The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-04-20
Edwin Booth in a Critical Condition at
the Players Club, New York.
Found Lying in Bed Unconscious Yesterday
Morning, Having suffered Paralytic
stroke Sometime During the Night
His Recovery Considered Doubtful by
the Physicians in Attendance.
Little Hope Entertained at O'Clock This
Morning-A Result OF 0yerwork on the
Stage-Career Of the Great Tragedian.
EDWIN BOOTH STRICKEN.

ZD"A<$ DOOAh o4hAchG@ss
ssixed with ParaIysis-In an Unconscious
CoDdiuon-Littie Hope of Recovery.
NEW YORK. April l9.-Edwin Booth. the
tragedian. 10 lying at the Players Club.
No. 16 Grsmercy Park. suffering from par
slysis. Ii is feared that this the second
psraly tic stroke the famous actor has been
stricken with. will prove fatal.
AT IL o'clock this morning Superintendent
McGonigle. of the Players Club. not hav-
ing heard from Mr. Booth. opened the door of
hissleopin a partment at the club and found
the traaedian lying In bed unconscious.
DIR. st. Clair Smith and DIR. Ransom were
immediately summoned, and they gave 1t
rs their opinion he had been seized with
paralytic stroke some time during the
night. Drs. smith and Ransom remained
with their patient all day, and at midnight.
though there were signs of consciousness.
his condition was considered very critical.
and the attending physIcians said it was
very doubtful If Mr.. Booth would recover.
MIR. Booth was compelled 20 go TO Lake.
wood last fail on account of i'll health. He
returned from there Nov. 4. apparently
somew hat improved. he went to his home
81 the Players Club, but could not
DO seen by visitors. Mr.. j. II.
McGonigle. the superin; endent of the club.
said: The vertigo which had troubled
Mr.. Booth for years made it impossible
for him to see strangers. The moment he
began TO talk TO them the excrtement
caused him TO get very dizzy. Ibis head
whirled and the sensation was very un-
pleasant TO him. Some time ago he met
with an accident which has been very
much exaggerated. he was sitting talk
Ing. and was overcome by dizziness. and
toppled over and bumped the top OF his
forehead against the washstand. No re-
suits beyo nd that followed, but the news
papers said that he was unconscious for
o long tine and that it was regarded as
very serious. You remember When he
was overcome at Rochester, it was said
that his illness was due TO smoking too
much. The real fact Is that he Is now pay
In The penalty for years of overwork. he
has been on the stage continually since be
now about ffty-eight- 1t has been six
and seven times week with him,
playing big roles Rossi. SalvIni. Char
lotte Cushman-all the actors who have
played in his hne-bsye never attempted
TO play more than three or four times a
week. but the managers would come TO him
aud say: If You don't play. Mr.. Booth. il
means that we Will have to CLOSE the
house. and we will lose lot of money
Mr. Booth would answer: oh. oil right
old fellow for he Is kind hearted man,
and did not want to see others suffer loss
on ms account. Not that he wanted the
money, for no had plenty but he did not
want to see his friends lose anything by
him, and 80 1t has gone on. He has worked
when he ought 10 have rested, and he Is
now paying for IT."
The trst attack of this kini which Mr..
Booth had was on April 3. 1889. He was
Barrett, in Rochester. He appeared
weak as the performance went on.
and finally another actor had to be
put in his place to finish an act OF
the play. He had for the time lost the use
OF the vocal organs. es in the present case.
Mr.. barrett, fearing hat the attack was of
o much worse nature than IL really was,
made an address TO the audience. sayin q
thst Mr.. Booth would not probably be able
Co act again. He recovered, however. In .
Sincs Mr.. Booth gave his last performance
1T the Academy of Music. IN Brooklyn, on
April 8, 1891. his health has been generally
poor. he has spent the most of
few weeks ago BIO appeared to be
considerably better, so much so. indeed,
that IL was reported that he would return
to the stage next season. He had been in
t4o Hooit Va iCnNink thO OAuo w uiho Viva
his daughter once or twice q week. and he
went to the theater q few times The last
time be was seen In public was on April 3.
when be attended Alexander SaIvinls per-
Torrance at the Manhattan Opera House.
For the last few days be has not been SO
well.
For months past prime object of Mr..
Booths life hes seemed to be to
keep the knowledge of his fail
Ing health from his friends and
more especially from the public.
Within the year he was often seen walking
about the city in certain places for which
be- seemed TO entertain an affection.
They were generally spots far apart
from the crowded thoroughfares where be
could have his exercise. with his hands
clasped behind his back. his eyes bent on
the ground. As his feebleness grew upon
him be become more averse TO acknowledge
ing IL. and confined himself closer to his
favorits corner in the Players Club where
he sat and unused for hours in silence. en-
during his physical discomforts with a
sort of grim cheerfulness which has been
his marked characteristic of recent years.
IL is learned that tho physicians who
HAD been hastily summoned found Mr..
Booth was suffering from stroke OF
paralysis. resulting from q rupture OF one
of the blood vessels of the brain.
Att 4. NJ. this Thursday morning it was
announced at tho clubhouse that Mr. Booth
was sinking and that while he might re-
cover, has condition was more precarioue
than at any time since his attack.