The Wichita daily eagle., 1891-10-17

THE ELDER BOOTH AND THE PIRATE
How the Tragedian Saved His Money and
His Life and Made a Friend.

How the Tragedian Saved His Money and
His Life and Made a Friend.
One night in Louisville number OF
people called on Edwin Booth, among
them q doctor of local celebrity, who
wanted to place in his hands valuable
relic that had once belonged to the elde1
Booth. He was shown upstairs by o
little darky, who carried something
wrapped up in a newspaper. 1t proved
to be well preserved skull, thoroughly
cleaned and the parts Joined by springs
and hooks.
The doctor told Us this story of thu
skull, which proved romantic and inter
esting: Many years before Ted's visit the
elder Booth had played an engagement
In Natchez After the closing perform
Rnce he was taken down to the rivei
with his trunk to wait for the upcomins
Uteamboat. He found at the saloon at
the wharf a rough looking set Of mer
who by their talk he decided wert
thieves and cutthroats.
Booth had $1,000 in his money belt.
and from motives of policy he invited
the rufians to take several drinks, which
only served to increase their pecula.
looks in his direction. There was nc
help near and escape was ont of tn,
Question-he would probably have beer
followed and murdered.
Selecting the roughest and toughest
man in the crowd, old Booth called him
outside to say a few words. ''Lool
here" said he, my name is Booth; I'm
an actor; you may have heard Of me
I've thousand dollars here in belt and
I'm afraid of being robbed. want yoL
to take it and keep it safe for me until
the boat comes along"
The fellow looked earnestly at the olo
man, and then reached out for the belt,
Booth never expected to see dollar OF
the money again, but was glad to insur,
his personal safety. He slept on table
in the saloon, and was awakened early
by the custodian of his treasure.
"Get up," said he; ''here's youl
money. The boats in sight" Bootk
was thoroughly surprised, but of courst
delighted. Whats your nane? he
asked; Il always like to remember al
honest mans name" The fellow hes
itated, lowered his voice and answered
''It's Morrill,; folks call me the chief Of
the river pirates. You trusted me and
appreciated the trust"
A year later Morrill, was sentenced t.
the penitentiary for life. When Booth
visited Natchez again he visited the
prison and took Morrill, some money and
delicacies At the last of his visits he
found the man dying of consumption.
"Booth," /" said he, I've not long to live.
/ should die happy if had something tc
leave you TO remember. me by. You
have been good to me and l cannot re
pay you" Booth laughed and said, ''n
you are set on leaving me legacy, let it
be your head"
He spoke in jest, but the pirate took it
In earnest, and on his death it was found
that he had willed the tragedian his
skull. Booth gave it to the doctor in
Louisville to put in order, but dying
himself soon after never claimed his
bequest. The physician gave it to Ted.
We used it for Yorick's skull in ''Ham-
let"
When on a visit to his mother in Bal
timore, she unpacked Ted's trunk while
he was out, and came across the skull
Not knowing what it was used for, she
decided to get rid of it with some othel
rubbish. So when Ted came in she told
him how she had thrown that nasty
skull out of the window, and that a coal
cart, passing by, had crushed it into a
hundred pieoss.-Interview in New York
Epoch