The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-06-14
DEATH OF EDWIN BOOTH,
Peaceful End Of the Great Trage,
dian,

VIII has DGCu lONtllllS DCtNCCl ilC
and death so many days, passed away
at IFS O'Clock this morning in his
apartments in the Players Club The
decline in his physical condition had
been very perceptible for several days,
and as long ago as Saturday night all
hope Of saving his life was given up.
All day yesterday his condition grew
steadily worse, and at seven o'clock
this evening DR.. st. Clair Smith was
hastily summoned to the club He
said that the tragedian's pulse was in
the neighborhood Of 100 and his
temperature over IO5 There was
nothing that could be done except for
the anxious watchers to sit by the bed
side until the feeble spark of life was
finally eXtinguished.
AT ten o'clock another serious change
was noted, and DR.. Smith was again
summoned. He did what he could to
ease the dying moments of Mr.. Booth,
who, although completely unconscious,
appeared to suffer greatly for lack Of
air, it being apparently extremely diff
cult for him to breathe.
From this time until he expired the
great actor gradually grew weaker. The
restless motions of the hands finally
ceased, and life passed away.
The end was peaceful in the extreme.
The wonderful vitality which SO long
had sustained the flame of life had
| l,.1r,.,l ,l,,ArE tt,YayratNtthl,,
The end had come almost before those
who were watching knew it. Grouped
about the bedside were Mr.. Booths
son-in-law and daughter, Mr.. and Mrs
IgnatiuS Grossman; ]. II. MCGonigle,
Superintendent of the Players Club
and brother-in-law of Mr.. Booth;
William Bispham, close personal
friend of the CHEESEMAN'S, and Charles
H. Carryll, one Of the Players Club
House Committee.
When death came DR.. ST. Clair
Smith was in attendance. After signi.
flying to those present that all was over
he hurried down stairs, where a great
crowd of the dead tragedlan's friends
were in waiting, and gave to them the
news. The doctor said: "There is
nothing to say in description Of Mr..
Booths death 1t was like the passing
of a shadow. His vitality had been
f surprising, and was amazed that death
had not come before. Everything
pointed to the early death Of Booto
this morning On April 18th his vital
lty, which had sustained hun for seven
weeks to such surprising extent, then
gave indications that it would not beal
: him up much longer
When DR.. St. Clair Smith called al
s o'clock he looked for the great &C
tors early demise He left the house
at O'Clock, when the attendants posted
this bulletin, that he had then written
"There has been a change in Mr..
Booths condition since midnight. Mr.
Both has been unconscious since Sun
day"
Mrs. Grossman called at the clut
early in the morning. She has beer
unremtting in her attendance at the
bedside of her father, and her friends
have all along feared that the strain
would finally prove too much for her to
bear She is looking very i'll, indeed,
but her anxiety has not allowed her to
absent herself from the sick chamber
longer than was necessary to attend to
her children and necessary household
duties. Mr.. Grossman also called
several times and spent some time in
the sick room. He took the children
there on one occasion, but they re
NAMED only a short time and Their
went home with a maid.
DIR. Smith went away again late ii
the day and at GAS o'clock a messen,
+ ger was summoned, who rushed out o
S the clubhouse for him. 1t was ther
. thought Mr. Booth was sinking anC
would soon de. Dr. Smith drove W
lat 1870 o'clock. Previous to this time
i there had been a report from the sicl
r chamber that Mr. Booths eXtremtie
y were growing cold and that he coulC
. i've but a short time
The result of the doctors eXamina
ton was contained in this bulletin tina
p he posted at twenty minutes to
5 o'clock: Mr., Booth is gradually sink
, ing and it is d ubtful if he survive the
night" Dr. Smith left the house
shortly after, He seemed much affect
] ed. He had long been a persona
= friend of Mr. Booth, as well as hi
physician, and the actors impending
death weighed upon him very much
- He was away from the club fura couple
, of hours, bat returned at 1880 o'clock
After that he did not leave Mr. Booth
bedside until the tragedian had passeC