Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-11
Incidents in the Career
Of John Wilkes Booth
Written for The Star by John e. Buckingham,
Doorkeeper at Ford's Theater at the Time
Lincoln Was Assassnated

when Abraham Lincoln was on
his way to Washington to be in
~ augurated President of the United
| States he stopped off at Albany
| n. Y, to attend ceremonies arranged by
| the citizens of that place In his honor. On
| the same date John Wilkes Booth was play
| ing an engagement at an Albany theater
| At that time how little did either dream OF
| the terrible tragedy that was later to link
their names together for all time to come!
| Amid the roar of artillery from Observa-
| tory Hill President Lincoln arrived in AL
bany from the west, via the Central rail-
| road. On reaching the Broadway crossing
the train was stopped and the President
| was received by the common council, head
ed by Mayor Thatcher. The 25th Regiment
was under arms and crowds of citizens
thronged the streets The presence of the
chief magistrate of the nation in Albany is
always an event worthy of note, but at this
time-just on the brink of the civil war into
which the country was to be plunged when
the blood of citizens was at fever heat;
when all eyes were directed toward the
tall, gaunt figure that was to stand at the
helm of the ship of state-the arrival OF Mr..
Lincoln created the utmost excitement.
He was welcomed to the city by the
mayor, in formal address, which was re-
sponded to by the President He visited the
gan. In the evening Mr.. and Mrs. Lincoln
received the citizens at the Delavan. 1t was
the first time that thousands in that vicin-
ity ever saw the countenance which has
since become so familiar.
That very night, the first and perhaps the
only night ever passed by Abraham Lincoln
in the city of Albany an actor, almost I'M
known except by name, was playing his
first engagement at the little Gayety Thea
ter, in Green street.
A little more than four years later and the
face of Lincoln was once more seen In Al
bany, but the people who gazed upon 1t
were in mourning. for it was now cold In
death. At a m, April g. 1865, the remains
of the martyred President laid in state at
the capitol of New York. and were viewed
by sorrowing procession until 80 pm,
when the coffin was closed and thousands
who had come from miles around to gaze
for the last time upon the face of the great
emancipation were unable to view the re-
mains. That very night, too, the actor of
four years previous, but then the hunted
assassin of the President, was shot like
dog by the light of burning barn in which
he had taken refuge near Bowling Green,
Virginia.
John Wilkes Booth in 1861 was only TWEEN
ty-three years old and he was regarded as
one of the handsomest men that ever graced
the stage His first appearance in Albany,
February II, was as Romeo to Annie Waite
Juliet and for this romantic role he seemed
perfectly fitted. The fame of his dead father
prepared the way for his reception, and the
good reports of his brother, Edwin, raised
anticipation in relation to this younger
aspirant, who was said to be equally II not
still more highly gifted. His success was
immediate. On the second night he ap-
peared as Pescara in THE Apostate,' its
first representation in this country since
his father played 1T. In this role he so
much resembled the elder Booth, whom he
NAV that certain SDtrituallStS in
Albany could only account for the similar
ity by the theory that the spirit OF his
father must have been lowering around to
inspire him with his energy, conception and
soul. While falling in the last act Booths
dagger fell first and he struck upon it, the
point entering the right armpit. infiictng
muscular wound about two inches deep,
from which the blood flowed freely. Had it
gone a little deeper how the whole course
of future political events in this country
might have been changed, AS it was, Booth
laid up for a night or two only and reap
peared in the same role Monday, February
IS, the night of the presidential visit, with
his right arm tied to his side, but fencing
with his left like demon.
Tuesday he played Julian st. Pierce;
Wednesday, ''Othel1o;" Thursday THE
Stranger Friday, for his benefit. Rich
ard ILL.," and Saturday, Charles de Moor.
AT subsequent enga gement, beginning
March A. the day of Lincoln's Inauguration,
Booth played. besides several of his former
roles, Hamlet. Claude Melnotte. Macbeth,
Shylock, Raphael, in The Marble Heart,
and the dual role in 1.-THE Corsican Broth
ers."
Booth, from the first, was violent seces-
sionist. On the morning of his arrival in
Albany he expressed his sentiments in pub
lie at Stannix Hall with the greatest free
dom; so much so that word was sent to the
mana cement of the theater that the new
star had better heed a word of caution.
Treasurer Cuyler accordingly called around
to see Booth and found him at breakfast
After an introduction. Mr.. Cuyler ex-
planned his errand and suggested that if
Mr.. Booth persisted in expressing his SEN
timents in public not only would he spoil
his engagement but endanger his person.
rs not this democratic city, exclaimed
the actor.
Democratic? Yes; but disunion, nor
was the reply.
Booth accepted the situation, and there
after kept quiet; but his sentiments only
grew stronger for repression.
Each time Booth came to Albany 1t was
sulen, and from a genial gentleman he
changed into soured cynic The last
time Mr.. Cuyler saw him in Washington
the actor scarcely recognized him. although
in Albany they had been pleasantly and
even intimately associated. April % Booth
began another and his last engagement in
Albany, one which came to an abrupt and
almost tragic end Indeed, Albany seemed
fraught with danger for the young and
gifted actor.
He was at this time supported by Hen
rietta Irving. who had played with him
three nights, She made her first appear
ance there March IS, In play entitled
San Mars. or the Warrior Bride" written
by "a young lady of Albany. Miss Irving
also played Camille, Medea, etc, and then
Joined the stock company. On the fourth
day of the Booth engagement she rushed
into his room at Stanwix Hall, armed with
a dirk, and inflicted a severe wound upon
his face. She then retired to her own room
and stabbed herself but not seriously.
Miss Irving was subsequently leading lady
at the Trimble Opera House, during its
first season. She afterward became the
wife of Edward Eddy and was with him
when he died in the West indies. She is
still upon the stage.
In 1868 Booth retired and speculated In
OIL November 3d. 1864, he, with his
brothers, Edwin and Junius Brutus, played
Julius Caesar at the Winter Garden for
the benefit of the Shakespeare monument
fund.
His last appearance as an actor on the
,fr,,io Sta was a EOrt1'S hes for haro