Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 April 1892 — MURPHY FAILED TO DIE. [ARTICLE]

MURPHY FAILED TO DIE.

And Spartacus Was Bullyragged by a Red. Headed Irishman. It was at a certain East £>idq theater recently that a tragic stanof medium standing produced in the course of his repertory the well-worn tragedy of “Spartacus,” says the New York Commercial Advertiser. Late in the afternoon the management was notified that the gentleman who had .been accustomed to portray the fighting Gaul in the arena scene had succumbed to the grip and wouldn’t be .around that evening. After an hour or so of sharp hustling for a substitute a Milesian of diminutive proportions was secured, and there beiug no opportunity for a rehearsal he was told in a general way what to do and informed .that he was to give up the ghost when the star told him to do so. When the evening came the stage manager and his assistant rigged up the volunteer in breastplate and helmet, gave him his little tin sword, and at the proper moment turned him loose in the arena. The star opened the combat by giving his antagonist a lively crack in the ribs. This roused the latter’s Celtic, blood and he retaliated by whacking the star's helmet in good gladiatorial fashion. Pleased by this display of enthusiast* on the part of a tyro, Spartacus smote the fighting Gaul in the neck by way of encouraging the same and received a sharp jab in return. For two Minutes the battle was a sharp one, when the star, who is a stout man and not much given to exercise, began to retreat. “Die, Murphy, die!” he- hissed between his teeth, as he vainly tried to dodge the trip-hammer blows the Gaul aimed at him. “Divil a bit,” hissed the fighting Gaul in reply, “Oi’ve just clapped me oies on the tarrier that's runnin’ agin me for sargint-av-arums in our society an’ it’ll niverdo for him to say me bate!”. The curtain was rung down on the unusual spectacle of the doughty Spartacus being chased all around the ring by a small and red-headed gladiator of generally measly appearance. ,