Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-10-20
The Death of an ActOr On the
Stage


John G.. Ferris, of the Hollday-Street
Theatre Company, was paralyzed While
playing on the stage Of that theatre on Fiji
day night, and died a few hours latef. tie
was native of Ireland, thirty-elght years
CT age, and had played for twenty-five
years on the American stage. Some twelve
or fourteen years ago he was member OF
John T. Ford's Holliday-StreeJ Theatre
Company.
He is well known III Baltimore, and has
made large number Of friends. Ills first
appearance in this city was last week as
"George Tallboys," in Lady Audley's Sc
cret. He was with Lady Audley IN the
park at a well when she assumes sudden
faintnesS and asks him to dip her handler
chief in the water to cool her brow. While
he is in the act OF comply ing, she Strlkes
him ON the head With tine iron crank ana
pushes him down the we'll, the old wall
railing Oh him. Lit was during this scene
that Mr.. Ferris was stricken with paraly-
sis.
At the end of his previous scene he had
gone to Mr.. q. B. Collins, stage manager,
saying, evidently in great eNcltemen, oh,
God what is this coming over me ! Is II
death, or what ?" Nh. Collins endeavored
to rally him, saying it was only nervous
ness. He again exclaimed, my hand is
dead oh l hope it is not paralysis. Mr.
Collins replied, ''Oh nonsense, Jack, 1t is
only a nervous spasm; you Will soon re-
cover" AT this moment his cue was
given and he started for the stage, eXclalm-
ing, sWatch me +! don't know what am
saying" He endeavored to get through
the scene, but as it proceeded he grew
worse, and staggered about the stage like
drunken man. The audience, supposing
him to be intoxicated, began to laugh and
shout, While Miss Mortimer, who was
playing Lady Audley, endeavored to aid
him by pushing him i'll the well to consum-
mate the action ct the scene. No traps
were used, and no accident could have or
dinarily occurred had he fallen into the
we'll, OF which the stage formed the bot
tom.
Mr. Ferris, in semi-conscious state,
took the handkerchief to dip it in the we'll
and staggering up the stage was abous to
utter the last words OF his part, which
were ''This is the last service shall ever
render you," when the shou5s and laugh
ter CT the audience seemed to make him
realize that they thought him drunk. He
turned slowly to assure them that he was
not, and with great difficulty uttered the
broken sentence, ''LadieS and gen tie
men, [ am" and staggering back grasped
the frame Of the well, as the curtain was
dropped amidst the shouts and jeerS OF the
audience. Mr.. Collins went Immediately
before the curtain and assured the people
that the poor fellow was not drunk, as he
adknown him for twenty years and would
stake his reputation upon his sobriety and
fidelity to his duty as an actor.
The sufferer was removed to Lutt's Ho-
tel, where he boarded, and DR.. Houck was
summoned to attend him, but he died. as
stated, before morning. The fact OF his
paralysis was announced before the thea
tire closed, and the play was finished with
out '.Tallbpys."
Mrs. Ferris is an actress, and had been
travelling until lately. Her husband had
sent her money TO rejoin him in Baltimore,
where he could secure her an engagement.
Mr.. Gilmore has announced benefit for
Mrs Ferris on the 26th inst, at Holiday
Street Theatre, the entire company volun-
teering for the occasion. The members of
the profession in the city have expressed
great sympathy for the widow, and a purse
Of $350.5O was Immediately raised. The
contributions were as follows: E. a. So
thern and the Academy Of Music company,
$40; VIM. J. Gilmore and the Holiday
Street Theatre company, $165.50, and
Stuart Robson and Ford's Opera House
company, $4O.-Baltinore Sun.