The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1865-04-26
rnh AnaAwSmrNr or THE PARTY.

! President Lincoln took one OF the arm
chairs and seated himself in the front of
the box. in the angle nearest the addi-
ence. where, partially 3 reened from Oh
servation, he had the best view of what
/, was TRANSPORTING on. the stage. Mrs. Lin
coin sat next him, and Miss Harris in the
opposite angle nearest the stage Major
Raihbone sat Just behind Mrs. Lincoln
and Miss Harris. These four were the
only persons in the box.
TIE PLAY.
The play proceeded, although, sour
American Cousin without Mr.. Sothern,
has, since that gentleman's departure from
ths eounayy been justly esteemed very
dull affair Tho audience at Ford's, i'm
Guiding Mrs. Lincoln, seemed to enjoy it
very much. The worthy wife Of the
President leaned forward, her hand upon
her husbands knee, watching every scene
in the drama with amused attention.
Even across the Presidents face at inter-
walls swept a smile, robbing it Of its hab-
itual sadness.
TIE ASSASSIN PRELDIINAR1Es TO FLIGHT.
About the beginning of the second
act, the mare standing in the stable in
rear Of the theater, Was disturbed in the
midst of her meal by the entrance Of the
young man who had Quilted her in the
afternoon 1t is presumed that che was
saddled and bridled with exquisite care.
BOOTH ENTERS THE THEArER.
Having completed these preparations,
Mr.. Booth. entered the theater by the
stage door; summoned one of the scene
slifters Mr.. John. Spangler, emerged
through the same door with that indiyid-
ual, leaving the door open, and left the
mare in his hands to be held until he
(}ooth) should return. Booth who was
even more lnshionably and richly dressed
than usual, walked thence around to the
front of the theater, and went in. As
ccnding to the dress circle, he stood for
a little time gazing around upon the au-
ticnce and occasionally upon the stage in
his usual graceful manner. He was sub
sequently observed by Mr.. Ford, the pro-
prietor Of the theater, to be slowly elbow
ing his way through the crowd that pack
ed the rear of the dress circle toward the
right side, ct the extremity of which was
the bog where MIR and Mrs. Lincoln and
their companions were seated. MIR. Ford
casually noticed this as a slightly extra
ordinary symptom Of interest on the part
Of an actor so familiar with the routine
OF the theater' and the play.
APPROACH OF TIE CRISIS.
The curtain had arisen on The third
act, Mrs. 4NouatcaessiaytOa and asa 7ren-
cia,d were exchanging vivacious stupid:-
ties, when young man 50 precisely re-
sembling the one described as j. Wilkes
Bocth that he is asserted to be the same,
appeared before the open door of the
Presidents box, and pregsred TO enter.
-. THE ASSASSIN AT THE BON DOOR.
The servant who attended Mr. Lincoln
said politely, ''this is the Presidents box
sir, no one is permitted to enter" 81
am. n SENATOR" responded the person,
MIR. Lincoln, has sent for me-" The at
tendaut gave way, and the young man
passed into the box.
IN TILE BOX.
AS ne appeared at the door, taking a
quick, comprehensive glance at the inter-
ior, Major liathbone arose. "Are you
aware, SIR" he said, courteously, ''upon
whom you are intrudng? This is the
Presidents box, and no one is admitted.
The intruder answered not IA word. Fas-
lening his eyes upon Mr.. Lincoln, who
had half turned his head to ascertain
what caused the disturbance, he stepped
quickly back without the door.
TIE SHOT.
Drawing Derranger pistol, and tax
ing, by means of some almost miraculous
calculation, a deadly aim, he fired through
the closed door, and entering the brain
Of the President.
THE AsSAssIS's FLIGHT.
The movements of the assassin were
from henceforh quick as the lightning.
Springing into the box through the door
of which he had just retreated, he dropped
his pistol on the floor, and drawing a
bowie-knife, struck Major Rathbone, who
opposed him, ripping through his, coat
from the shoulder down, and inhicting n
severe flesh wound in his arm, He leap
ed then. upon the velvet covered baIus-
trade at the front Of the box, between
Mrs. Lincoln and Miss Hsrris, and, part
ing with both hands the flags that droop-
ed on either side, dropped to the stage
beneath. Arising and turning full upon
the audience, with the knife hfted in his
right hand above his head, he shouted /:
"S,c seDper' tyrnmiS-Virgina is aveng-
edl' Another irstant and he had fled
across the stage and behind the scenes.
Colonel j. b. Stewart, the only person
in fhe audience who seemed to compre-
hend the deed he had committed, climbed
from his seat near the orchestra to the
stage, and followed close behind. The
assassin was too feet and too desperate,
that fury incarnate, meeting Mr. Wiihers
the leader OF the ochestra, just behind the
scenes, had stricken him aside with a
blow that fortunately was not wound /;
I overturning Miss Jenny Gourlay, an ae-
tress, wlr0 came next in his path, he
gained, without further hindrance, the
back door previously left open at the rear