The Columbus journal., 1908-11-04
LAST OF ]. WILKES BOOTH.

LAST OF ]. WILKES BOOTH.
In 1873 Edwin Booth learned of the
existence in Canada of q trunk full Of
theatrical costumes that had belonged
to his brother J. Wilkes Booth, the
assassin of President Lincoln, and it
was forwarded to his theatre in New
York at his request by Mckee Ran
kin, the actor who was then engaged
professionally in the province.
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 pa
thetic scene is as follows:
ut happened early in '7S. Theday
had been one of storm and drifting
snow, one of those belated days of
New York when winter forgets to be-
come spring. Mr.. Booth had 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 theatre.
Richard III was on for . short
run and had drawn q fine audience that
night in spite of the storm. And, say!
how he had played! Familiar as I was
with his performance, 1 found myself
again and again standing in the wings
watching him.
"On leaving his dressing room about
IL o'clock, he gave me orders to wake
him at 3 in the morning. 1 did so,
and his first remark was:
"'Still showing, Carrier
"Yes, SIR
ats 3 o'clock, you say
"'Yes, SIR
Il helped him into his coat Che had
lain down partly dressed), and took
the lantern.
"'Where are we going, MI. BOOTH
1 asked.
"'To the farnace.rodh, Carrie, he
said. =
$50 I led the way down the stairs,
across the black stage, and into the
cellar. The theatre building was erect
ed before the days of general steam
heat, and the furnace room was q cav
ernous place of vaulted brick, which
held the big, old.fashioned heater that
warmed it.
Il lighted a single gasjet, and it
made a bright spot in the gloom. Over
near the furnace I 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.
81 shall want an axe, Carrie said
Mr.. Booth. There was one in the
corner of the coal bins, and when 1
had found it I was told to cut the
cords of the trunk and knock off the
top. This was but little work, for the
box was rickety and old. The lid was
soon of, and out came q smell of cam.
phor and musty fabrics. There they
lay, the costumes of John Wilkes
Booth. Edwin must have told some
one about the receipt of his brothers
trunk, for the story had got about the
theatre. I didn't have to ask whose
wardrobe it was. l wouldn't have had
the courage to do 80, anyway; Mr..
Booths manner, the scary cellar and
the weird hour of the morning weren't
things that made for conversation.
There was no tray in the trunk
the dresses lay solidly packed and on
the top of the pile were some swords
and wigs. For . few moments he
stood looking down at the things, then
he laid the wigs and swords aside on
the overturned trunk cover and com.
menced taking out the costumes. The
first was q Louis XVI coat of steel.
blue broadcloth, embroidered with
flowers in probably J. Wilkes
Claude Melnotte coat, 1 thought, and
was aching to ask, but I said nothing.
He turned it about 1t arms length, -