The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-05-12
j. WILKES BOOTH.

of incidents attending the killing of ].
Wilkes BoorH, how he was traced from
the Capital, his conversation with the de-
tectiye. etc. Much Of the account has
been telegraphed, but the following is new
and interesting: =.
%. s+ THE BARN FIRED. ..--
Ere he ceased speaking, Col. Conger, slip
ping around to the rear, drew some loose
straws through crack and Lit match upon
them. They were dry and blazed up in an in
slant, carrying a sheet of smoke and flame
through the parted planks, and heaving in
twinkling world of light and heat upon the
magazine within. The blaze Lit up the black
recesses Of the great barn till every wasp nest
and cObweb In the roof was luminous, finging
streaks of red and violet across the tumbled
farm gear in the corner, plows, harrows hoes,
rakes, sugar mills and making every separate
grain in the high bin adjacent CLEAN like mote
Of precious gold. They tinged the beams, the
upright columns, the barricades, where clover
and timothy, piled high, held toward the hot
incendiary their separate straws for the funeral
pile. They bathed the murderers retreat In
beautiful illumination, and while in bold out
line his figure stood revealed, they rose like an
impenetrable wall to guard from sight the
hated enemy who lit them. Behind the blaze,
with his eye to crack, Conger saw Wilkes
Booth standing upright upon crutch. He
hkens him at this instant to his brother Edwin,
whom he says he so much resembled that he
halt believed, for the moment, the whole pur-
suit TO have been mistake. At the CLEAN of
the fire Wilkes dropped his crutch and carbine
and on both hands crept up to the spot to espy
the incendiary and shoot him dead. His eyes
were lnstrous like fever, and swelled and rolled
in terrible beauty, while his teeth were fixed.
and he wore the expression of one in the calm
ness before frenzy. In vain he peered with
NO, in 1oNlr h. - L.
him visible concealed his enemy. A second
he turned glaring at the fire, as if to leap upon
1t aud extinguish it, but it had made such
Roadway that this was q futile impulse and he
dismissed it. As calmly as upon the battle
field veteran stands amid the hail of ball and
shell, and plunging iron, Booth turned at a
mans stride, pushed for the door, carbine in
poise, and the last resolve of death, which we
name despair, set on bis high, bloodless fore
head.
As 80 he dashed, intent to expire not unac-
companied, a disobedient sergeant at an eye
hole drew upon him the fatal bead. The barn
was all glorious with confagration and in the
beautiful ruin this outlawed man strobe like
all that we know of wicked valor stern in the
face of death. A shock, o shout, a gathering
up of his splendid figure as if to overtip the
stature God gave him, and John Wilkes Booth
heap, little life remaining. But no.
"He has shot himself" cried Baker, una
ware of the source of the report, and rushing
in, he ,grasped his arms to guard against any
feint or strategy. 4 movement convincing
him that further struggle with the prone flesh
was useless. Booth did not move nor breathe,
nor gasp. Conger and two sergeants now en-
haste from the advancing fame, and laid it
without upon the grass. all fresh with heaven
ly dew. --.
:" Water" cried Conger, "bring water"
When this was dashed into his face, he re-
vived q moment and stirred his lips. Baker
put his ear close down. and heard him cay:
"Tell mother-and die-for my country"
They lifted him again, tine fire encroach ng
in holiness upon them and placed him on the
porch before the dwelling
~ .r TUE DYING MURDERER. ..-
A mattrass was brought down, on which
they placed him and prcpped his head, and
gave him water and brandy. The women of
the household. Joined meantime by another
son, who had been found in one of the corn
cribs. watching as he said, to see that Booth
and Harold cid not steal the horses, were ner-
vous but prompt to do the dying man all kind
ness, although waived sternly back by the de-
tectives They dipped rag in brandy and
teeth he sucked it greedily. When he was
able to articulate again. he muttered to Mr.
Baker the same words, with an addenda. ''Tell
motherI died for my country. thought I
did for the best Baker repeated this, saying
at the same time, Booth, do I repeat it cor
rectly." Booth nodded his head. By this
moving figures inquisitively coming near were
to be seen distinctly, and the cocks began to
crow gutturally, though the barn was by this
time hulk of blaze and ashes, sending toward
the zenith spiral line Of dense smoke. The
women became importunate at this time that
the troops might be ordered to extinguish the
fire, which was spreading towards their pre-
cious corn cribs. Not even death could ban
ish the call of interest. Soldiers were sent to
put out the fire, and Booth, relieved of the
hustle around him, drew near to death apace
Twice he was heard to say, Kill me, kill me.
His lips often moved but could complete no
sppreciable sound. He made once q motion
which the quick eye of Conger understood to
mean that bis throat panied him. Conger put
his finger there, when the dying man attempt.
ed to cough, but only caused the blood at bis
perforated neck to flow more lively. He bled
very little, although shot quite through. be-
meath and behind the ears, bis collar being sew
cred On both sides. .,.--.,.--- g.. ..sf..--...
A soldier had been meanwhile dispatched lor
doctor, but the route and return was quite
six miles, and the sinner was sinking fast
Still the women MADE en0rCS 70 Sct 70 Sec uiu,
but were always rebuhed, and all the brandy
they could find was demanded by the assassin,
who motioned for strong drink every two min,
utes He made frequent desires 70 be turned
over. not by soeech, but by gesture, and ne
was alternately placed upon his back, belly and
side, His tremendous vitality evidenced itself
almost miracuiously. Now and then bis heart
would cease to throb, and bis pulse would be
a cold as dead mana, Directly Lite would
beein anew, the face would flush up efulgent-
~ the ewes open and brighten, and soon re-
lansing. stiffness re-asserted, would again be
dispossessed by the same magnificent triumph
of man over mortality. Finally the fussy little
doctor arrived, in time to be useless. He
nrobed the wound to see if the ball were not
In It, and shook his, head sagely. and talked
learnedly. - "'i =
~ a LAST REQUEST. , r-r
q Just at his coming Booth had asked to have
his hands raised and shown him. They were
so paralyzed that he did not know their loca-
ton. When they were displayed he muttered.
with q sad lethargy, Useless, useless" These
were the last words he ever uttered. As he
began to die the sun rose and threw beams into
all the tree.tops. 1t was of q mans height
when the struggle of death twitehed and fne-
cred In the fading bray0,s face His law droew