Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-04-24


was one of the most eccentric men as well
as one Of the most distinguished trsgedlans
ever in this country. Indeed some OF ms /
actions savored rather Of insanity thsn &c.
but it was the insanity produced /
by the most reckless and unbounded in
diligence in Intoxicating liquors, temporary /
in It's effect, and seemingly unharmful to
his great genius, but telling tearfully upon |
his constitution, which he reduced to
mere wreck. Everything, his personal
reputation, his professional engagements,
the entresties of his friends, were disre-
garded by him when he took a notion TO
Tgo on spree" and there is scarcely a
CITY In the Union where he has not been
picked up out of the cutters, or q theatre
where he has not disappointed an audience
by failing to Hcome to time" This be
did twice in Richmond some years since.
The third night, the manager managed to
get him sobered up sufficiently to appearin
Richard III. The house was crowded
sfrom pit 10 dome" with an excited audience
and his appearance on the stage wss the
signal for 3 storm of cst-calls, hisses, yells
and abuse. Obtaining silence at length he
spologized, acknowledged his vice, which
ised to perform the piece to the best of his
ability if they would allow him to 60 on
He was permitted to proceed, and truly
never did he perform the "crook-bseked
tvrantp better Rounds of enthusiastic
applause shook the house, and again and
again he Wss 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 bresthless silence
which followed, raised himself on his elbows
and, regarding the audience with hendish
grin such IS none but he could assume, yell
,ed-s4ow do you,like that, Ldd-n you"
Some Of the people in the orchestra r.went
for him." out the curtain fell and Booth
disappeared.
On another occasion, Gabriel Harrison,
an old friend and actor Of great merit,
went to call upon Booth in Baltimore. BE
found him at -four store where he had
lust purchased barrel of -four 10 take to
his home, Just outside the city. Harrison
addressed him with SHOW do you do, Mr..
Booth "Who the HI are you, sir, don't
you know who l am, I'm Lucius Junius
Brutus Booth, sir, yelled he in a crescendo
movement from forte to fortissimo.-
Wheeling to 8 couple of men who had
rolled ont his barrel of -four, he ordered
them with q Wild yell, to "hoist in that
barrel" and they obsyed him with re-
msrksble rspidity, tossing it into light
wagon he had waiting. Then turning
to Hsfrison be ordered him imperiously-
'get in there, sir," and his manner en-
forced hasty obedience. Siezing q shsrp
hstchet which lsy in the bottom Of the
wagon, with one blow he smashed in
the head of the barrel and then
without waiting for the "tsil bosro" to be
put up, howled to Harrison to drive
Harrison seized the lines and drove Elike
Jehu Booth sbanding up beside him, yell
ling nfsster-faster," fourishing the hatohet
about his head with frightfully ferocious
swoops, at times within an inch of his nose.
The -four stresmed out along the street, the
horses gslloped, Harrison crouched in ter
ror expecting momentsrily to be toma-
haWked, aud the eccentric savage beside
him yelled and hourished the hatchet until
they got out of town. Harrison was after
wards Hospitality trelted by him, but made
Ills escape as soon ss possible-and-neVe
went to see Booth sgsin.
These "reminiscences of him are recalled
to us by the finding of the following in the
Louisville Journal:
HAbout thirty-three years ago, the elder
Booth, the father Of Wilkes, Edwin, etc,
came to this city upon theatrical engage
ment. he sent for US to his hotel with
many but very queer compliments. We
went. He received US kindly, but s1rsnge-
ly. In 8 little while be asked US if we we're
armed. GNot much" we answered. "Well,
how much?" said he. We drew from our
pocket spring knife, presented to US two
days before, and gave it into his hands,
showing him how it was to be used. He
Instantly raised it on high aud exclaimed
in his tragic style, "Whst is to save you
now ?" We retired q step and replied,
"Whst is to save me is your fear of this
pistolp He responded in a most Joyous
laugh, "Oh, don't care for knives or pis-
tolls, as know you don't, but wanted to
find you worthy to be my friend" We
told him that we had not thus far found
him worthy of our friendship.
He then asked us to go up 10 his room
and see some of hir departed friends
Having an awful prejudice against the
sights of ghosts, we declined. He urged
We yielded. We went with him, and he
introduced us TO twelve or fifteen roosters
hens and pullets, his travelling companions
through the country, saying that they were
deceased friends, and telling US the names
o. each. His solemnity was evidence Of
his sincerity. There was no hypocrisy il
his soul.
The next night he was advertised fol
his third appearance at the Thester. Al
immense crowd assem- bled. He didn'i
show himself Impstience became ire
pressible, and the people in the house hsc
their money returned to them at the door
As we passed down q cross street, q we'll.
known voice from 8 carriage exclaimed
"Hslloo Have you been st the Theater p
ayes" we said. "Whst sort of an audi
enee was there ?" "A tremendous one.'
"Did they see Booth ?" "No, and Boott
treated them like - dogI' GAh, well
were they vsry much disappointed
Two days afterwards we were sent for BY
the keeper of the city jail Poor Boott
was in his keeping. He had been taken il
q state of unconsciousness from the streets
and was still unconscious. He had blackeo
himself blscker than the blackest negro il
Kentucky. helped him away from the
city, and when he came again he behaved
better, and spoke his gratitude to us.
We do not mention these evidences O
paternal insanity as the slightest reason fol
the spariDg of President Lincoln's murder
or from the gsllows We mention then
simply because at a time like this, the5
may be interesting to many readers. Al
for the assassin, we repeat that he should
if possible, be hung higher than The
clouds.