, 1889-04-04
EDWIN BOOTH FRUSTRATED.
THE AUDIENCE DISMISSED AND
PHYSICIANS SUMMONED.
The Great Actor May Recover by Abso-
lutte ksst.-Mr. Barrett Upduiy
Alarmed.

ROCHESTER,, N. T., April 3.-Ihe
Lyceum theater tonight was thr0nged
from orchestra rail TO dome. lt was the
night OF Booth and Barrett and the two
great traRedlans we're to present the story
of 'Otheilo.' the Moor. Intent interest
accompanied the play from the moment
the curtain swung up and none of the
hundreds who scanned the face of M.
Booth noted any warning of what was 80
soon to b-fall hun. He was
thought never before to have
been seen In this city more nearly at his
best than Tonight AS laRo. The fortunes
of the dusky Moor and his crafty fellow
had progressed through the first act, fol.
lowed with deep interest and keen enjoy
ment by the thI ong IN front. lago seemed
1.-the and ac.ive with perfect life. The
curtain went down before the house whose
hush OF perfect attention then broke and
relapsed to hearty applause. While the
second act was preparing Mr.. Booth,
though utteriDK no complaint, is not
known to have felt an approaching culmi-
nation OF the oppressive heaviness that
tor several days has rendered him no
little discomfort. He went ON, however,
and prtRressed nearly through the ace
with his usual facility. He was urging
his physical pO wers by strong will and at
the call for the last scene in the second act
the Will succu mbed TO physical weakness.
A slight dizziness, that tor several days
had tormented him greatly, increased. and
darkness came upon him. His attendant
and others observed something amlss,
and sprang TO his assistance. A physi
Was hurriedly called for and after II hasty
examination expressed fear that MIR.
Booth had sustained "a shock OF partial
paralysis. This so alarmed Mr.. Barr, It
that ne determined to dismiss
the audience. He was greatly overcome
by what he considered the dangerous ill
mes OF his colleague. When he stepped
before the curtain II WAS evident he was
greatly excited. Mr.. Barrett dismissed
the audience in these words:
Ladies and gentlemen, am called upon
to perform the most painful duty of my
lie. My colleague has shown symptoms
OF breaking down for three or four days
past and his condition is so serious 1t Is
n,posslbe for hi III 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 II would be perilous for
MIN TO attempt it. Mr.. Booth has sus-
tanned u partial stroke of paraly ysis and we
fear this Is the beginning of the end. |
cannot express to you the deep sorrow
with which ! make this sad announce
ment. The world has probably heard for
buc tihbc HTthtcss dCtOf WuV
speaks the English language. We shall
of course cancel all engagements and |
hope we shall be able to remove
Mr.. Booth to his home. II pains
me to speak these words. / am
sorry to disappoint this great audience,
but the play cannot 20 on. 1t would be
presu mptuous In me TO undertake to fill
the place OF this great man, whom you
have come to see and hear, and 1t would
be worse than useless to attempt to pro-
coed further. know you will be indul-
gent and that you will fully appreciate the
sad plight In which we are placed. The
management viii make such arrangements
as may seem best for the refunding of
your money.
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 great pain. Re-
porters were not allowed to see Mr. Booth
at the hotel, and Mr.. Barrett would not
talk, but the business manager of the
company said that Mr.. Booths Illness was
rot serious enough to justify the alarm.
DE said the company's engagement for the
rest OF his we-k- and possibly next, would
be cancelled, ou: hoped to 90 on AS usual
after Mr.. Booth had been given brief
rest. MIR. Booth wit. be taken to New
York tomorrow. Late tonight Mr. Bar
rett sent u card TO the Associated Press
stating that the physicians gave the assur-
ance that II week or ten days absolute rest
will restore Mr.. Booth to health.