Evening journal., 1889-04-04
EDWIN BOOTH STRICKEN.
A Sensational Scene in a Roch-
ester Theatre.
THE PERFORMANCE STOPPED.

He Was Playing Iaso and succumbed at
the End of the Second Act-Hfr. barrett
Makes an Alarming Statement to the
Audience.
ROCHESTER,, N. Y, April 4.-The vast
audience which assembled at the Lyceum
theatre last night to see Booth and Barrett
in s'Othellon experienced a sensation and bit
ter disappointment. Booth went on in the
first act as Iago and spoke his lines without
apparent difficulty, and the audience did not
suspect anything wrong.
At the end Of the second act, when it was
time for him to go on again, slight dizzi-
ness, with which be had been troubled for
two or three days, began to be serious, and
physician was called in who examined the
actor and pronounced his illness too serious
to permit him TO attempt to 60 on with the
performance The doctor expressed fear
that he had sustained a shock of partial
paralysis, which so alarmed Mr. Barrett that
he determined to dismiss the audience. Mr..
Barrett was greatly overcome by what he
considered the dangerous illness of his col
league, and when he stepped before the
curtain it was evident that he was deeply
excited. Mr.. Barrett spoke as follows, his
utterance being frequently choked by his
emotion:
"LADIEs AND GENTLEsiEH-I am called
upon TO perform the most painfnl duty of my
lite. My colleague has shown symptoms of
breaking down for three or four days past
and his condition tonight is so serious that it
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 to-
night, but one of your physicians, DIR. Sum
ner, says that it would be perilous for him to
attempt it.
''Air. Booth has sustained partial stroke
of paralysis and we fear that this is the be-
ginning 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.
I'VE SHALL Of course, cancel all engage
ments, and hope that we shall he able to
remove Mr.. Booth to his home 1t pains me
TO speak these words. / am sorry 10 disap-
point this great audience, but the play can
not 60 on. 1t would be presumptnous for me
TO undertake to fill the place of this great
man, whom you have come to see and hear,
/
to proceed further. / know you will be in
dulgent and that you viii fully appreciate
the sad plight in which we are placed. The
management viii make such arrangements
as may seem best for 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 suffering
no pain He walked from the theatre to his
carriage, and was driven TO his hotel, wheI
he walked without apparent difficulty 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 thu
company's engagements for the rest Of thi
week and probably next would be cancelled
but he hoped TO go on as usual after Mr.
Booth had been given brief rest
The company arrived in this city yesterday
morning and Mr.. Booth passed the day lying
down in his room, but did not seem to be suf
fering, except from the weariness Of travel
Messrs Booth and Barrett left for New
York at 1890 o'clock this morning, and Mr.
Booth will be placed at once in charge of hi
own physician. The Lyceum theatre man
agement loses 1000. which will have to b,
made good by the company The sale o.
seats amounted to over 5000, and was The
largest sale the company has had this season