The Life, Crime, and Capture of John Wilkes BoothTownsend, George Alfred
History
The Life, Crime, and Capture of John Wilkes Booth
Townsend, George Alfred
Assassins -- United States -- Biography; Booth, John Wilkes, 1838-1865; Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865 -- Assassination
I have heard it said that Booth frequently cut his adversaries upon the
stage in sheer wantonness or bloodthirstiness. This is a mistake, and is
attributable to his father, the elder Booth, who had the madness of
confounding himself with the character. Wilkes was too good a fencer to
make ugly gashes; his pride was his skill, not his awkwardness. Once
he was playing with John McCullough in the last act of "Richard." They
were fighting desperately. Suddenly the cross-piece on the hilt of
McCullough's sword flew off and cut the owner deeply in the forehead.
Blood ran down McCullough's face, though they continued to struggle, and
while, ostensibly, Booth was imitating a demon, he said in a half
whisper:
"Good God, John, did I hurt you?"
And when they went off the stage, Booth was white with fear that he had
gashed his friend.
As an actor, Booth was too energetic to be correct; his conception of
Richard was vivid and original, one of the best that we have had, and he
came nearer his father's rendering of the last act than any body we have
had. His combat scene was terrific. The statement that his voice had
failed has no valid foundation; it was as good when he challenged the
cavalry-men to combat as in the best of his Thespian successes. In all
acting that required delicate characterization, refined conception or
carefulness, Booth was at sea. But in strong physical parts, requiring
fair reading and an abundance of spring and tension, he was much finer
than hearsay would have us believe.
His _Romeo_ was described a short time ago by the Washington
_Intelligencer_ as the most satisfactory of all renderings of that fine
character. He played the _Corsican Brothers_ three weeks on a run in
Boston. He played _Pescara_ at Ford's Theater--his last mock part in
this world--on to-morrow (Saturday) night, six weeks ago.
He was fond of learning and reciting fugitive poems. His favorite piece
was "The Beautiful Snow" comparing it to a lost purity. He has been
known by gentlemen in this city to recite this poem with fine effect,
and cry all the while. This was on the principle of "guilty people
sitting at a play." His pocket-book was generally full of little
selections picked up at random, and he had considerable delicacy of
appreciation.
On the morning of the murder, Booth breakfasted with Miss Carrie Bean,
the daughter of a merchant, and a very respectable young lady, at the
National Hall. He arose from the table at, say eleven o'clock. During
the breakfast, those who watched him say that he was lively, piquant and
self-possessed as ever in his life.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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