The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1865-04-26
Particulars of the Assassi.
nation of President Lin
coin.

nation of President Lin.
coin.
Miss Harris, who was in the box with |
the President, makes the following state
ment: i
Nearly one hour before the commission
of the deed, the assassin came to the door
of the box and looked in to take sur
yey of the position of its occupants. 1t
was supposed, at the time, that it was
either mistake or the exercise of imper-
tinent curiosity. The circumstance at
tracted no particular attention at the
time. Upon his entering the box again,
Major Rathbone rose aud asked the in
truder his business. He rushed past the
Major without making any reply, and
placed his pistol close to the back of the
Presidents head, actually in contact with
it, fired, and instantly sprang upon the
cushioned banister of the box, when he
made a backward plunge with his knife,
aimed at the face or breast of Mr.. Lin
coin. Major Rathbone springing for
ward to protect the President, received
the stab in his arm. The murderer then
Jumped upon the stage and effected his
IeScape.
The rapidity with which the attack was
committed upon the President was as
founding. Mrs. Lincoln saw the form of
"a person go down from the box, and
thought Mr.. Lincoln had fallen out, and
looked to see if she could see him on the
floor below, and barely saw the culprit
jump to the stage. When all was over,
she turned her eyes to the box, and saw
that Mr.. Lincoll's head had dropped for
ward upon his breast, and at once real
lized what had transpired.
From the moment the President was
shot until his death he was insensible,
and exhibited no signs of pain, recognize
ing no one, and, in fact, I believe did not
open his eyes. Blood troubled his breath
ing, often making it exceedingly difficult.
f He was watched with tender care, and all
that could be done was done for him.
Vice President Johnson visited the
President during the night, but remained
! only about an hour. In fact many Of
those who had rushed to assist in taking
care of the President, found that their
presence obstructed rather than gave as
, sistance, and therefore left Among
those were many members of Congress
> and Western men. The number present
! was reduced to but few before he breathed
. his last. About 5 o'clock this morning
[ reached the house where the President
lay in his dying agonies. He was lyins
t on bed, apparently breathing with grea
difficulty. He was entirely unconscious
! as he had been ever since the assassina
tion. His eyes were protruding from
!. their sockets, and suffused with blood
+ lin other respects his countenance wa.
unchanged
About quarter of an hour before til,
5 President died his breathing became yer,
Z difficult, and in many instances seemet
q to have entirely ceased, so that the sur
o Igeons that were holding his pulse, wer
. supposing him dead He would breath,
i with such great difficulty as to be hear,
n in every part Of the house.
Mrs. Lincoln took her last leave O
i him about twenty minutes before he ex
9 pired, and was sitting in an adjoinin,
room when it was announced that h
was dead, and when the announcement
was made, she exclaimed "Oh, VIII
did you not tell me he was dying ?"
The Surgeons and members of tn
> Cabinet, Senator Sumner, Captain Rober
y Lincoln, General Todd, Mr.. Field an,
: Mr. Andrews, were standing at his bed
: side when he breathed his last. Senate
;, Sumner, General Todd, Robert Lineol1
= and Rufus Andrews stood leaning owe
> the head board of the bed, watching CIV
cry motion of the dying President. Rob
:, ert Lincoln was resting himself upon tn
arm of Senator Sumner, the members o
the Cabinet were standing by the side o
the bed; Secretary Stanton at the left o
: Mr.. Andrews, Mr.. Andrews near Nj
Lincoln's head next 30 him was MI
Dennison, and the others arranged alon,
at his left. The surgeons were sittin,
!, upon the side and foot of the bed hold
) ing the Presidents hands. and, with thei
K watches, observing the slow declension o
m his pulse. Such was the solemn stillnes
d for the space of five minutes that the tick
/, ing of the watches could be heard in tn
l. room.
l. At % minutes past his muscles re
l. 1axed, and the spirit of Abraham Lincol
is fed from its earthly tabernacle to tha
Al bourne from whence no traveller returns
N The countenance of the President wa
1T beamiDg with that characteristic smil
l. which only those who have seen him i
I his happiest moments can appreciate an
it except blacAness of his eyes his fac
= appeared perfectly natural. He die
without a struggle, and without even
perceptible motion of limb. Calm an
N silent great and good man passed away
e The LATE ELECTIONS IN OHIo.-Ou
+ letters from all parts of the State, sine
!. the first Monday in April, contain th
gratifying intelligence that the Democra