Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-07

EDWIN BOOTH DEAD.
The Great Actor Passes Away After Months
of Illness.
Edwin Booth died at II clock this morning
in New York at the PLAYERS Club. He passed
away unconscious, in which condition he had
remained since Sunday last. When the end
came Mrs. Edwina Grossman. the tragedian's
daughter, had her hand clasped in that of her
father.
Around the bed stood Supt. McGonigle, the
brother-in-law Of Edwin Booth; Mr.. Gross
man, William Bispham and Charles E. Carryl.
The only other persons present in the chamber
were DIR. St. Clair Smith and the nurse.
The small group who watched the last mo-
ments of the famous actor had been silent wit
nesses of Edwin Booths last struggle for life
since 10 o'clock in the evening, when they were
summoned to the bedside by the nurse. Death
at that time was momentarily expected. but 1t
was some hours later before a white handker-
chief was seen to futter from the middle win
dow of the room in which Mr.. Booth had lain
since April 10. This WAS the signal that DIR. ST.
Clair Smith had agreed to flash to the small
crowd of reporters who stood expectant on the
opposite side Of the street. The wave OF the
handkerchief meant that the great tragedian
had died.
Another intimation of the death was the
raising of the flag which floats over the Players
Club az half mast Although the flag could not
be seen from the street when it was lowered on
its halyards this morning, it still being dark,
when early dawn broke the stars and stripes
might be discerned clinging hstlessly to the
flagstaff, under which Law the mortal remains OF
Americas greatest Hamlet.
MR.. BOOTHS DISEASE.
The disease with which Mr.. Booth suffered at
the last was paralysis.
One of its most marked symptoms was ap-
pasta or imperfect enunciation in speech. He
had been seriously ill forty-nine days when
death came.
Mr.. Booths first serious Illness came on April
8, 1889, when he was stricken with incipient
paralysis while PLAYING in ''Othello in the
Lyceum Theater al Rochester. The last four
years of Mr.. Booths life were passed at the
PLAYERS Club in comparative retirement.
During the summer months of 1891 and 1892 he
spent considerable time with his daughter at
Narragansett.
1t was in the latter year, while making his
annual visit. that he was seriously ill at his
house. His friends. particularly solicitous for
his health just at that time. had grave appre-
hension that he would not have sufficient
strength to warrant attempting return to
| New York but with cooler weather came an
improvement in his condition.
| SKETCH OF EDWIN BOOTH.
Edwin Booth. son and successor Of the famous
actor, Julius Brutus Booth, was born at Bel
| Air, Nd. his fathers country seat, on Novem-
| Der Is, 1888. He was named Edwin Thomas, IN
compliment to his fathers friends. Edwin For
rest and Thomas Flynn. Edwin made his first
regular appearance on the stage at the Boston
Museum, September 10, 1s49. The play was
/ Cibber's version of Shakespeare Richard Ill,
/ and the youth came forward in tie small part
| OF Tresil At first the elder Booth opposed
his sons choice of the stage. Edwin perse-
i t,x- St. iv,h his foil aris
company. he appeared as Cassie in '.Othello.
and as Wilfordin THE Iron Chest" Edwin
| continued to act with his father for over two
wears after his Boston Museum debut and his
| first New York appearance was AS WitfOrd a,
| the old National Theater on Chatham street
1851, his father being ill. he suddenly took the
/ place of the elder tragedian and for the first
/ time in his life enacted Richard ILL.,
In the summer OF 1852 he accompanied his
father to San Francisco, where his elder
brother ]. b. Booth. jr., had already estab-
lished himself as an actor and theatrical man.
ager and where the three then acted in com
pany In October. 1852. the father and son
| separated for the last time. Edwin remaining
/ IN California. where his professional career
lasted until 1856. and included a trip to
Australia. His trip to Australia in 1854 was
made with a dramatic company including the
famous actress. Laura Keene. In 1856 he tool
leave of California and turned his talents to.
ward the conquest of the east.
| He first appeared at the old Front Street
| Theater in Baltimore and then made rapid
| tour Of all the large cities of the south. Ir
April. 1857 he appeared at the Boston TEeatel
| as SIR Giles Orerredch, in "A New Way to Pay
Old Debts" and his great success on this occa
sion was always regarded by him as the turning
point in his career.
On July Z, 1860, he married Miss Mary Dew
lin OF Troy, n. Y. an actress whom he had
met three years before at Richmond, Va, ant
with whom he shortly afterward made a'visii
to England Their only child. daughter. Ed
wilma, was born Mt Fuiham on December
1861, and survives her father Mrs. Booth DYING
suddenly at Dorchester, Mass, shortly afie
their return to America. On returning t
America Booth soon became manager of th'
Winter Garden Theater. New York, which hat
been Burton's. Here Booth appeared on De
cember 20, 1869. and with this house he was as
socia.ed until March %. 1867, when it was de
auctions of Hamlet, ''Othello," ''Merchan
OF Venice" ''Ricehlieu' and other PLAYS, and &C
complished the, in those days, remarkable
achievement of running 'Hamlet" 100 con
secutive nights. exploit which was com
memorated by the public presentation to hin
on June %. 1867, of gold medal from tn
leading citizens Of New York.
Booths brother-ln-law, the celebrated come
diam John S. Clarke, was his partner in tn
management of the Winter Garden, and tn
: two were also aSSOc1ateO IN tne walnut stree
Theater. Philadelphia, from 1868 to 1870, whe
Clarke bought Booths interest. In April, 1856;
|; the tragedy at Ford's Theater, this city, i
. which his brother took such an infamous par
. ! compelled Edwin Booth to leave the stage 10
a time. and it was then his wish and purpos
never to return to it. But business obligation
compelled him, and he reappeared at th
Winter Garden on January 8, 1866, as Hcmle
. and was received with reclamation by a grea
; audience. But never thereafter would he az
pear in Washington. After the destruction {
, the Winter Garden a new house was bui
I for him at the corner of 23d street and Ct
avenue, New York. which long bore the nan,
of Booths Theater. Booth opened the ne
house on February 8, 1869, PLAYING Romeo
the juliet of Miss Mary Mcvicker, adopte
daughter Of ]. H. Mcvicker Of Chicago Boot
married her on June 7, 1859, and she died
New York in 1881. leaving no children.
Booths Theater was managed by Edwl
{ Booth until the spring of 1874, when it passe
. out of his possession
E Edwin Booth then began his career owe
4 again, and in the course OF time paid his deb
and earned another fortune.
> r.ooo;aco vvbare he acted for pipl