Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1865-05-20

esting Duanils--Lstfer from Dr.
verai, Mr.. ssward's EamiIy Phy-
eietan.
[Trsh the western Cst. Louis) Homsop.fhis Oh
wAsHSarOs, April q, lsa5.
W. Tod HeImufh, N. D.. ~
DEAB sIR. Ycurfayor Of the I6eh, In which
you request me to give you an account Of the
tragedy perpstrated In the family Of the Hon.
Secretary Seward, Is Just received 1 am
sorry that our hrst communication since we
met In Philadelphia, several Year, ago, should
be cd = subject which our whole country
so deeply deplorss.
AT 3 o'clock on the evening Of the 1tth
instant, had Ieft Secretary Seward In n
comfortable condition, aud his family hope
full Of his speedy recovery from an accident
which he several days previously had met
with, his horses having run away and dashed
him from the carriage, fraeturing his right
humerus at the surgical neck, his lower mar.
illary below the angle, and generally bruis-
Ing him abont the face and neck.
Alta few minutes after 10 p. m, was
hastily summoned, BY the colored boy, to at
tend Mr.. Seward, his sons and his attendants,
who were, as the messenger expressed II,
murdered by an assassin Two minutes
brought me 70 the spot. was the FIRST med
ieal man there. As 1 glanced around the
room, found terror depicted on every eoun-
tenAnee, and blood eyerywhero. Among the
bleeding men and terrified ladies sought
for Mr.. Seward. He was lying In his bed,
covered with blood, fearful gaping cash
marking his chin and extending below the
mAxillary bone. His, probably was the
only oountenAnce that did not express fear
Hastily examined his wounds, and had
the joy 70 bring the first consolation TO that
anxious family, In announcing TO them that
his wounds were not mortal, The carotid
artery and jugular vein had not been divided
or injured. The cash was seml-circular,
commencing just below the high bone Of the
check, and extending downward toward the
mouth, and dthen backward over the submaxil-
larry gland, laying open the inaamed and
been injured BY his previous accident.
On examining further, found another
stab under the LEFT ear, wounding the parotid
gland, but this out, however, was not very
deep. Mr.. Seward had lost much blood, and
] Immediately applied Ice, to arrest the
bleeding temporarily after which / was In
formed that Frederick Seward was In On adja-
cent room, also injured. hastily went TO him.
and found him lying on q lounge, with blood
streaming over his face. HehAd been wound
ed In several places, viz: on the left parietal
bone, Just above the "paristal sminenee;r
On the len side Of the frontal bone, Just above
'tks tine 0ftutynsutioHwitht The pkfietal, with
two other light wounds In that nelghborhoOd.
The injury on the parietAl sminence had
evidently crushed the bone, as osseous
spiculm were taken out; but u appeared,
however, that the internal table, leyen u
fractured, was not depressed. Ho was not
bic, bat could not articulate In
III
were dressed, he fell into q slumber from
which, for sixty hourA he could not be
aroused.
1 had scarcely finished applying lee to ar
rest tho hemorrhage, when 1 was told TO look
at Mr.. Aug. Seward. became truly amazed.
what ~ said /, els there another ono
wounded ~ His injuries, however, were
comparatively light--one was from q blow,
with the butt-end Of q pistol, on the upper
and middle part Of the forehead; tho other
cut over the melacarpal bone Of the thumb
Of his right hand. Here was again requested
10 look al another man. Ny surprise oeased
thsn-I became horrihsd. This wns the man
nurse, q soldier In attendance on Mr.. Seward
found his wounds were four In number, all
from the blade Of knife; three over tho right
scapnlar region and one below Il, IL was
evident, AFTER n careful examination, that the
scapula prevented the Penetration Of tl,p
frightful weapon into the chest, After giving
20 this patient the requisite attsndance, /
was called 10 500 anothsr man who was
wounded. He had received but one stab, In
the back over the seventh rib, very near the
spinal column. The knife must have glanced
Of, as this cnt was long but quite superficial;
had II been direct, his right lung would have
received an irreparable injury.
Such Is To- scene that presented. Now
will relate TO you the circumstances I gath.
cred In this horrible attempt At assassination,
At ten o'clock the bell al Mr.. Stewards
house was rung, and answered by the colored
boy. As tho door opened, a very tall man
Appeared with n small package In his hand,
saying that DR.. Verdi had sent him with
prescription for Secretary Seward, which he
must deliver personally. Tho boy remon-
strated with the man, saying that Mr. Seward
was asleep. and that he 0he servAnt) would
take charge Of the prescription The man
said: '.No, have particular directions, and
must delivsf them mysslfn So saying he
walked up stairs; but, treading very heavily,
he was reminded by the boy, who was follow
disturb Mr. Seward.
Mr.. Frederick Seward was at this time
lying, dressed, on q sofA In his room, Zone
adjacent TO his father's,) and hearing heavy
footsteps, came into the hall and met the
stranger, who attempted to enter his fathers
room. Frederick expostulated with him, de-
elaring that his father was asleep and could
not be seen Evidently tho young man Aaw
mischief In the fAee Of the assassin.
Miss Fanny Seward, who was in her fathers
room, hearing the conversation outside,
opened the door to ascertain what was the
natter but Frederick cried oat 10 her TO
shut the door" II seems that for two or
three minutes the assassin hesitated, or en-.
deavored TO enter without making a deadly
assault upon Frederick but meeting with
determined opposition. he dealt several blows
on young Stewards head, apparently with
a pistol, with the intention, probably, Of dis
abliDg without killing him. The door was
then opened. aud the murderer entered, push
ing Frederick. already staggering, before
him; then disengaging himself from his ad-
versary, he asked Miss Fanny, ''Is the Sec
retary asleepl'--at the same instant making
aspiring for the bed, where the unfortunate
man sat, aroused with the frightful eonvie-
tiOn Of what was 10 be expected. The naxt
moment the villin dealt him blow with the
deadly knife, which was 90 violent that Qortu.
nately, We may say, 10 prsoipitated him FROM
his bed. In falling, however, he must have
received the second blow on the other sile Of
the neck ID must have been al this time
that the man nurse (having beoms absent at
the hospitall returned and attacked tho mur-
derer, to prevent him ffom doing further in-
jury 10 Mr.. Seward. IN ths endeavOF 10