St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-06-07
| NOW l|FELESS CLAY.
Edwin Booth Passes Away at
the Players Club, New
York.
His Bedside Surrounded by
Sorrowing Relatives and
Friends.
The Actors Death Was Very
Peaceful, Being Scarcely
Noticeable.
Story Of the Life Of the
Greatest Tragedian Of
America.

NEW YORK, June Edwin Booth,
the great tragedian, quietly passed away
at his apartments in the Players club
at 1:15 this morning. At his bed
side at the time were Mr.. and Mrs
GroSsman, his son-in-laW and daughter;
his physician, DR.. st. Clair Smith, Supt.
McGonigle, William Bispham, an init
mate friend, and Charles Farrell. The
death of the renowned actor, which had
been expected at any time during the
past two days, was very peaceful. being
scarcely noticeable to the anxious
watchers at his bedside.
Edwin Booth was born in Bel Air,
near Baltimore, Nd, on Nov. Is, 1888,
and was the son Of Junius Brutus
Booth, the elder, an English actor, who
obtained his reputation. however, mainly
in the United States. He was named Ed
win Thomas out of compliment to his
fathers friends. Edwin Forrest and
Thomas Flynn, both great actors. AL
though the elder Booth at first objected
to his sons going on the stage, he did
finally consent, and the young man first
appeared In 1S49 at the Boston museum.
when he appeared as Tressel in erich
ard ILL.,"
He Made q Success
in this small part. and from that time
forward no question was raised as to
his continuing on the stage. In 1851 he
took the most important step in his
playing "Kichard Ill" in place
of his father. who had been
taken suddenly i'll. This perform
ance gave him at once the reputation
of being an actor of unusual promise.
In the latter part of 1852 the elder
Booth died while ON his way from New
Orleans to Cincinnati. Edwin, now left
to rely upon his own intellectual re-
sources, travelled through Cali
fornia, playing amid great
deal Of poverty and many hard
ships whenever opportunity offered.
In 1854 he played in company with Miss
Laura Keene in Australia, but returned
to the United States the following year,
and originated in San Francisco the
character of Raphael in 1.-The Marble
Heart" He also at this time made his
first appearance as Richeleu. which
afterward became one of his most noted
characters.
uC VI MI. DOUtu mag
cent extravaganza in the interest Of
dramatic art in causing the erection of
that superb structure, Booths theater,
in Twenty-third street. New York, and
the financial ruin which fell upon him
thereafter because he permitted
His Splendid Art Instinct
to carry away with it his business judg-
ment, all this is we'll known and ap-
preciated by the American art public
and by the thousands of friends of Mr..
Booth. In 1888 he opened in New
Yorkshire club for actors known by the
name OF The Players club, the entire
expense of which was paid by Mr..
Booth.
Mr.. Booths first serious illness came.
on April 3, 1889, when he was stricken
with incipient paralysis while playing
in "Othello" in the Lyceum theater in
Rochester. The last four years of Mr..
Booths life have been passed at the
Players club In comparative retirement
During the summer months Of 1891 and
1902 he spent considerable time with his
daughter at Narraganset. 1t was in the
latter year, while making his annual
visit, that he was so seriously ill
at her house. His friends, par
ticularly solicltous for his health
just at that time, had grave
apprehensions that he would not
have sufficient strength to warrant at
tempting return to New York, but
with cooler Weathers came an improve
ment in his condition. and he returned
to Players club In October. From this
time those who knew him most init
mately marked steady decline in bis
health.