The penny press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1859-1860, 1860-01-03

WILLIAM TELL AND GEsLsR's MrNIoNs-As
ACTOR OVERCOME BY SUPERNuMnRARrEs. Sol
Smith relates this amusing story:
Ono Of our first stars in Mobile this season
(lSS5-8,) was Mr.. Barton, then newly arrived
in this country, afterward and for several
years acting manager of tho ST. Charles thea
ter, New Orleans. had known Mr.. Barton
before, at Montgomery, where he had acted
with me, and whore We had passed many
pleasant hours drinking tea, Eyes, literally
drinking teaD and discussing the play Of Ham.
let.
Mr.. Barton opened in civilian Tell" and
barring that he had weak voice, caused by
asthma, and rather imperfect utterance, the
result of bad teeth, noble representation Of
that hero he gave.
In the second act, it will be remembered
William Tell is seized by the Austrian troops,
under the command Of one Sarnem, and loaded
with chains, by order of Governor Gesler. Al
rehearsal, ss Is usual, called four Of our
"useful" people to do the seizing; but Mr..
Barton requested that instead of the actors
doing the business, would select four strong
supernumeraries, and to them entrust the task
Of seizing and crushing him down. "I always
fnd," says Mrs. B., "that supers do this bust
ness best; they are unused to the convention
alities OF the stage, and therefore aot natu-
rally" 80 it was arranged in that way.
"Instruct them to crush me down." added
Mr.. Barton " let them understand that al
the cue they are to rush upon me, and not pay
ing the least attention to what is said, or what
do, they arc to crush me down, and hold me
there till the curtain falls" Gail right" said
I, eve have some pretty strong fellows among
our supers, and they will undoubtedly crush
you down, and keep you down." "The
stronger the betterr replied B., "and be sure
to tell them to keep me down when they have
got me there. Never fear" I rejoined,
they will keep you down, undoubtedly.
At night selected four Of the strongest fsl.
lows could find, and asking my partner to
take charge of two OF them on one side, took
the other two, and stationed them directly op
posite. Being extremely anxious that the scene
should 90 well, and all depending on the final
tableaux, Ludlow and myself wsrs very par
tioular to give the supers their orders; in shoi
they stood ready at the cue to leap like tigers
upon the prey.
"Seize himl' exclaimed Sarnem-and they
did seize him. As soon as they were told to
"go," they were upon him. And obi how
quickly poor Barton found himself crushed
downi
"Let me up--you are numbering mel''
gasped the unfortunate Tell. But there was
no letting up there---no, sifl They had been
told not only to crush him down but to hold
him there, regardless Of anything that should
be done or saidj and they obeyed their orders
most implicitly. In vain Tell struggled with
his captors; In vain he swore they were kill.
Ing him. There they held him, and there
they would have held him during the remain.
der Of the night, If tho fall Of tho curtain had
not put an end to the scene. Poor Barton
helpless and painting, and breathing asthmatic
curses against the strong supers, was carried
TO tho gresn.room, and the performance va,
delayed a full half hour for his recovery.