Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-09-07
VOL. l.. NEW SERIES. VOL. XIII.

terry over his feelings to keep them hidden
The play progressed. The theatre stood on
what had formerly been burial ground, and
the property man had not to go far for skulls
hut Just dug II little and brought up Il dozen
or more, and at night tossed them into the
trap for the grave-digger to shovel on the
stage. He handed skull to Hamlet. say
ing
Here's skull now hath lain yon in the
earth Tor Internationally years.
Hamlet Whose was it %
Gravedigger This same skull, sir. was
loricks skull. the kings Jester"
Hamlet took the skull saying
This"
He turned pale and staggered. for the skull
had left on il one long lock of black hair
Handed TO him upside down, the lock fell
back. revealing nail in the skull F! The ac-
tor recognized it as that of the woman whom
he had murdered Just % years before. At
this mute evidence OF his guilt coming from
the grave to confront him the actor lost pres
ence of mind and his senses
In his insane utterances he revealed his
terrible secret, and WAS only saved from pun
ishment, by his fellow actors hushing him up
and hurrying him away. He never recover
ed his reason, and died in mad house. rnv
ing of the nail in the skull.
AN ACCIDENTAL DEATH.
Blanche Shea WAS II niece of John Philip
kemble and Sarah Siddons. What brought
her here know not, but she WAS acting in
the stock in this company In 1861 she was
in st. Louis, and the piece of Jack Shep-
pard' was put up. she being cast for the part
OF Mrs Wood, who is supposed to be killed
in one scene. She WAS sitting in the dress
ing-room with the other ladies of the COM
pany. and rose AZ her scene came on, saying
lightly:
'Now am going to be killed"
In passing to the stage, she had to go
through u door to which WAS attached. as u
weight, Il tailor's goose. The rope holding
it was rotten, and as she pulled open the
door the rope broke, and the goose fell on
her head, killing her instantly.
DEATH FROM "sTAGE FRIGHT"
nsver knew of but one death occurring
from ''stage fright"
During my fathers management in Gin
cinnati, Il stage struck youth teased him ter
ribly to give him an opening.
The company being full, my father could
find no speaking part for him, but at last be
consented that he should appear as a supe
the very first opportunity that offered. THE
Carpenter of Rouen" was then strong draw
ing melo-drama, and somebody came along
and starred in it
j. A. J. Neatie was cast for the leading ju-
venile part of Antoine. In the second scene
of the second act a man is discovered in a
coffin, supposed to be dead. That silent
character my father assigned TO the aspiring
supe, who was greatly agitated over accom-
plishing the ambition of his life-that of
making his debut.
The scene represents the interior of a car
penter's shop, and Antoine is discovered
working. Mr.. Neafe, a carpenter by trade,
got immense applause by planning some
boards and expeditiously putting them togeth-
er in a rude..cofin, feat far in advance OF Joe
Murphys shoeing horse in kerry Cow.
Antoine goes to take up a board and discov-
ers a man-dead with blood upon him.
Foul play has been done, and Antoine is
wondering what he shall do under such sus-
picious circumstances, when II band of men
enter and surprise him. He is accused of
murder. but it transpires later in the scene
that it WAS only been plot to test Antoine's
courage and faithfulness. He then goes to
raise the body of the supposed murdered
man, who, according to the business of the
play, should get up. but when Neafie went to
him he did not move. He shook him. Still
he was motionless. He WAS struck with a
sudden fear. and exclaiming. Good God.
the man is dead :" called for the curtain to
drop.
The young aspirant for theatrical lOnors
was troubled with heart disease, and the
sudden shock ofappearing in public, although
he had not word to say, bad killed him.