Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1865-06-15
EcceutrIciriea Of the Father of the
ASsasuin,

| Junius Brutus Booth. the father OF the
assassin of the President. was one OF the
Z most eccentric men. as well as one OF the
most distinguished tragedians, ever IN this
country. Indeed. some of his actions sa-
vored rath, of insanity than eccentrIclty
/ but it was the insanity produced by the
most reckless and unbourded indulgence
in intoxicating liquors, temporary IN It's
; effect, and seemingly unharmful to his
great genius, but telling fearfully upon Ms
constitution, which he reduced to mere
wreck. Everything-hiS personal reputa-
ton, his professional engagements, the en-
, treaties of his friends, were diSregarded oy
! him when he took notion to "go on
spree" and there is scarcely city in the
Union where he has not BEEN picked up
out OF the cutters, or theatre here ne
has not disappointed an audience BY fail
ing to "come TO time. This he dio
twice in Richmond. some years since. The
third night the manager managed to get
him sobered sufficiently to make his ap-
pearance in Richard Ill. The house was
crowded " from pit to dome " with an ex-
cited audience. and his appearance on the
stage was the signal for storm OF cat
calls, wells and Kisses, and abuse. Oo-
tanning silence a, length. he apolosised, ac-
knowledged his vice, which he said was
beyond his contr !, and promised 10 per-
form the piece TO the best OF his ability II
they would allow him TO go on. He was
permitted 10 proceed. and truly never did
he perform the crooked backed tyrant
better. Rounds Of enthusiastic applause
shook the house. and again and again he
WAS called before the curtain. In the last
scene, when slain by Richmond. he fell
with his head toward the audience. and
in the moment of breathleSs silence which
followed, raised himself on his elbows,
and regarding the audience with lend
i.h grin, such as none but he could as
sumo. yelled: How do you like that.
Cd d-n you:" Some of the people in
the orchestra Invent for him." but the
curtain fell. and Booth disappeared.
On another occasion. Gabriel Harrison.
an old friend and actor of great merit
went 10 call upon Booth IN Baltimore.
He found him at -four store. where he
had Just purchased barrel Of -four to
take 10 his home. just outside the city.
Harrison addressed him with How do
YOU do, Nr. BOOTH" "Who the h-l
are you, sir? Don't you know who
am: I'm Junius Brutus Booth, sir,
yelled he in a crescendo movement from
forte to for;issimo. Wheeling TO couple
of men who had rolled out his barrel OF
-four, he ordered them with lid yell 10
hoist in that barrel" and they obeyed
him with remarkable rapidity. tossing II
into high, wagon he had waiting. Then
turning 10 Harrison, he ordered him i'm
periously, Get in there, sir" and his
manner enforced obedience. Selling
sharp ha,chet which lay in the bottom OF
the wagon. with one blow he smashed in
the head Of the barrel. and then. without
waiting for the tail-board of the wagon TO
be put up, howled to Harrison to drive.
Harrison seized the lines and drove like
Jehu." Booth standing up beside him YELL
ing. Faster, faster :" fiourishing the
hatches about his head with frightfully
ftrocious swoops, at times within an inch
of his nose. The -four STRAINED out along
along the street, the horses gslloped. Har-
rison crouched in terror, expecting mo-
mentarily TO be ,omahawked. and the &C.
centric savage beside him yelled and Hour
i>hed the ha,chet until they got out Of
town. Harrison was afterwards hospita-
bly, treated BY hun, but made his escape
as soon as possible. and never went to see
Booth aca;? -Pitts6Dg Chronicle.