Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1865-12-15
Mr.. Stewards Account of the Attack
upon Him.

The American correspondent of the Lon.
don Spectator writes that he recently heard
Mr. Seward and Mr. Frederick Seward give
the following account of their own sensa-
tons at the time Of the attempted assassina-
ton:
''Mr Frederick. Seward said that on sterpirr
from his bedroom into the passage and seeing the
assassin, he merely wondered what he was doing
there, and called him TO an account. On his re-
sstirg the fellows endeavor to press him INTO
Mr. Rewards room. the assassin drew a revolver,
which he presented at Mr.. Frederick Stewards
head. What followed, it must be remembered
took place in few seconds. Mr. Frederick Sew
ards hrst thought was, That's a navy revolver
The man pulled the trigger, but II only snap
ped, and his intended victim thought, That cap
missed fire.
His next sensation was that of confusion. aod
being upon the floor, resting upon his right arm
which, like his fathers jaw, was barely recover
Cd from bad fracture-the assassin had falled
him to the floor with the butt of the pistol-he
put bis hand to head, and finding a hole there
he thought, That cap did not miss fire after
all
Then be became insensibc, and RENAME! SO
for two days or more. His first indication Of
returning consciousness was the question, Have
you got the ball out ? after which he fell OF
again into a comatose condition, which was Of
long continuance.
On tine very afternoon of the day when Mr..
Lincoln was assassnated, Mr. Frederick Seward
who was Assistant Secretary of State, had asked
bis father when preparation should be made for |
the presentation Of Sir Frederick Bruce. which /
was to take place the next day. Mr. Seward |
gave him the points Of reply to be made to Sir /
Frederick, and he laid the outline Of the speech
upon the Presidents table, and, as have pre-
viously informed my readers, Mr. Lincoln that
afternoon wrote out the reply, adopting Mr.
Stewards suggestions, and thus preparing that
reception Of the British Minister by President
johnson, which was regarded at the time by the
people to whose representative it was addressed
% friendly and fair, and dignIied
Mr. Frederick Sewari's first inquiry after he
came fully TO bis senses, which was long tine
after the assassination, was. Has Sir Frederick
Bruce been pressened9 lie thought that un;y
one night had passed since he knew not wba,
had happened to him, and his mind took IN
matters just where 1t had left him.
Mr. Sevsrd's mental experience during his
supposed assassination was in its nature 50 Ike
that OF his son, that it raises the question whe,h
er this absence Of CONSERVATION and observation {
Of minute particulars is not common in ci7cum-
stances Of unexpected and not fully Appreciated
peril. Mr. Seward was lying upon his side,
slose to the edge Of his bed. with his head rest d
INK 10 . frame, wdich had been made to give
him ease and to protect his broken Nv from
pressure
Re was trying to keep awake having been Il
ei,ed upon by sick mans fancy-it that u
be slept he would wake up with lockjaw. He IL
Tas brought to full consciousness by the scufie Re
! the passage way, followed by the entrance Of
be assassin, and the cry of Miss Seward, Oh. h,
Q Will kill my father But he saw nothing Of
10 sssaant until a hand appeared above his -,
Zoe. and then his thought was, What handsome +
10Th tina. overcoat is made Of The assassn's /,
'oe then appeared. and the helpless statesman ID
aly thought, What handsome man - payne
- fne looking fellow s'i
Then came q sensation as Of rain striking him
nartly upon one side Of bis face and neck then II
licky upon the otAer side, but be felt no Sc plI
~ pain. This was the assassin's knife The lay
pod spouted, be thought, 'Iy time has come 9th
d falling from the bed to the floor, fai ted do,
. Arst sensation Of returning consci business hes
. that he was drinking tea. and that it tasted
I'd Mrs. Seward was giving lin tea with ,,a
N. He heard low voices around him, asking In
replying - TO whether it would be possible IL
him to recover. He could not speak, but his p.r