Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-10-09
Poor John McCulIough.


This favorite tragedian will probably
never again play to an audience. He
is suffering from softening Of the brain,
and his early death is probable. He
had engaged to play all the season,
and it was hoped that rest had recu-
perated him sufficiently to enable him
to go through his work. But on Tues
day at Chicago he was again stricken.
and in consequence his engagements
were Cancelled. We take the following
account from dispatch to the st,
Louis EUening Chronicles:
Owing to the natural reluctance of
those associated with John McCul-
| Tough. the tragedian. to discuss pain-
| ful subject, the circumstances attend
| ing his withdrawal from the stage have
not been fully given to the public. 1t
| now appears that Mr.. Mccullough has
| not been informed that all his dates had
been Cancelled. After the rehearsal
Tuesday afternoon, he Was told that
| the engagement at McVicker's theater
would not be completed, and was
shown n letter from MIR. nicVicker to
| Mr.. Brooks, in which McCuilongh's
illness and consequent inability to do
hinselfjus were specified as reasons
for closing the house. Mccullough was
| lying down at the time. resting himself
for the Torrance which he expected
to give in the evening. but he dressed
himself and i'm company with his man.
ager went to Mr.. McVicker's residence.
He was very angry at first, but Mr..
McVicker succeeded apparently in con-
vincing him that the action he had
taken was the best, and the tragedian
returned to his hotel and accepted the
situation. He supposed, however, that
the performances were to be resumed
at Detroit, the next place. on the route,
and nothing was said to disabuse him
of his error. A careful watch was kept
upon him all night and all day by de-
tectives. Wherever he went he was
sh allowed, and when he ordered car
riage and went for a drive, detective
followed not far off in cab. During
yesterday he manifested numerous
proofs that his mind was in terribly
excited state and that his reason was
tottering.
Early in the morning he succeeded in
getting possession of the newspapers,
and he read the long articles about him.
self and his much lamented condition.
In the afternoon he went to fremont
house and told Miss Tracy that he in
tended to 60 to Detroit at once. He was
finally persuaded to defer going until
evening, and he left the hotel, enjoin-
ing Miss Tracy to meet him at the de-
pot at Z O'Clock. Shortly before that
hour he ordered his baggage sent to
the depot, and proceeded thither him.
self. His friends withheld his baggage,
and two OF Pinkerton's men followed
! h =. 1lps a
down the platform with Miss Tracy,
and apparently in a calm frame of mind
BY little strategy Mr.. Brooks Undue
Ell him to enter carriage, and thus
], imprisoned Mr.. Mccullough was driv.
en- to the Leland hotel. On the way
there Mr.. Mccullough had evidently
: protested stoutly, and by the time the
hotel was reached he was thoroughly
excited and angry. 1t required Mr..
Brooks and the two detectives to get
him into the hotel. At the entrance
he struggled desperately and struck
Mr.. Brooks a heavy blow with his
cane. Two of the negroes employed
at the hotel hastily lodged to one side
fearing the frenzied man would strike
them. Mr.. Mccullough was finally
tor, and there. so desperate was his re.
sistance, it was found necessary tc
throw him into the elevator much as q
drunken man might have staggered in
and fallen. He was taken up to his
room and kept prisoner there. In 6
very short time after this had happen.
ed Miss Tracy reached the hotel. She
was crying convulsively. After mo
ment's delay she went up to Mr.. Nc
Cullough's room and did what sht
, could to assist in calming his mind ant
bringing him to realize that he was
not in a fit condition to fill any engage
ments for sometime to come, and tina
2 it was imperative that he should rest
Mr.. Mccullough became calmer, though
he WAS by no means reconciled. JUS
what he said concerning the Treatment
he had received and what he intended
t. do was not learned, for tho Sc guard
ing him would not vouchsafe any in
| formation.
LATER.
Mondays Post Dispatch contained
the following:
! John Mccullough came down from
Chicago yesterday with James B-eslir
and is stopping to-day at the Southern
The distinguished actor whose unfor
9 tunate illness at the beginning of wha
promised to be another season of tri
| III ilio "a Y 10 va AiAo p" ~ w A1c
Springs to rest and recuperate for few
weeks. He was met here by DIR. ]. X
Kellar, his old friend from Louisville
who will accompany him to thu
: Springs. Anyone who sees the TRACE
dian now cannot but believe that re
, ports about his condition must be great
,, ~ exaggerated. as he appears, although
not as strong as he has been, yet fa
from being the wreck that he has beer
reported to be. Both he and his friend
> say that he Is already much improved
> and they hope with entire rest for /,
:. time from work and anxiety to brint
.. back all the former vigor to his splen
= did physique. the full power of hi
! mind, and the old-time fire to his eye
He is John Mccullough yet, and Their,
IS every probability that the gladiator
of the stage will be again before TIL,
public, as able as ever to hold it spell
bound by the power of his renewed
> genius in his great roles. He 10 entire
" rational. and appreciates the fact tina
he should take time to regain hi
8 strength before essaying the labors 0
of theatrical season. Mr.. McCul
9 Tough and DIR. Keller will probably
T spend to-day and tomorrow here be
2 fore leaving for the Springs. Number!
| of his friends in this city are taking oc
9 casion to call on him and bid him goot