The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-01-07
HENRY IRvING'S CALAMITY
His Gifted Son Lawrence Shoots Himself
After a Rehearsal in Belfast,
The Young Tragedian Consumed with Jeal-
ousy Of His Fathers Fame-The Russian
Famine-Riot at Pernambuco.
YOUNG IRVING SHOOTS HIMSELF.

Attempted Suicide by the Ambitious Son OF
the Great Tragedian.
Special TO the Indianapolis Journal
LONDON. Jan. 6.-Henry Irving had
hardly finished reading in the morning
newspapers to-day the critics praise of his
triumph at the Lyceum last night,
when he was summoned from glory
TO misery by the news of the at
tempted suicide of his second son, Lawrence.
who was recently member of Benson's
Shakespeare Touring Company. He was
capable actor. but labored under the dis
advantage of comparison with his father.
whom he does not nearly approach in
ability. 1t 10 said that he sometimes
complained of this, but nobody took his
remarks more than an expression of
opinion or concluded they were deep
seated sense of wrong. The young
man is known to have aspired to
be a great Shakspearean actor. q rival.
If not Q superior. to his parent.
he Iabored hard to improve himself. and in
this way probably overworked his brain.
The Benson company opened at Belfast on
Monday. This afternoon young Irving at
tended a. rehearsal of the "Mer,
up in his part, and. it was
noticed that he put more than usual energy
into his lines. But he gave no evidence
whatever Of disturbance of mind: After
the rehearsal he went back to his lodg-
inRs and retired to his bedroom,
closing the door. Other actors of the Ben
son company were lodging at the same
place. and one of them was IN room just
below at the time Irving retired.
The fellow-actor heard O pistol shot in
fbah ira nf Iruf ray,a I'M ha
little notice of the noise at first, thinking
that Irving. or some one elae near by. was
going through q private rehearsal In
part that involved the discharge of o
passed from his mind. A moment later his
GUS, horrible sound that made his
cheek bIanch and, his flesh creep.
1t was like the groan OF q
dying man. and there was no acting about
IL. The actor rushed upstairs into 1rvings
room. Across the bed lay the young tra9-
edian, twisting in agony and uttering the
sound that had penetrated to the room
of his associate. Blood was stream
the right breast. and pistol on the floor
with the barrel still warm and curl of
smoke floating near the ceiling, told what q
deed had been done. The covering on the
and Irving's life was fast ebbing away. His
fellow-sctOr asked no questions. but hast
ened for relief. Surgeon Pagan speedily
arrived and administered restOratives. at
the same time taking care to stop the flow
of blood. Prof. Sinclair was also called in,
and an attempt was made to get the bullet,
but the probe failed to reach it. 1t was
found that the ball had penetrated the
apex of the lung. At last accounts Irving
was in q most critical condition. but the
Professor and Surgeon Pagan have not
given up hope of saving his life.
The news of his sons attempted suicide
did not reach Irving until the play had al
ready commenced at the Lyceum this even
ing. The actor retained his composure re-
markably. and determined TO proceed.
He even kept the contents of the
telegram to himself, and the officials
of the theater were unaware of the news
that he had received. 1t is now said that
he put more pathos than before In the lines
of the fallen I'D broken hearted cardinal,
and that his face bore an expression of
pain that was something more than an eff
fort OF the actor in play.