Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1884-09-03
ACTORS WHO GET HURT
AT the Hands of Their Fellow Actors |
while on the Stage-The Dangers OF the |
Theatrical Profession.

the Fourteenth street theater, through
the careless discharging of pistol,
nearly blinded Mr.. Henry Aveling, the
leading man in "Distrust." The pistol,
a large weapon, was fred point blank
into Mr.. Aveling's face, and it was
thought that the actors eyes were de-
stroyed. He said afterwards, that it
was one of the narrowest escapes he
ever had. He added: Gas I fell back
l could see nothing, and during the act
l remained in the same condition. I
think myself lucky to have saved my
sight"
An actor who witnessed the accident
said "That is very common occur
renee. It is matter of surprise that
accidents are not more numerous, con-
sidering the carelessness and inexperi-
ence of many who carry firearms and
other weapons on the stage. Do you
see that?" lowering his head and put
ting his index finger up long scar be-
hind his ear. "That is not the only
mark on my unfortunate body that
test1fies to the carelessness of nv
brother and. Pm sorry to add, sister
artists"
would you expatiate somewhat up
On your war record ."
well, to oblige you, I'll divide my
self in sections, beginning with my
head. The scar behind my right ear
reminds me of Youth not my own, but
the drama of that name. [ was playing
IN that extremely sanguinary piece at
San francisco theater two or three years
ago. In the battle scene super in
toxicated with enthusiasm and dazed by
the smoke and red fire, became pos
sessed with the idea that the occasion
was highly appropriate for a display of
personal valor. He rushed upon me
with drawn sword and jabbed the blade
into my head. fell and blood poured
all over my face. My assailant was SO
scared that he fed from the stage and /
went out of the theater. It might have
been my death-wound had the blade
touched my head an eighth of an inch
lower. On the next night, when we
came to the same place in the play, I
very carefully moved out of the excita-
bic 'supe's' reach and stood watching
him from distance. He caught my
eye, and thinking, I suppose, that I med
itated descent upon him, rushed off
the stage for second time. He never
came into the theater again.
Now this round, smooth spot on my
arm has romantic story attached to it.
l was playing in the Plymouth Eng
theater royal, some twenty years ago,
with very mediocre company. Our
repertoire was composed of plays of the
graveyard and CORY order. One was the
Maniac Maiden It was billed for
Tuesday night, and Monday night, after
the performance of Hamlet, our Ophe-
liza, who was to play the Maniac
Maiden, fell sick. We were at loss
what to do, when young girl, whose
beauty exceeded her stage experience,
and who had hitherto played very small
soubrette parts, confessed that she had
the Maniac Maiden and
felt confident that she could be real
ladylike maniac if we would let her try.
[ think her beauty had more weight
with us than anything else. We re-
hearsed the important situations in the
morning, and in the evening prepared
to simulate corpse in the first act.
That was all had to do. was still an
humble aspirant for histrionic honors,
and a dead body was rather striking
part, in my estimation. There I lay,
still and quiet, waiting for my daughter
to come in and go mad over me. In
time she did. It was part Of the NJ.
D.
"Of what?"
"The Maniac Daughter, of course
as was saying, it was part of her
business to carry candle in her left
hand, which, afte~ she had scrutinized
ny face under its light, she deposited
upon the floor. All went well until she
put the candle on the floor. My arm
hung over the bed. The young actress
nervously put the candle down and be-
gan to show the customary premonitions
of madness. Later on [ did too, but it |
was real in my case The candle was
right under my arm, and in about thirty |
seconds I felt uncomfortably warm I |
dared not move. The audience had me |
in full view. A dead man could not |
move his arm, you know. The bed |
was very low and the fame of the
candle almost licked my elbow. Two |
minutes or mere must elapse be- |
fore the curtain fell. My skin was be-
ing slowly burned away, but somehow
Or other I managed to keep still until |
the young lady who had unknowingly |
subjected me to such cruel torture went |
raving mad and the curtain fell. Then |
[ rose and the candle few across the |
stage, impelled by my foot. I never
regretted that five minutes agony, how
ever. 1t created bond of sympathy be- |
tween that young lady and myself which |
has not been broken yet. You saw the
lady by my side a few minutes
ago? She is my wife. She was the |
Maniac Maiden.
"Then I have a scar near the locality |
Of my heart. That was the work of a |
drunken Hamlet in Che fencing scene. |
[ played Laertes. I still have some |
shot in my left calf which careless
super fired into me. Still it was not |
his fault either. The stage |
had been out shooting and had |
borrowed one Of the guns used in the
we were playing at night.
He left the charge in the gun and the
Al