Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1865-05-11

around, and his face was seen distinctly by
Col. Conger, who says Booths face was then
a picture Of despair.
lie then made toward the main door Of
the barn, with carbine in one hand and pis-
tol in the other, and when about the center
Of the barn pistol shot was heard from
near the corner of the barn. During this
time Baker was holding the door partially
open. On hearing the shot he opened the
door, and went in just in time to see Booth
fall. Conger, who Immediately enteie the
barn, said: "He has shot himself" Baker
reach the body and clasped Booth by the
arms, thinking he was probably only woun-
ded. But, finding him powerless, with the
aid Of Conger, Dohcrty and two soldiers, he
was carried out Of the barn and laid upon
the grass a shert distance from the door, and
appeared to be insensible. BY application
Of water, bathing his face and head, he
revived, opened his eyes and made an effort
! to speak. Col. Conger placed his ear to
Booths mouth, and heard him say: Tell
mother die for my country"
The heat became so intense that Booth
was taken to the porch of Garrett's house.
Col. Conger Immediately sent to Port Royal
Tor surgeon, and an hour elapsed before
the surgeon arrived, during which time
Lieut.. Baker constantly bathed Booths
head in ice-water, and placed in his mouth
a wet cloth, Booth being unable to get his
lips to a tumbler, owing to the fact that he
could net be raised up. In the meantime
it was discovered that the wound had been
inflicted by q shot from pistol in the hands
OF Sergeant Corbett OF the 10th New York
Cavalry, the ball passing entirely through
his neck, perforating both sides of his shirt
collar.
Shortly after Booth was laid upon the
porch, he made an effort to speak. He
said Tell my mother died for my coun-
try. did what thought was for the best"
This was said with great difficulty, aud ap-
parently in the greatest pain. He said two
or three times, at intervals Kill me-
kill me-" and by signs indicated that he
wanted to cough, and that he wanted Con-
ger to put his hand on his throat Conger
did so, but Booth did not succeed in cough
ing. He seemed now to be failing rapidly,
but revived again and said: my hands"
His hands were then lying motionlcss by
his side. Baker raised one of his hands,
so that Booth could see it, and bathed it in
ice water. Booth with great effort, his eyes
glaring at the hand, said: "Useless-use-
less" Baker let 60 his hand, which fell
powerlsss by the dying mans side.
Again Booth sank away, and was fast
Ialling Wnen the surgeon arrived. The sur
geon examined the wound for seme minutes
said Booth might live for twenty four hours
But Booths countenance soon changed, his
eyes assuming CLASSY appearance. The
surgeon then said he thought he was dying.
About this time Col. Conger left for Wash
ington, with orders to bring the body when
death ensued, to the boat at Belle Plain.
Booth seemed now to be in the agonies
of death. His face was terribly distorted,
his chin drawn down and to one side, coun-
tenance turned blueish, and he seemed to
be ia the greatest agony. It was soon over
and the surgeon pronounced him dead.
He received the death wound at 3:l5, and
died at 7:2O o'clock on Wednesday morning.
Beside Lieuts. Baker and Doherty, and
soldiers, there were present at the death.
scene four or five ladies of the Garrett
family, the old man Garrett, and his two
sons.
After the Surgeon had pronounced Booth
dead, Lieut. Baker took his blanket from
his saddle and IN it rolled the body, sewing
the blanket up about the feet and head. -
Previous to this the Surgeon had tied up |
the dead mans chin and hands and closed |
his eyes.
The body was placed in ricketty one
horse buggy wagon, belonging to a free
negro near by, and taken 80 miles over the
country to Belle Plain, where the boat Ida
was in readiness to bring the party to this
city.