The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1888-09-01
THE STAGE.
Last Days OF the Great Actor, Junins
Brutus Booth.
What il Doing and to be Done on tho
Contemporary Stage.
Hit auciMiss.

cry theatre III FEBRUARY, 1898 IA entertain !
ment at the Park theatre WAS proposed
for the benefit of the sufferers in that |
long remembered catastrophy.
"Mercaant of Venice" was announced, |
with the elder Booth as Shyiock aud Tom
Flynh's pretty wife a. Plrtis. A large
audience as sembIed and Mr.. Booth, after
having dressed himself, disappeared just
IA the stage manager was about TO ring
up for the first act. One of the stock
actors, Clark by name, was substituted.
Flynn went ~ search of Booth, whom he
discovered at fire on William street,
near Wall, iaboring with all his strength
at the brakes of fire engine in the en-
deavor. he said, to "save other peoples
property from destruction"
Flynn took him in cearge, and after
wards made ali engagement with tho sen-
Tor Waleck (whom they had known in
England) for Booth and himself to play
in conjunction week tor one hundred
dollars q night.
At the termination of that engagement
witn Walieck, Booth and Flynn embarked
on the steamer Neptune for the south, on
a professional tour. After they had been
az sea a few days, Booth went to Flynn
with an air of profound mystery and
said: "Flynn, when We reach the spot
where poor Conway was lost at sea, tell
me, as have message for him."
William Augustus Conway, n very com
petent tragedian and an old friend OF
Booths had some time before that com
n,itted suicide by throwing himself into
the sea from the deck of n vessel.
"I'Il go below" added Booth, "and try
to sleep. Tom don't forget to call me
when we reach the spot, for | long to
have q chat with Con say"
or course Flynn cid not disturb his
erratic friend, bat when the steamer
reached the bar of Charleston up came
Booth, exclaiming, I'm ju,t going to see
Conway" and leaped overheard. The sea
vas running high, bot a boat lowered, and
with the greatest difficulty Booth was
saved from a tragic death.
After he had besu secured in the boat,
his first words were: II say, Tom, look
out. You're a heavy man; be steady, for
If the boat should upset we'd all be
dro Ened."
About o'clock one morning during that
| Charleston engagement Booth found his
| way 10 Flynn's room at the Planter
| Hotel. The room was on the ground
lor and Booth got in by climbing
| through q window. He went straight to
the chimney piece, armed himself with
cast iron fire-dog and inflicted severe
wound over Flynn's right eye.
Flynn sprahg from his bed Mortified
and saw his friend in the act of aiming q
second blow, which, in trying to avoid, ne
received over he left eye. Finding that
he .zes face 20 face with madman, Flynn
escaped from the room with Booth in no
| l.1 nd fall
the herculean strength of Booth giving
him the advantage In the melee Boott
received b.ow whic broke his nose anC
permanently distigured his noble counte
nance.
With this event his theatrical career
practically ended. He continued to &C
spasmodically q few years longer, ans
often manifested some or the fire alG
energy OF his youthful days, but his tac'
had been des spoiied of iss beauty and hi
matchless voice had taken on nasa
tone.
During the last ten years OF his life,
SAYS his daughter, Asia Booth Clarke, "h'
passed a considerable portion of his timt
in the midst OF his family, occasionally
making professional tours with a careles:
disregard OF fame, which may be ac
counted for by the depressing conscious
ness Of the accident which had marrec
his face and voice. Still he played annu
ally in z Js;ou and New Orleans, in which
places he was an established favorite
He indulgei his philanthropic inclina
tions unrestreipediy, and the particular
of some charitable visit or donation
would frequently be disclosed 10 tn,
family by toe grateful recipient. Littl
deeds Of kindness were OF almost dali,
Occurrences with him. He delighted Il
seek out tho destitute and unfortunat
} and aid them by sympathy as well al b.
his bounts."
! Mr.. Booths last New York appearance
was at the old National Theater, Septen
! Der 10, 1851, when he played Shylock an
MIR. Edward Mortimer.
In June, 1852, he went to California
where he attracted OVERLOOKING houset
Ia the autumn of that year he suddenl
; resolved 10 return East. He had FIRE
5 ouently expressed his intention 70 retir
. from active lite and as a sad intima.io
D that the ide' weight with him ho CAV
9 Il chard's diadem To his eldest son, eay
: ing shat he would never need it agail
I He had engaged passage on the Brothe
n Jonathan and on the morning OF starting
while anxiously experimenting the shI s
. ping of his baggage, he was annoyed
t the diiatory manner of rough, suri
saIior who was doing the work, and kln1
~ urged the man to show more elacrit
Observing, however, that he obstinatel
!, moved slower, and vas disposed to DO IL
:, solent. Mr.. Booth sharply inquired
"What are you employed for? VINO al
youl"
/. The seaman, with vicious look, grui
ly replied: Il am thief"
MIR. Booth, with quick intuition {
9 character, instantly responded: Give IL
IL your hand comrsde, SIN a pirate
e The fellow looked abashed, yet, eviden
ly recognizing a superior spirit, extendt
D his hand in silence.
MIR. Booth lauded at New Orlean
@ where ne stayed six nights. His last a
pearsnce on any stage was et the
Charles theatre, New Orleans, Friday ev,
10 ming. November -, 1852, whsn he VI
o seen rs Sir Edward Mortimer, in 'Ti
!. Iron Chest" and as John Limp, in d
musical farce, "Review or the Wag
.nrtp hat Il