Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-09-25
TWO MEN OF NERVE.
They Entertained Each Other Royalty
Though Both Were in Deaths Shadow.

They Entertained Each other Royalty
Though Both Were in Deaths Shadow.
A good many years ago in this good
city of New York, in the days OF Wash
ington Irving, an actor named Bernard
payey an engagement at the old Park
Theater with considerable success and
became a sort of ''lion" for the time
being. OF the stage he was refined
and educated gentleman and had many
friends-among them a rather promi-
nent politician called Governor Craw-
ford, who had really been "Governor"
once.
Crawford lived in good style not far
from the theatre and entertained freely.
One night after the theater he gave
little stag party at his house and a
number of prominent men were invited,
among others Washington Irving, then
in the height of his popularity and still
something Of a novelty, and Coleman,
then the editor Of the EUelltng Post.
Bernard, the actor was the guest OF the
evening, the "stag" party having been
gotten up by Crawford chiefly to give
his friend, the actor, chance TO get
better acquainted with New York nota-
bilitles.
The evening passed along pleasantly
for some time and everybody seemed to
be enjoying himself eating and drink
ing, especially drinking.
Coleman was rather abstemious, how
ever, and didn't take very much. But
he got interested in some of the actors
talk, and, proving a capital listener,
pleased Bernard very much; good lis
teners being, as rule, considerably
more scarce and more delightful than
good takers. Coleman evidently lis
tened with real, not assumed. interest,
and intelligently, too, as his remarks
and questions showed. So well did he
listen that it got to be long after mid
night before the actor got through with
his 'big talk" Even shen he didn't
want TO stop, but Coleman said he had
some matters TO attend to, late as II
was, having pressing engagement
early the next morning.
81 am so sorry TO have you go of, "
said the actor, as he parted with the ed
itor, who left Crawford's hospitable
house about 3 o'clock in TIE morning,
'but / sincerely hope you will give me
q chance to finish my talk and discuss
this subject further with you to-mor-
row."
At this the editor smiled, as the actor
thought, rather curiously, and replied
shaking the actors hand warmly: III
my engagement OF tomorrow permits. |
shall be most happy TO continue this
conversation"
The actor wondered what 1.-The engage
ment OF tomorrow" could have to do,
one way or the other, with continuing
the conversation" at some other time;
but he did not wonder afterward when
he found out that Coleman, four hours
after be had parted from him at Craw-
ford's, had fought one OF his several
duels with New York politician over
at the Elysian Fields, near Hoboken.
All the time the editor had been list
tening to the actor, listening attentive
ly and intelligently, he had been fully
aware that within less than six hours
he had an even chance OF being dead
man. Still, this pleasing possibility
did not influence his manner In the least
and he proved as agreeable and intel
lectual companion as IL he had been
leading the most peaceful OF existences.
After the editor left the actor got
talking to Washington Irving, and the
two got along famously together till the
actor noticed peculiar taste in his
mouth, which. attributIng 1t to the
cigar, he stopped smoking. Sill the
taste remained In his mouth, when,
upon looking into the spittoon into
which he had been expectorating, he
found to his horror that the vessel was
full OF blood.
Soon recovering from the shock Of
this discovery, the actor made up his
mind that he had ruptured blood YES
sci, and that It was all over with him.
He accordingly requested his host. Gov
ernor Crawford. TO send for a coach,
and he was taken to his lodgings, where
for the balance OF the night he lay
bleeding profusely, no regular doctor
being found to attend 70 him Till the
next morning.
But, his wife being sick up stairs, the
actor insisted upon not having her dis
turbed, and occupied room BY himself
TIL the next morning.
And IS he had made up bis Mid that
he was going to die. and as his theatri-
eel and pecuniary Affairs we're ia an IN
settled state, be sent for his manager