The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1865-05-13
ASSASSINATION or
PRESIDENT LINCOLN
Attempted Assassination Of
SEWARD

SECRETARY SEWARD
The clipper bark d. c. Murray, Capt. Bennett,
arrived on Monday afternoon, and reports l6 days
passage. She brings San Francisco dates to the 10Th
April.
!: The Smyrniote, hence, arrived at San Francisco
On the 18th. The Comet had not arrived.
Assassination of the President.
WASHINGTON, April 14-President Lincoln and
wife. with other friends, this evening visited Ford's
theatre for the purpose OF witnessing the perform
ance of the . American Cousin" Ii was announced
in the papers that General Grant would also be
present. but ;hat gentleman took a late train OF
cars for New Jersey. The theatre was densely
crowded. and everybody seemed delighted with the
scene before them. During the third act, and while
there was u temporary pause for one Of the actors 20
enter, a sharp report Of a pistol was heard, which
merely attracted attention, but suggested nothing
serious until "A man rushed to the front of the Pres
ident's box, waving a long dagger in his right hand,
exclaiming, 1" SIC Semper tgTdRniS 20 and immedi-
ately leaped from a box which was in the second
tier to the stage beneath, ran across TO the opposite
side Of the stage, making his escape, amid the be
wilderment Of the audience, from the rear of the
theatre, and. mounting a horse, fed.
The screams Of Mrs. Lincoln first disclosed the
fact to the audience that the President had been
shot, when all present rose to their feet, rushing
towards the stage, many ~exciaiming Hang him -
The excitement was of the widest possible descrip-
ton. OF course there was an abrupt -intermissiOn
Of the. theatrical performance. There was a rush
! towards the Presidents box, when cries were heard
Of d" Stand back - Give him air. " Has any one
stimulants ="
On a hasty examination it was found that the
President had been shot through the head above and
back of the temporal bone, and that some of the
brain was oozing out. lie was removed to u private
house opposite the theatre. The Surgeon General of
the army and other surgeons were sent for to attend
him. On the examination of the private box, blood
was discovered on the back OF the cushioned rocking
chair on which the President had been sitting; also
- 10 ,t.V1g anl on d H,np. 81 ncnn mn SfpnlD.
barrelled pocket pistol was found on the carpet.
y military guard was placed in front OF the pri-
vate residence to which the President had been con-
veyed. An immense crowd was in front of it. all
deeply anxious TO learn the condition of the President.
IL had been previously announced that the wound
was mortal, but all hoped otherwise. The shock to
the community was terrible. At midnight the
Cabinet, Messrs. sumner, Beiey, tarnsworth, Judge
Bates, Governor Oglesby, General Meigs, Colonel
Hoy, and u few personal friends, with Surgeon Gen
eral Bsrres and his imme late assi.tants, were around
the bedside. The President was III a state OF sincope;
totally insensible, and breathing slowly. Blood
oozed from the wound at the back Of his head.
The Surgeon General exhausted every possible effort
of medical skill, but all hope was gone. The parting
Of his family with the dying President was too sad
for description.
The President and Mrs. Lincoln did not start for
the theatre until fifteen minutes after g O'Clock.
Speaker Colfax was at the White House at the time
the President stated TO him that he was going, al
though Mrs. Lincoln had not been well, because the
papers had announced that Gen. Grant was to be
present; and IS Grant was to 60 North, did not wish
the audience to he disappointed. He went with
apparent reluctances, and urged Colfax to 90 with
him; but that gentleman had made other engage
ments, and with Mr.. Ashman, OF Massachusetts,, bid
him good bye. When the excitement at the theatre
was ut it's widest height, reports were circulated that
Secretary Seward had been assassinated. On reach
ing this gentleman's residence, n crowd and military
guard were around its door. On catering it was
ascertained that the reports were based on truth.
Everybody there was so excited that scarcely an IN
telIigibIe word could be gathered. The facts are
substantially as follows:
Attempted Assassination of Secretary
Seward.
About 10 o'clock, q man rang the bell, and the
bell having been answered by a colored servant, he
said he had come from DIR. Viede, Secretary Stewards
family physician, with a prescription, and at the
same time holding in his hand a small piece Of folded
paper, and saying in answer TO Il refusal, that he
must see the Secretary, as he was entrusted with
particular directions concerning the medicine. He
insisted on going up, although repeatedly informed
that 10 one could enter the chamber. He pushed
the servant one side, walked heavily towards the
Secretary's room, Yves met there by Mr.. Fred. Seward,
OF whom he demanded TO see the Secretary, making
the same representation which he did to the servant.
What further passed in the way of coloquy is not
known, bat the man struck him on the head with Il
billy, severely iDjuring the skull, aud telling him
almost senseless. The assassin then rushed into the
chamber and attacked MIR. Seward, "A %plymaster in
the United States Army, and Mr.. Hunseil, q messen-
ger Of the State department, and two male nurses,
disabling them. He then rushed upon the Secreta-
~, who was lying IN bed in the same room, aud
inflicted three stabs in the neck, but seyering, il Is
thought and hoped, no artery, though he bled pro-
fusely. The assassin rushed down stairs, mounted
his horse and rode OF before an alarm could be
sounded, and in the same manner as the assassina-
tor Of the President. Il is believed the injuries OF
the Secretary are not fatal, nor those Of the others,
although both the Secretary and Assistant Secretary
are very seriously injured.
Secretaries Stanton and Welles, and other promi-
nent officers Of the Go :ernmen called at Stewards
hnusa u upuira MO his Nnpi1rfDD and tnRrp hpar ri
of the assassination Of the President. They then
proceeded TO the house where he was lying. An
immense crowd was gathered in front OF the Presi-
dents house. 4 strong guard was also stationed
there. many persons evidently s%upposiug he would
be brought TO his house. The city tonight presents
n scene OF the widest excitement, accompanied by
violent expressions Of Indignation and the profound
est sorrow. Many shed tears. The military author
iiies have dispatched mounted patrols in every
direction, in order, If possible, TO arrest the assas-
sins. The whole police are likewise vigilant for the
same purpose The attacks. both at the theatre
and Seward house, took place at about the same
hour-lO o'clock-thuss showing q preconcerted plan
TO assassinste those gentlemen. Some evidence of
the guilty party who attacked the President are in
possession Of the Board Of Police.
Vice President Johnston is in the city. His head
quarters are guarded by troops.
ham Lincoln died this morning at twenty-five min
utes after seven o'clock.
~(Signed,) Z. VI. STANTON.
Secretary of War.
Suspension of Business.
New York, April Robustness is entirely sus-
pended all over the country.