The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-04-04
ILLNESS OF EDWIN BOOTH
HeAppears at Rochester, N. Y, with Mr..
Barrett, in the Tragedy Of "OthellO."
Ard After Playing in One Act Is Compelled to
Retire Because of an Attack of Paralysis
alarming Speech by Mr.. Barrett.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
ROCHESTER. N. Y, April S.-A large audi
ence, which assembled at the Lyceum Thea
ter, tonight, to see Booth and Barrett In
"Othello," experienced sad shock and
bitter disappointment. Mr. Booth went on
in the first act as Iago, and spoke his lines
without apparent difficulty, and the audi
ence did not suspect anything wrong. At
the end of the second act, when it was
time for him to go on again,
slight dizziness, with which he had been
troubled for two or three days, began to
be serious, and a physician was called in,
who examined the actor and pronounced
his illness too serious to permit him TO
attempt to go on with the performance.
The doctor expressed his fear that it was a
case OF partial paralysis, when SO alarmed
the audience. Mr.. Barrett was greatly
overcome by what he considered the dan
gerous illness of his colleague. and when
he stepped before the curtain it was evil
dent that he was deeply excited. Mr..
Barrett spoke as follows. his utterance be-
ing frequently choked by his emotion:
Ladies and Gentlemen-I am called upon to
perform the most painful duty OF my life MY
colleague has shown symptoms OF breaking down
for three or four days past, and his condition to-
night is so serious that 1T is impossible for him
TO act. We had hoped that he would rally from
this attack and that he would be able to play his
part tonight, but one of your physicians, DIR.
Sumner says that it would be perilous for him
to attempt it. Mr.. Booth has sustained partial
stroke of paralysis. and we fear that this is the
beginning of the end. 1 cannot express to
You the deep sorrow with which
make this sad announcement. The world has
probably heard for the last time the greatest
actor who speaks the English language.
We shall of course. cancel all engagements,
and hope that we shall be able to remove Mr..
"a. <<,o 1aolrf f1,nca
words. L am sorry to disappoint this great
audience, but the play cannot go on. 1t would
be presunptuous for me TO undertake TO I'LL the
place of this great man whom you have come to
see and hear, and IL would be worse than useless
to attempt to proceed further. know you Will
be indulgent, and that you will fully appreciate
the sad plight in which we are placed. The
management will make such arrangements as
will seem best as to refunding your money.
The condition of Mr.. Booth did not fully
Justify this speech. There had been no at
tack of paralysis, and the actor was suffer
ing no pain. He walked from the tbeater
to his carriage and was driven to his hotel,
walking without apparent difficulty from
the carriage to the elevator and to his
room.
Reporters were not allowed tc see Mr..
Booth, and Mr.. Barrett refused to talk, but
Mr.. Bromley, business manager of the COM
pany, said that Mr.. Booths illness was not
serious enough to justify alarm. He said
that the cOmpany'S engagements for the
rest of this week and possibly next would
be cancelled. but he hoped to go on as
usual after Mr.. Booth had been given a
brief rest.
The company arrived in this city this
morning, and Mr.. Booth passed the day ly-
ing down in his room, but did not seem to
be suffering except from the weariness of
travelling. Messrs. Booth and Barrett will
leave for New York at 1890 o'clock to-mor-
row morning, and Mr.. Booth will be placed
at once in charge of his own physician.
The Lyceum Theater management loses
So, 900, which will have to be made good by
the company. The sale of seats amounted
to s., 1000, and was the largest sale the com.
pany has h ad this season.
Late tonight Mr.. Barrett requested that
the following be sent out to the newspa-
pers:
Since his return to the hotel Edwin Booth is
easier, and the doctor gives every assurance that
a week or ten days of absolute rest will restore
him to his usual health.
LAWRENCE BARRETT.
Last night the company played "Julius
Cesar at Elmira, Mr.. Booth being cast fol
Brutus and Mr.. Barrett for Cassius. To-
morrow night an engagement for the re-
mainder of the week was to begin at the
Star Theater. Buffalo. with the "Merchan,
of Venice" All of the engagements of the
company for the next week have been can
celed by wire tonight. If Mr.. Booth is wei
enough, the company will go to Detroit the
latter part of next week.