the theatre, enacted some royal
part, seemingly giving away millions OF dol
lars, and made presents of priceless worth,
when | had not money to buy a loaf of bread,
or pay nurse to attend on my sick wife.
Night before last, played usual, and after
the performance hurried home. She was worse.
sent for physician, bat MS help was useless.
She died that night. was oblged-Aiy Godi
to sell her stage wardrobe to buy her coffin.
for | would not tell how utterly destitute vas
\ few members of the company attended the
funeral, and yesterday we buried her. / am
now alone in the werld, and no ore will care one
iot how soon the broken-down actor follows
his wife and boy. did not play the night of
the funeral bpt at night / walked out by the
river. I must have acted strangely. for was
arrested as insane. ! cannot live without = ork;
so tomorrow night play 'sa lover, ?" in a com
edy and no one in the front shall know that
the actor is anything but the careless man he
; seems thank you, Sir, foI your sympathy !;
for yours are the first Kind words have heard
form any, save the corpse buried yesterday,
since came to your city,
, Anv one who does not believe the foregoing
story doubts the actors word, not ours ; but
anv one who discredits the reality Of the man,