The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-09-14
STAGE FENCING.
The Fierce Fights Of Kean and Booth.


The number of wounds received in
stage fencing is almost countless.
Edmund kean was brilliant swords
man, and extremely proud of his ex-
traordinary skill. In the bitter days of
his early struggles for bread more than
fame, he used to teach fencing. He
would slip his overcoat over his stage
dress after the performance. and step into
tavern adjoining the thester where his
pupils would be waiting for him. he
also taught elocution, and taking lessons
from him was tacstiously called, ~ WORD
and blow with kesn.
On the stage, like the eldest Deoth, ne
fought with fierce earnestncss. One Rae
asked him, one morning, at the rehearsal
OF Richard Ill, Where shall l nit you,
sir, to-night2"
"Where YOU car" was Kesn's reply.
In the fight Rae fought till he nearly
tainted with WEAKNESS, and could not hit
him until Kean permitted it.
kean gave otfense TO the Americans by
abusing and deriding them on the passage
to the United States, and having borne II
great deal of that sort of insolence from
George Frederick Cooke. they determined
to teach Mr. kean lesson, hence the
riots in the old Park Theater during his
engagement. All sorts OF refuse WAS
thrown at him-r1tten apples, eggs,
vegetables, and the like. The play OF
Richard ILL.," could not be heard for the
noise, and the actors went through 1t II
dumb show, but when it came to the
combat between Richmond and Richard,
the lighting WAS 50 terrific that 1t caused
lu!! in the storm, the irritated audience
held their noise and their breath-they
mad even threatened to lynch kean in
cold-blooded Boston-but his fencing that
night was that OF a mailman, aud held
them spell bound; the Richmond had to
really fight for his life.
With the decay of the classial drama
fencing like that OF kean and Booth
passed away. There are good fenCers still
on the stage, but none of the realistic
lighting OF yore. Every actor, big and
little, then could fence, and well, too, every
utllity.man expecting 10 be called upon al
amoments notice to play Richmond or
Laertes. When Macready, Booth, Adams
or ANY star of that constellation, WAS
expected in y theater, during rehearsaIs
and long after would resound the clash
81 swords, and the air would be thicker
Of sparks than the summer woods OF
dreii!cs.
Coney and Blanchard, in addition to
citing good melo-drsma with their
.plendidly trained dogs, did some magnl'
tcent lighting, principally with the
broadsword
The LAGOS used to tremble when old
Booth, rs OtheiLo, would luEge III them
they we're arfald he would Kill his man.
lie seemed to try to. In playing R'ch'
ayd one night, instead of allowing HIM
self to be done for by Richmond, ne
overpowered him, drove him clean out
If the stage door, come back and died on
ms own sword.
Never but once did he meet his match.
tie was playing Rrchard at the Pear
Street Theater to the Richlmo''d oil w Ill
lam Duffy. AT rehearsal Booth told him
10 be on his guard At night, for he ielt III
lighting trim.
Never you fear" SAID Duffy; you Il
find me fully up in the part.
At night Booth, as usual, got terribly
excited IN the combat while Duffy kept
cool aud collected.
Booths lunges, thrust and cuts were
something fearful; fire flew from their
words nj every blow, the audience
hurrahiug at the wonderful passes.
Finding he could gain no advantages
Booth resorted to iavorite dodge OF mis-
playing down" as it WAS cslled-tha'
IS, driving his opponent into the corner
of the stage, where having no room te
| fight freely, he could be easily disarmed
Duffy, seeing his game, made teint
whipped Che sword out of Booths hand
hurled it beyond reach over his head, and
stabbed HIM. Booth then reluctantly
complied with the authors instructions
and died.
Booth could fight AS well with his left
MS with his right arm, MS could John
| Wilkes his SON