The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1889-04-11
BOOTH BROKEN.
The Tragedian Stricken With Paral-
ysis Last Night.
CAUSED FROM SMOKING.
Fears Entertained that His Career is
NsaIV Ended.
ENGAGEMENTS CANCELLED.
The Physician Reports His Condition
as improving.
CAUSED FROM SMOKING.
CANCELLED.

ROCHESTER,, New York, April g.
Edwin Booth was stricken with paraI-
ysis during his appearance as ''Othel-
10" here to night, and is dangerously
i'll. Mr.. Barrett later appeared before
the audience and spoke as follows:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: l am
called upon to perform the most pain
full duty of my life. My col
league has shown symptoms of
breaking down for three or four
days past and his condition is so ser
ious that it is impossible for him to
act. We have hoped that he would
rally from this attack and that he
would be able to play his part tonight
but one of your physicians, DR.. Sum-
mer, says that it would be perilous to
attempt it. Mr.. Booth has sustained
partial stroke of paralysis and we
fear that this is the beginning of the
end. 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 l hope that we
shall be able to remove Mr.. Booth to
his home. 1t pains me to speak
these words. l am sorry TO
disappoint this great audi
ence but the play cannot
go on. 1t would be preSumptuouS for
me to attempt to fill the place of this
great man whom you lave come to see
and heal and 1t would be worse than
useless to attempt to proceed further.
l know you will be indulGent and that
you will fully appreciate the sad
plight in which We are placed. The
management will make SUCH arrange
ments as NAV seem best tor refunding
your money"
LATER
The condition of Mr.. Booth it seems
did not fully justify the speech. There
had been no attack of paralysis and the
actor was suffering no pain.
He walked from the theatre
to his hotel when he walked
without apparent dif1culty from the
carriage to the elevator and to his
room. Reporters were not allowed to
see Mr.. Booth and Mr.. Barrett
refused to talk, but Mr.. Bromley
business manager of the company,
| said that Mr.. Booths illness was not
serious enough to justify alarm. He
said that the company will not fill
week and probably not for
next week but he hopes
to resume their tour as soon as MIR.
Booth is sufficiently recovered. The
company arrived in this city
this morning and Mr.. Booth
passed the day lying down i'll his
room but did not seem tt
travelling. Booth and Barrett vii
leave for New York at 1880 u. m. ant
Mr.. Booth will he placed at once il
charge of his own physician.
ROCHESTER, April 4.-The condition
of Mr.. Booth is much improved Thu
morning. He arose at $50 o'clock ant
was visited by DIR. c. r. Sumner. VIII
found him able to speak quite plainly
Mr.. Booth breakfasted in his room
DR.. Sumner said: Mr.. Booth is feel
ing great deal better to-day. l di'
not consider his condition last nigh
alarming. 1 found that he had sus
tanned a slight shock of paralysis
which prevented the power of speech
The paralysis affected his entire lef
side. AS he was unable to speak,
was of course impossible for him to g
on with his part. 1t was thought a
first that the attack would pass ava,
, in few minutes, but | felt sure
, sumo his part. His condition wa
indeed pitIful as he lay there in hi
, dressing room. looking appealingly a
Mr.. Barrett and myself, unable t.
7 speak word-mY heaat felt for hin
: keenlv. We did all we could to ali
= the suffering tragedian and as soon a
possible had him removed to his hotel
| think with rest of a week or ter
days Mr.. Booth will be able to keep hi
, engagements. Last nights attac
however, is a premonition of what j
: bound to come. l think chat within
few years Mr.. Booth will suffer fina
) attack. which Will rob America of it
. creates actor"
MIR. Booths manager, Arthur
= Chase, said: ST have no doubt that tn
immediate cause of his attack was e8
cessive cigar smoking. Mr.. Boot
2 smokes about twenty strong imDorte
D., cigars day and frequently used pipe
l think he will smoke fewer cigars i
5 the future" Mr.. Booth, accompanie
| by his valet, left on the 1910 o'cloc
: train this morning for New York.
/ reply to an inquiry from the Detroi
Journal he instructed manager Chas
to say that he would keep his engage
? ment in that city week after next. Nj
, Barrett has determined to keep tn
, BOoth-Barrett engagement. LaWrenC
Hanley will probably take MIR. Booth