Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-07
Wilkes BOOTHS COSTUMES
COMMITTED TO THE FLAMES By
HIS BROTHER EDWIN.
Burned in Theater Furnace Be.
tween Midnight and Break Of
Day-It Was in 1873.

tween Midnight and Break Of
Day-It Was in 1873.
Otis Skinner, in American Magazine.
In 1873 Edwin Booth learned Of the ex-
istence in Canada of . trunk full Of the
atrical costumes that had belonged to his
brother. ]. Wilkes Booth. the assassin OF
President Lincoln. and 1t was forwarded
to his theater in New York at his request
by Mckee Rankin, the actor, who was
then engaged professionally in the prov
inces
The story as to its disposal is told by an
old property man named Carrie, who is
still alive and active. and his description
of the memorable and pathetic scene is In
part as follows:
1T happened early in '73. The day had
been one OF storms and drifting snow, one
Of those belated days in New York when
winter forgets to become spring. Mr..
Booth had q snug suite of apartments
high up over the stage, in which most Of
his time was spent between his hours OF
business and acting In the theater
Richard III was on for a short run
and had drawn fine audience that night
in spite Of the storm. And. say! How
no udo p!Ayeu! famlHar as L was WIN
his performance, I found myself again
and again standing In the wings watch
ing him.
II O'Clock he gave me orders to wake
him at 3 in the morning. I did SO, and
his first remark was:
Still showing. Carrier
eyes, sir
:. rs 8 o'clock. you sayr
Yes, SIR
II helped him into his coat Che had
lain down partly dressed) and took the
lantern.
Where are we going. Mr.. Booth?' L
asked
TO the furnace room, Carrie he said
$50 I led the way down the stairs,
across the black stage and into the cellar.
The theater building was erected before
the days OF general steam heat, and the
furnace room was a cavernous place Of
vaulted brick, which held the big. old
fashioned heater that warmed It.
Breaks Open Trunk.
Il lighted single gas jet and 1t made
furnace 1 saw an unusually large trunk,
almost like a packing case. tied with
ropes. There were seals on it. some on
the cords, some at the edges where the
cover and the body OF the trunk met.
al shall want an ak. Carrie said Mr..
Booth. There was one In the corner by
the coal bins. and when had found 1t l
was told to cut the cords Of the trunk
and knock OF the top. This was but lit
tie work, for the box was rickety and old.
The lid was soon of. and out came a
There. they lay. the costumes OF John
Wilkes Booth. Edwin must have told
some one about the receipt Of his broth
er's trunk, for the story had got about
the theater. I didn't have to ask whose
wardrobe it was. I shouldn't have had
manner. the scary cellar and the weird
hour of the morning weren't things that
made for conversation.
There was no tray in the uunk-the
dresses lay solidly packed and on the
top Of the pile were some swords and
wigs. For a few moments he stood look
ing down at the things. then he laid the
wigs and swords aside on the overturned
trunk cover and commenced taking out
the costumes. The first was Louis XVI
ed with flowers in silk-probably John
Wilkes Claude Melnotte coat, thought
and was aching to ask. but said nothing
He turned 1t about at arms length, as If
he were fancying his brothers figure in
1t. and perhaps remembering when he
saw 1t worn last. Then he handed 1t to
me. Put it in there he said pointing
to the heater. opened the furnace door
the Goals were all red and blazing. I
paused for q little-'twas such shame
to destroy SO handsome a garment-and
looked back at him. but he was as still as
a statue-just waiting. There was no
help for it, threw it in. 1t settled down
on the blaze with a sort of hiss-a bit
of the lace at the sleeve caught and the
coat was In flames. We watched 1t with
out a word until it was nothing but q
spread Of a red film in the blue coal
flames. A satin waistcoat . pair of knee
breeches and several pairs Of tights were
next taken out. and they followed the
coat. He didn't spend much time ovel
these, merely handed them to me and
motioned toward the fire.
Keeps One Memento.
1T was agonizing. living through these
moments, while without q word Mr.
Booth inspected each article, touching 1t
fondly. as II 1t were his own flesh and
blood, before handing it to me to be
burned.
Then followed in quick succession a
package Of letters, some in q delicate
feminine hand, a Richard III costume
worn by his father, fine daggers, swords
jewelry. many other costumes, together
with odds and ends, which strangely
dancing slippers. Then the trunk itself
in pieces and the cords that had bound 1t
all to the hungry flames. The sacrifice
was complete-complete with one excep-
tion-a simple wreath Of bays tied with
broad white ribbon. Twas his one
memento.
That will do he said quietly. We
will 60 now
II looked at my watch. It was nearly
6 o'clock
"What emotion had arisen during that
scene in the furnace room and sunk to
dQnthS In
its old, set look of gentle melancholy
We came up to the stage and crossed to
the stairway leading to his rooms You
needn't come, Carrie. Thank you,' he
said