The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-04-04
ALAS, POOR YORICK!
Edwin Booth Stricken With Pa
ralysiS at Rochester.
OTHELLO's OCCUPATION GONE.
The Great Tragedian VIII Play No hore-
Nr Barrett Announces the
Sad Fact.


ceum theatre tonight was thronged from
the orchestra rail to the dome. 1t was the
night of Booth and Barrett, and the two
great tragedians were to present the story
of Othello, the Moor. Intense interest ac-
companied the play from the moment the
curtain rang up, and none of the hundreds
who scanned the face of Mr.. Booth had any
warning Of what was so soon to befal him.
He was thought never before to have been
seen in the city more nearly
AT HIS BEST
than tonight as Iago The fortunes of the
dusky Moor and his crafty fellow had
passed through the first act followed with
deep interest and keen enjoyment by the
thrOng in front.
Iago seemed 1.-THE and active with perfect
life. The curtain went down before a
house whose hush of perfect attention was
broken by hearty applause. While the
second act was preparing, Mr.. Booth,
though uttering no complaint is now
known TO have felt an approach
ing elimination Of an oppressive
heaYiness that for several days has rem
dered him no little discomfort. He went
on, however, and progressed nearly
through the act with his usual facility. He
was urging his physical powers by a
strong will and at the call for the last
scene in the second act, his will succumbed
to physical weakness. A slight de
preston that for several days had
tOrmented him greatly increased. Dark
ness came upon him; his attendant
and others observed something amiss,
and sprang to his assistance. A physi-
Clan was hurriedly called, and after a
hasty examination expressed the fear that
Mr.. Booth had sustained shock of paraly-
sis. This so alarmed Mr. Barrett that he
determined to dismiss the audience.
HE WAS GREATLY OVERCOME
over what he termed the fearful illness of
his colleague. When he stepped before the
curtain, it was evident he was greatly ex-
cited. Mr.. Barrett's dismissal of the audi
ence was in these words: Ladies and
gentlemen, l 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 is
so serious that it is impossible for him
to act We had hoped he would rally from
the attack and would be able to play his
part tonight, but one of your physicians,
DR.. Sumner, says it would be perilOus for
him to attempt it. Mr.. Booth has sustained
a partial stroke of paralysis, and we fear
this is the beginning of the end. l cannot
express to you the deep sorrow with which
make this sad announcement. The world
has probably
HEARD FOR THE LAST TINE
the greatest actor who speaks the English
language. We shall, of course, cancel all
engagements. and ] hope we shall be able
to remove Mr.. Booth to his home. 1t
pains me to speak these words. am sorry
to disappoint this great audience, but the
play cannot 90 on. 1t would be pre-
sumptuous in me to undertake to fill the
place of this great man whom you have
come to see and hear; and it would be
worse than useless to attempt to proceed
further
Il 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 may seem
best for refunding your money"
The condition of Mr. Booth did not fully
justify the speech. There was no attack of
paralysis and the actor was suffering no
pain. Reporters were not allowed to see
Mr. Booth at the hotel and Mr.. Barrett
would not talk, but the business manager of
the company said Mr.. Booths illness was
not serious enough to justify alarm He
said the cOmpany's engagement for the rest
of this week, and possibly next, would be
cancelled, but hoped to go on as usual,
after Mr.. Booth had been given a brief
rest. Mr.. Booth viii be taken to New
York tonight Late tonight Mr.. Barrett
sent a card to the Associated Press stating
that the physicians gave assurance that a
week or ten days will restore Mr.. Booth.