The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-09-08
ABRAHAM LINCOLN
Mckee Rankin Weaves His Death;
With a Drama.
1T CAUSES A GREAT SENSATION
Grand Army Men Are Indign ant-wilkes
Booths Character Gives Offense-Ths
Scene in Fsrd's Opera House.

Especial to THE HERALD-Examiner DISPATCH
NEW YORK, Sept. when Mckee
Rankin conceived the idea of historical
drama In which Abraham Lincoln would be
the central figure, he felt confident the
play would make sensation. The play
VIII be given in indianapolis tonight, and
MS expectations promise to be more than
realized
Abraham Lincoln" the Joint work of
Archibald Gordon and Mr.. Rankin, has al
ready caused an agitation that to some
theatrical weather prophets, foreshadows
something like a storm. The chief opposi
ton TO the new play is on account Of the
portrayal OF John Wilkes Booth. MANY
actors argue that it would be an unfeeling
dlscourtesy to produce such q play while
Edwin Booth is still alive. The Grand
Army men are going to make vigorous
row ABOUT the production, and there will
undoubtedly be strong feeling concerning
| III IN Inc south The fact is instancsd that
Leand6r Richardson, editor of the ORA
matte NeDo, was asked to write the dia-
logue, but Tor some reason was unable to
do so. Then Frederick Brytou was said tn
have been engaged to play John Wilkes
Booth. He, too, found an excuse It is
/ SAID tnat Booth is shown as a would be be-
| trayer. David Henderson, manager of
the Chicago opera house. came
to the city last week to satisfy himself
on certain points. The play is to be given
In his theatre. He had heard that John
| Wilkes Booth is to be the hero. Mr. Hen
derson said on arriving here that If bs
found any portion of the piece such as to
lnlure the feelings of Edwin Booth. he
would not allow it played in his theatre.
IL Is understood the play was read to Mr.
henderson and he suggested several
changes. He says the piece as it is caunot
be played In his theatre. If radically mod
/ lned he might permit it. MIR. Rankin saws
the play will have showing IN spite of OBJ
stacles.
| Abraham Lincoln is the result of no
| recent idea. Mckee Rankin had the idea
suggested to him by his father in Canada
many years ago. 1t was not until playiuR
recently in PHILADELPHIA that the plan of
treatment occurred to him. He saws j.
! Wilkes Booth is the character over which
this agitation is made. ''Now, here is
where this character comes in the play.
Inc scene shows the interior of Ford's
| opera house. The audience are seated
The first two scenes of the third act of Our
American Cousin are being played. The
characters in the audience are
all arranged Just as the real
persons were on that eventful 14th
OF April. Luara keene Is supposed to be
playing Florence Trenchard. In the presi-
dental box, draped fer the occasion, are
MIR. and Mrs. Lincoln, Miss Harris and
Miss Rathbone. In the orchestra, almost
Immediately under the box, Colonel Stew
art Is seated. A shot is heard: q man
springs from the box, pistol in hand, upon
the stage, shouting Sic semper tyrannis.
He stumoles; the house is in an uproar.
Colonel Stewart leaps from his seat and
tries to lynch the assassin. Laura Keene.
hearing the uproar and thinking 1t an
alarm of fire, comes before the curtain and
endeavors to calm the audience. She
knows OF the calamity when she hears
Mrs. Lincoin's cry of anguish. i have
found 1t extremely difficult to get a photo
graph of John Wilkes Booth. The govern
ment secured all they could and DESTROYED
them, but have enough of them to enable
John hesthey, whom L have engaged to
play the part, to make up a remarkable
likeness