The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-02-27
COULD NOT HAPPEN NOW
TIE ESr-MACREADY RIOT RE-
CALLED BY AN EYE WITNESS.

"reminiscences OF the National Feeling
Concerning the Two Actors Which
Led TO the Riot-Forrest Was Ameri-
can and Macresdy English and a
Jealousy Arose-This Was Helped on
by tie Fress of Both Couutries-Ter-
rib.e Scsne in the Midnight Streets.
Men Shot Down.
from the Chicago Times.
The recent simultaneous appearance in
Chicago Of the Jefferson Comedy Company
and Stuart Robson recall the days Of the old
legitimate drama as it is called, when such
plays as Goldsmiths ''She Stops to Con-
quer." Sheridan's brilliant comedies of ''The
Rivals" and school for Scandal" Cole
mans "Heir-at-Law, Sheridan Knowles
"Hunchback," 1.-THE Wife" and many
similar plays. including Shakesesre's im-
mortal drama, were presented to the the
ater-going world-pIays that appeal to
humor and sentiment as well as to the in
tellect, and the test Of whose merit is that
after all these years they still keep the stage
aud their hold upon the public mind
"reminiscences of these old dramatic days
also bring to mind the most memorable
event, probably, in the history Of the drama
the terrible Forrest Macready riot at the
Aston Place opera house in New York-an
event that for a time made the great heart
OF humanity stop beating; tempest OF
carnage and bloodshed that nearly con-
vulsed two great nations and engendered a
bitter and hostile feeling In the minds Of
many Americans and Englishmen that it
took years Of familiar intercourse fully to
overcome.
The writer hereof was a partial eye-wit-
ness OF this awful tragedy in human life,
which occurred on the night Of May 10,
1S49.
HOW IT ALL CAME ABOUT.
In order that the young readers Of to-day
may fully understand it brief synopsis OF
the causes that lead to the deplorable event
Is proper. William G. Macready Of Eng
land and Edwin Forrest of America were
considered at that time the representative
actors of their respective countries. The
reputation of both these eminent artists
was cosmopolitan In extent, and each one
had made several professional visits TO the
others country.
On Macready's second tour in the United
States in 1914 he was we'll received by For
rest, who rendered him the courtesies due
to so eminent a professional brother. In
all the large cities where Macready was
engaged there were, Of course, rival thea
ters and Forrest was engaged as a rival at
traction. He was placarded as the great
American tragedian, and feeling of patri-
otto partisanship was thus engendered and
fostered by the play-going public. The re-
suit of all this was comparative failure for
Macready, and when Forrest, in turn, made
bis next and last visit to England, short
time afterward, this fe cling was recipro-
Gated by the English press and play-goors,
| and Forests engagements there were
greater failures tnan Macready's in this
| country. There is no proof that Macready
had any band in this, but Forrest hastily
and Indignantly charged itupon him.
To add to this bitter feeling Forrest, while
attending performance or Macready's in
| Edinburgh, had the bad taste as we'll as bad
feeling to hiss Macresdy 10 certain part of
the play. This was attributed to profess
sional jealousy by the Edinburgh press, but
Forrest. in a letter to the London Times,
excused and justified himself by saving that
MacI eady had the temerity to introduce into
the part of Hamlet" fancy dancer--a most
ridiculous innovation. which should receive
| the condemnation of every actor of sense
and Judgment. He also stated In extenua-
ton that in some passages in the play be
attested his appreciation of the good points
his rival made by leading the applause.
| PRESS AND PEOPLE HELPED ON THE FEUD.
Thus was instituted and fostered by the
press and theatrical world of both
countries this bitter feud which finally Gull
minated on the night of May 10, 1S49, in the
terrible tempest of the human passions at
Aston place.
On Macready's last professional tour in
this country. in 164S. he met with such a
hostile reception on his first appearance in
phia-Forrest's native city-that
he was nearly driven from the stage On
his 6, appearance at the AstOr
Place opera house in New York the
had hao
meDted, and as he appeared on the
stage he was greeted with Kisses, cat-calls,
and diabolical yells, accompanied with cop
per cents, eggs, apples, potatoes lemons
pieces OF wood, bottles of asafetida, which
were show ered upon the stage, and tho play
came to premature end. But Macready
had hackers in many wealthy citizens of
New York. who were determined that he
should not be driven out of his engagement.
Accordingly, two nights after-the fatal
1Uh-he was advertised to appear again.
The windows were barricaded and strong
police force ordered TO protect the theater.
TRAGEDY ON THE STAGE AND OFF.
But now matters had assumed serious
and alarming as sect. The curtain rose on
the tragedy Of Macbeth" but the moment
Macready appeared he was assaled with all
sorts of missiles; chairs were hurled upon
the stage from the balcony. and the detested
mock tragedy was being attempted in the
theater real and appalling tragedy was
eliminating on the outside Paving stones
were being hurled against the building and
the police were being driven from the field,
many of them bleeding and disabled.
The crowd had increased to some II, 900 or
$4,000 around the square and adjoining
streets, but many Of these were merely pas
sIve spectators OF the awful scene, and the
mob had now worked itself into a perfect
frenzy of passion that seemed bent on de-
struction. Amid all this mad excitement a
troop of horses was heard near at hand, and
the cry went up that the military were COM
log. This seemed to add fury 70 the already
raging flames, and the moment the horse
men appeared the mad mob ceased storming
the theater and turned their missiles against
the troops. Amid piercing yells and exc
crations men were knocked from their
horses, the unframed steeds were thoroughly
| frightened, and the force was speedily
routed, and could not be again rallied for
efficient service.
i, And now came the turn OF the Infantry.
| They were companies from New York's
| famous Seventh regiment. Their quick,
sharp tramp was heard and in few min
utes they de6led down the sidewalk and
| took up "a position near the opera house.
But no sooner had this been done than they
in turn were assailed by volleys of missiles.
| Soldiers were knocked down and many
were carried OFF wounded. An attempt to
| charge bayonets was frustrated by the
rioters Selling their guns and attempting to
wrest them from the hands of the soldiers.