New-York tribune., 1890-04-19
DPIU1TIr CASUALTIES.

We are told that great many dramatic com
panics have failed to MAKE money this season. and
that number have disbandcd For instance.
three different Uncle Toms Cabin companies went
10 Yankfon Dakota. and have not been heard from
since They were like ship which sails from
her mort and is never heard Of after. They left
Sioux City. Iowa, in good shape, but the great
Missouri River bottom lands swallowed them up
and no word has come back II is true that there
is a rumor in Chicago that the members of the
companies are all living. and have found more or
less rcmuncrativc places in iankton. and that
there are now in that city six Markses painting
wagons. three Uncle Toms canvassinS for popular
books. three hlood-rhlis,y Lcgre"s working IN
drygoods stores three Evas wheeling baDy-car-
racos and six Topsys attending to the wants ol
customers in restaurants. while the hah-dozrn
doultcys are drawing strcct-cars. and the Siberian
bloodhounds have been shot by the police; but
this is only rumor. and u Chicago rumor at
that: besides, it is neither here nor there. our
intention being TO present few statistics on
dramatic casualties throughout the country, COM
piled by a gentleman residing in this city.
From the record kept by this gentleman 1t
appears that the tank of real water is the most
dangerous thing which tie legitimate actor now
has to encounter, no fewer than three good players
in the discharge Of their professional duties ON
the STAGE since the Isl Of last September. Nor is
this all eighteen have taken severe colds which
were directly traccable 10 the deadly tank. and
four Of the eighteen have been permanently
incnpac. tated for future work. Next in dcstruc-
iivrness To the tank, strangely enough. We lind
the horse one actor having been run over and
killed 10y a steam ire-cnsinc team. and eleven
injured i'm various ways. Ranking third is
another domestic animal. the on. no fewer than
fourteen artists having been kicked or corcd by
oxen or cows in full view Of the audience. Tie
OK is not reported responsible for any deaths.
though popular actor now lies very low IN
Minneapolis from being kicked 10y large brindlc
oN which had had leading parts for two years.
and was supposed 10 be perfectly gentle
Lack of space prevents our siviag the whole of
this interesting and unique rcord-wc may only
| note some Of the scattering causcs of accidents
One leading man had his foot crushed al San
dusky, Ohio. in 4 revolving hcncoop used in the
last act. At Memphis. Tenn. "A wcll-known com
cdah lost the sight Of one eye through the pfcma-
turc discharge of the blast used by the real burg
lar IN opening a safe in the second act. \ load of
| hay overturned on two actresses in ST. Louis
and they were nearly smothcrcd before they were
rescued real tree fell at Richmond, Va and
nearly killed the villain of the play. \ railroad
bridge collapsed AT salt Lake City in the first
| act and severely injured man who was playing
| the part Of track walker. No less than three
actors in different parts of the country had their
hands crushed in various kinds Of revolving land
! scapcs, and a iourshing young actress fell or
! a dnwbridgc in Chicago in the fourth act and
| became SO wet and discouraged over the re-
quircmcnts of her chosen art that she retired from
the stage permanently. Indeed, it is impossible
TO say how many good artists have been driven
| from the profession by the introduction Of such
| abor-saving machinery as lilcboats. steam fire
engines. strcct-swccplng apparatus, and 80 forth.
| The realistic stage is still IN It's infancy. and
though it is now very hard on the actors, does it
not occur 10 the reader that the time may be coming
when actors will be dispensed with altogether. and
one good man-say ilat-housc Iantor. for in
stancc-bc employed TO keep the machinery oiled
and TO feed the animals?