Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-03-21
The Great Trngetiisn Expires of Heart
Enilure in New York.


Lawrence Barrett. the great tragedian. died
last evening at l0:45 o'clock at the Windsor
Hotel in New York. The demise was due to
heart failure and the end was quiet and sudden.
the great actor being unconscious but short
time before he died. His wife and DR.. Cham
bers of q West Attn street were with Mr.. Bar
rett when he passed away.
The last sickness dated from Wednesday
night when he was obliged to leave the theater
where he was engaged. 1T WIS said at that time
that he was merely suffering from cold and
would be out in a few days and the same report
was made the following day. Even yesterday
the reports from the sick chamber were very
favorable. Last evening Dr. Chambers called
at the Windsor Hotel at o'clock to see his dis
tinguished patient. and shortly thereafter an
nounced that he would remain all night i'm the
sick room.
The story of the great tragedian's last days,
as told by DIR. Chambers, is az follows:
HIS LAST SICKNESS
On Wednesday evening he was called to see
the great tragedian. who told him he had n
cold and did not know whether to 20 to the
theater or not. That night when he came home
from the theater he had a bad chill This was
the beginning of the last sickness. DR.. Cham
bers was again sent for at IL p. m. When the
doctor returned TO the hotel he found the ira
gedian suffering from high fever and having a
rapid pulse. There were at that time, however
no symptoms of umonia. but he thought
that the dread disease would develop later. On
Thursday morning the much-feared symptoms
of pneumonia appeared In earnest. The ply
sicians then realized Mr.. Barrett's critical
condition and asked for consultation
DIR. II. F Walker of East Both street
was accordingly called in Mrs. Barrett
was at that time in Boston and dis
patch was at once sent to her of the serious
condition of her husband. She reached New
York Thursday evening. DIR. j. p. Oliver of
Boston. who has been Mr.. Barretts family
physician for long time. was also sent for and
came at once to take part in the consultation
at the great actors bedside. The result of the
consultation was that the case was diagnosed
as very grave phase of pneumonia. but at
that time it was believed that il there we're no
other complications the sick man might vet
pull through. Bnt the unfortunate fact was
that these complications did exist. For two
years Mr.. Barrett has been a sufferer from
throat disease. The immediate cause of death
were only exaggerations Of the day before.
THE CRITICAL SYMPTOMS.
The critical symptoms of temperature that
was burning him up at 1855 degrees, and a
pulse that was nearly double what it ought to
be. 120 to the minute. told of the critical con-
dition of the sufferer. At 5 pm Yesterday
ticic was CoHruitduOH VI tIlt DuNscNuS IN
charge Of the case. There was no noticeable
change. 1t was. however, decided that another
consultation be held at 10 o'clock in the even
ing. Between and 10 o'clock pm. there was
rapid change for the worse. When the time
came for the consultation the sick man was in
semi-conscious condition, and had to be
reused for the examination, and would lapse
back again into Inconsistencies.
In the supreme moment. the fifth act as it
were in the great tragedian's life, he was un-
TO-
he died. and the end was very sudden. At the
deathbed were present Mrs. Barrett, DIR.
Chambers. the manager for Booth 4 Barrett
and the nurse. Mr.. Barrett has two daughters
now in Europe. The funeral will take place
probably in Boston, and the manager of Booth
Il Barrett will have full charge Of all the ar
rangements.
LIFE AND CAREER OF BARRETT.
Lawrence Patrick Barrett WAS born at Pater-
son, NJ, 1888, of Irish extraction, his parents
having come to this country but a few year 8
prior to his birth. His schooling was not of
the best. but. being naturally of studious
turn. he neglected no opportunity of improving
his mind.
His boyhood was passed at Paterson, where
he became remarkable, even at early age.
for his fondness for acting; but his parents in
tending him for mercantile pursuits at fifteen
he was placed in dry goods house at Detroit,
Mich. Such employment was distastefu; to
him. But short time after. a difident
young man, he presented himself at the stage
door Of the old Metropolitan Theater Of his
adopted city, and there he served as call boy.
He finally obtained an opening his first speak
ing part being M,oad, in 1.-The French Spy"
Earnest as he was in everything Barrett from
this on took eagerly to his work He played
every species of character. according to the
customs OF the old stock companies. and solemn
tragedy high and low comedies, all were gone
through with. and from carrying a spear as
supernumerary he advanced within a twelve
month to the playing OF Romeo, to the Juliet Of
Julia Dean Hayne.
At the beginning Of the season Of 1856 81 he
secured an engagement at Burtons Theater
in New York. this being effected only
after his successful performance Of SIR
Thomas Clifford in the "Hunchback' at
a minor house. From New York he
came popular as the leading man of the Boston
Museum: When subsequently he passed over
to New York, the story of his ever-increasing
worth had gone before: but it was not until the
grand revival of Julius Cesar" at Niblo's Gar
den some twelve years ago that his wonderful
performance Of Cdssius won for him that recog-
milton he had so long striven to obtain. The
public at once hailed him as the greatest Cas-
sius ever seen. In 1859 he married the daugh-
ter OF Boston mere hant.
At the outbreak Of the civil war Barrett went
to the front as captain in the twenty-eighth
massachusetts, volunteers. He served with dis
tinction to the close Of the war.
TRIP To ENGLAND.
He went to England in 1866 and endeavored
to effect an appearance at one Of the great Lon
don play houses, but failing to obtain an OPEN
ing he shortly afterward returned home and
before the season had fairly begun crossed to
California. where. joining fortunes with John
Mccullough, their successful tour of the Pacific
slope was made.
In SO he again visited Europe. but after a
rather doubtful success in Liverpool he re-
turned 10 New York, where, in November of
the same year. he began a seasons engagement
at Booths Theater. During this time he ap-
peared in some of his most exacting roles and
though but secondary to 90 distinguished an
actor as Booth, he created most favorable I'M
preston. California again tempted him. and
there a second time meeting with Mccullough,
the twain began the management of the famous
California Theater.
Since that time his popularity greatly in
creased and he has been identified with many
new parts, the greatest among them being
1O,icA, in "Yorick's Love-" and LQnciOtto, in
francesca Da Rimini."
Last season at Rochester, NY, when Mr.
Booth suffered slight parslytic stroke, Mr..
Jarrett made a speech in which he said that
the foremost American actor would probably
never appear on the stage again. This, said
end
Mr.. Barrett did not then imagine that his
own death would occur before that of his
senior.
Mr.. Barrett and Mr.. Booth had agreed to
play separately next season. Mr.. Barrett to be
r. Booths MANAGER Mr. Pa had n