Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1865-04-21
Assassination of the President
and Secretary Seward.
WAR DEPARTkENT,


! and Major Rathbone, was shot by an assassin
who suddenly entered the box and approached
behind the President. - as
The assassin then leaped upon the stage,
brandishing large dagger or knife, and made
his escape in the rear Of the theater. The pis-
tol ball entered the back of the Presidents
head and penetrated nearly through the head.
The wound is mortal The President has been
insensibie ever since it was inflicted, and is now
about dying.
About the same hour, an assassin, whether
the same or not, entered Mr.. SewaEd's apart
ments, and, under the pretence ofbaving pre-
scription, was shown TO the Secretary's sick
chamber. The assassin Immediately rushed to
the bed and inflicted two or three stabs on the
throat, and two on the face. 1t is hoped the
wounds may not be mortal My apprehension
is that they will prove fatal The nurse alarmed
Mr. Fred Seward lwho was in an adjoining room,
and Fastening to The door of his fathers room,
he met the assassin who inflicted upon him one
or more dangerous wounds. The recovery of
Fred Seward is doubtful
Il is probable that the President will live
through the night. Gen. Grant and wife were
advertised TO be at the theatre this evening, but
he started for Burlington at six O'Clock.
At cabinet meeting at which General Grant
was present the subject of the state of the coun-
try and the prospect of speedy peace was dis
cussed. The President was very hopeful and
spoke very kindly Of Gen. Lee aud others of
the COnfederacy, and of the establishment of a
Government in Virginia
All the members of the cabinet, except Mr.
Seward, are now in attendance upon the Presi-
dent. have seen Mr.. Seward, but he and
Frederick were both unconscious.
EN-. STANTON, Sec'y of War.
THE MURDER.
Miss Harris who was in the box with the
President makes the following statement
Nearly an hour before the commission Of the
deed, the assassin came to the door of the box
and looked in TO take the position of its Occu-
pants 1t was supposed at the time that it was
either mistake or the exercise of an imperti-
nent curiosity, and attracted no particular at
tention at the time; upon his entering the box
again Major Rathbone arose and asked the in
tTuder his business. He rushed past the Major
without making reply and placing his pistol
close TO the back of the Presidents head, actu-
ally in contact with it, fired, and instantly
sprang upon the cushioned bannister of the box,
when he made a backward plunge with his
knife aimed at the face or breast of Mr. Lincoln.
Major Rathbone springinging forward to protect
the President received the stab in his arm.-
The murderer then jumped upon the stage and
effected his escape. -t
mitted upon the President was astounding
Mrs. Lincoln saw the form of person go down
from the box, and thought that Mr.. Lincoln had
fallen'out and looked to see if she could see him
on the floor; she barely saw the culprit jump to
the stage; when all was over she turned her
eyes to the box and saw that Mr.. Lincoln's head
had dropped forward upon his breast, and at
once realized what had trsnspired.
The murder of the President was at once an
nounced at Growers theater. Little Fred Lin
coin was in attendance there and the moment
be heard the statement he seemed to go almost
crazy, and shrieked and sobbed in aheart-rend-
ing manner The poor boy was taken TO the
White House and was soon quieted when told
that his father was not dead
From the moment the President was shot up
to his death, he was insensible, and exhibited
no signs of pain, recognized no person, and in
fact believe did not open his eyes. Blood
troubled his breathing often making it exceed
ingly difficult. He was watched with tender
care, and all that could be was done for him.
Vice President johnson visited the President
during the night, but remained only about an
hour, in fact many of those who had rushed to
assist in taking care of the President had found
that their presence obstructed rather than as
sisted, and therefore left. Among those present
were many members of Congress and Western
men: The number present were reduced to but
few before he breathed his last. About SO clock
this morning l reached the house where the
President lay in his dying agonies He was
lying upon the bed apparently breathing with
great difficulty.
He was entirely unconscious as he had been
ever since his assassination. His eyes were
protruding from their sockets, and suffused with
blood; in other respects his countenance was
unchanged.
HEART-RENDING SCENES.
In an adjoining room, where Mrs. Lincoln,
her son, Captain Robert Lincoln, Miss Harris,
who was with Mrs Lincoln at the time Of the
assassination of the President, Rufus +. An
drews and two lady friends of Mrs. Lincoln
Mrs. Lincoln was under great excitement and
agony, wringing her hands and exclaiming:-
"Why did he not shoot me, instead of my hus-
band? | have tried TO be SO careful of him,
fearing something would happen, and his life
seemed to be more precious than ever. j must
go with him" and other expressions of a like
character. and she was constantly going back
and forth 10 the bedside of the President, ex-
claiming in great agony "How, can it be so. y
The scene was heart-Tending, and it is i'm
possible to portray it in its living light Cap
tain Robert Lincoln bore himself with great
frmness, and constantly endeavored TO assuage
the grief of his mother by telling her to put her
trust in God and all would be well; OCCASION
ally being entirely overcome, he would retire
into the hall and give vent TO the most heart
rending lamentations. He would recover him.
self and return to his mother, and with remark
able self-possession, try to cheer her broken
spirits and Tighten her load of sorrow. His con-
duct was the most remarkable exhibition o.
calmness in the trying hour that have ever
seen.
THE LAST MOMENTS.
About quarter of an hour before the Presi-
dent died his breathing became very difficult
and in many instances seemed to have entirely
ceased, so that the surgeon, who was holding his
| pulse, supposed him dead. He would breathe
with such great difficulty as to be heard in al
most every part of the house. Mrs. Lincoln
took her last leave of him about twenty minutes
before he expired and was sitting in an sdjOin-
ing room when it was announced to her that he
was dead, and when the announcement was
made she exclaimed, ''Oh, why did you not tel
me he was dying"
The Surgeons members of the Cabinet, Sena-
tor Sumner, Captain Robert Lincoln, General
Todd, Mr.. Field and Mr.. Andrews were stand
| ing at his bedside when he breathed his last =
Robert Lincoln and Mr.. Andrews stood leaning
over the head board of the bed, watching every
motion of breathing of the dying President =
| Robert Lincoln was resting himself upon the
arm of Senator Sumner. The members of the
Cabinet were standing by the side of the bed. =
Secretary Stanton at the lett of Mr.. Andrews
Mr. Andrews near Mr.. LincOln's head, next tC
him was Mr.. Dennison aud others arranged
along at the left. Surgeons were sitting at the
side and foot of the bed holding the President
hands, and with their watches observing the
slow declension of pulse Such was the solemn
stiffness for the space of five minutes that the
ticking of the watches might be beard in the
| room.
At22 minutes past his muscles relaxed and
the spirit of Abraham Lincoln fled from Its
earthly tabernacle to that bourne from which
no traveller returns. The countenance of the
| President was beaming with that characteristic
smile which only those who have seen him il
his happiest moments can appreciate, and excep
a blackness of his eyes, his face appeared per
| fectly natural. Without a struggle and with
out even perceptible motion of limb, and silent
! ly the great and good man passed away.
The morning was calm and rain was dropping