The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-01-11
BOOTH AND JOHANNES.
An Exciting Sword Combat Between the
Two in Richard III.

An exciting stage combat between the elder
Booth and Count Johannes Is described by
the latter In some "reminiscences contributed
to one OF the New York papers some time
ago: Upon u New Years evening Richard Ill
was tho dramatic performance. Like Mr..
Hamblin, Mr.. Booth WINS pleased to leave the
combat upon BDsworth-jeld TO my direction,
and we rehearsed 1t admirably, for he was
then sober. During the afternoon he began
drinking Happy New Year" and continued
IL In the evening In his dressjng-room. After
[ was attired In my splendid arnor and
plumed hat, and while adjusting the slight
est inaccuracy OF my costume before the MIR
ror In the green-room, Mr.. Jennie Ander-
son, the humorous Irish ~prompter, APP
preached, and In his peculiar go0d-natured
manner said to me: George, my boy, be on
your best guard as the Earl for King
Booth Is as drunk as q lord, and swearing be-
hind the scenes to fight and kill the Earl OF
Richmond So mind your eye"
lust then the fifth act commenced, and, as
the future "Henry VII" ! entered upon the
stage, and, amid the applause at my recep-
tlon, | saw Mr. Anderson holding "Riehard
III by main force 10 prevent him rushing
upon the stage pit once 70 Kill, ~ no said.
that Internal Earl OF RiehmondP" Sud-
denly releasing himself from the prompter,
"Rlchard LII" rushed upon the Duke OF
Norfolk" aud, with one blow Of his sword.
cut his knlghtly plume in two. pieces, saying
at the same time: take that. i odd you to
saddle White Surrey for the field tomorrow,
and you did not do it! Rememberl | made
you the first Duke Of Norfolk" This was
an historical fact, and Mr.. Booth was q good
historian. He continued cursing the Earl OF
Richmond off the scenes, was wild with
rage, and actually considered himself "Rich-
ard Ill" Finally the last scene OF the tragedy
was reached, and he entered upon it foaminR
at his mouth, and maddened with maniac
fury. Not one incident OF the rehearsed COM
bat did he remember; all had been forgotten
In his inebriate brain. He had but one
thought, one idea, and that was TO kill me
as the Earl OF ~Richmond;;" for so to him l
appeared, as the Welsh heir to the throne.
"Richard Ill" 1. O., Mr.. Il Doth, brought
all his tiger energy against me-, and there
was reality In his words In the tragedy, "Of
one, or both OF us, the time Is GOMEZ Never
In the history OF the stage was there such o
real combat as that which followed, and had
/ not been one OF the most calm and sklllIul OF
swOrdSmen, ! should nave been cut TO pieces
and died upon the field instead Of Richard III.
As 1t was, | merely defended myself from hts
furious attacks, and as he could not touch me
became more enraged and frantic; foam at
his mouth and curses upon his lips. III au-
aience, 2000 persons, "applauded to the very
echo, that should applaud again, all Delev-
Ing that there never was Sucn a simulated
combat as that before them; but it was, In
fact, a reality they %appIauded. 1t last, he
becoming exhausted from his maniac at
tempts to kill me, | thought 1t was time fog
me professionally to return the compliment,
and consequently l gave him the coup de grace,
or blow of death, as I thought. BELIEVING that
he would fall Il took the stage" waen, quick
as a hash, he followed mo and aimed a blow
at my head. / suddenly turned anc dlsarmed
him, seized him by the throat, threw him and
held the madman down. at the same time
saying to him, Richard III, are you dead2'
Deady he replied; no! you internal Fart
of Richmond! Down. down. to hdI, and say
| sent you therei' | CAV a signal TO the
prompter TO drop the curtain, andMr. Ham,
bin, Mr.. Anderson and myself lifsed the ex-
hausted body OF the dead King andtook him.
to his room, and an hour elapsed before
Richard was himself againl"