Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1865-12-16
MT. Stewards Account OF the Attack
upon Him
AN INTERESTING STORY.

heard Mr.. Seward and Mr.. Frederick
Seward give the following account OF
their own sensstions'st the lime OF the al
tempted assassination
"Mr. Frederick Seward said that on
stepping from his bedroom into the pas
sage and seeing the assassin, he merely
wondered what he was doing there, and
called him to account On his resisting
the fellows endeavor 10 press into Mr..
Sc ards room, The assassin drew re-
volyer. which he presented al Mr.. treder'
ick Stewards head. What followed, II
must be remem bered, took place in few
seconds. Mr.. Frederick Stewards first
though, was, That's a navy revolver.
The man pulled the trigger, but il on
Ily snapped, and his intended victim
thought, THAT cap missed fire.
His next sensation was that OF con-
fusion, and being upon the floor, resting
upon his righ, arm, which like his fathers
Jaw, was barely recovered from bad
frscture-ihe assassin had felled him 20
the floor with the butt Of t. plsiol-he
put his hand TO his head, and finding a
hole there. he thought, That cap did
not miss fire after all
"Then he became iEsenslble, and re-
NAMED so for two days and more. HIS
first indication Of returning consciousness
was the question, Have YOU got The ball
ou, ? sfler which he fell off again into a
coma,ose condition, which was OF long
continuance.
"On the very afternoon of the day
when Mr.. Lincoln was assassnaleJ, Mr..
Frederick Seward, who was Assistant
Secretary Of Stale, had asked his father
wha, preparations should be made for the
presentation of Sir Frederick Bruce,
which was to take place the next day.
Mr.. Seward gave him the points oi re-
ply 10 be made TO Sir Frederick, and he
laid the outline of the speech upon the
Presidents table, and, as have previous.
Iy informed my readers, Mr.. Lincoln thai
afternoon wrote out the reply, adopting
Mr.. Stewards suggestions. and thus pre-.
pairing that reception of the British Minis
Ter by President Johnson, which was re-
garded at The time by the peoPl le TO whose
representative il was addressed as 50
friendly and fair. and dignrhed.
"Mr. Frederick Stewards first inquiry
after he came TO his senses, which was
long time alter the assassination, was:
Has Sir Frederick Bruce been presentedF
He thought that only one night had pass
ed since he knew not what had happened
10 him, and his mind took up matters
Just where il had LETT them.
"Mr. Stewards mcn!al experience du-
ring his supposed sss'ina'lon was IN lis
nature so like that Of his son, that il rails.
ed The question whether this absence OF
CONSERVATION and observation OF minute
particulars is no, common in circumslan-
ces Of unexpected and moi fully sPPre-
hended peril. Mr.. Seward was lying
upon his side. close TO The edge oil his
bed. with his head resting in frame,
which had been made To give him ease
and 10 project his broken jaw from pres
sure.
"He was trying TO keep awake, having
been seized upon by sick mans fancy
1t was that if he slept he would wake
up with the lock jaw. He was brought
ld full consciousness BY The scuffie IN 'he
passsge-wsy, followed by the entrance OF
the assassin. and The cry Of Miss Seward,
'Oh he will kill my father Bot he
saw nothing Of his sssallsni unnl hand
appeared above his face, and then his
thought was, What handsome cleih that
ovtrcoai is made Of The assassin's
face then appeared, and the helpless
statesman only thought, What hand
some man ! Payne was fine looking
feilow.)
Then came sensation as OF rain strl.
king him smartly upon one side OF his
face and neck. then quickly The same Dp.
OH the other side, but he fell no severe
pain. This was The ssssssin's kaile.
The blood spoulsd, lie thought My lime
has come and falling from the bed 10
The floor, tainted. His first sensation OF
returning consciousness was that he was
drinking tea, aud thai ~ tasted good
Mrs. Seward was giving him tea wnh
spoon. He head low voices around
him, asking and replyIp 10 whether
it would be possible for him 10 recover.
He could not speak, bDt hiseyes showed
his consciousness, and that he desired TO
speak. Fhey brought him porcelain
tablet. on which he managed TO write.
'Glve me some meEe lea. shall get
WELL And from thai moment lie bas
slowly but steadily recovered bssfh and
strength ~
What's an editor! Why he's an lndi-
vidual who reads newspapers. writes sr'