Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1865-12-06
Mr. seward's Account OF the Attack
upon Him.
AN NTEKEsrINe STORY.

The American correspondent Of the
London Spectator writes that he recently
heard Mr.. Seward and Mr. Frederick Sew
ard give the following account Of their
own sensations at the time of the attempt
ed assassination
HMr. Frederick Seward said that on
stepping from his bedroom into the pas
and seeing the assassin, he merely won
dered what he was doing there, and called
him to account On his resisting the fel-
lows endeayor to press into Mr.. Stewards
room, the assassin drew revolver, which
he presented at Mr.. Frederick Stewards
head. What followed, it must be remem-
bered took place in few seconds Mr.
Frederick Stewards trst thought was.
That's navy revolver.
sThe man pulled trigger, but II only
snapped, and the intended victim tnougnt,
That cap missed fire.
GHis next sensation was that Of confu-
sion, and being upon the floor, resting
upon his right arm, which, ike ms istn-
er's Jaw, was barely recovered from bad
fracture-the assassin had felled MN 70
the floor with the butt Of the pistol-he
put his hand to his, head, and finding 9
hole there, he thought, That cap did not
miss fire after all
isThen he became insensible, and re-
mained so for two days and more his
first indication of returning consciousness
was the question, Have you got the ball
out p after which he fell off again into 3
comatose condition, which was OF long
continuance.
"On the very afternoon of the day when
Mr. Lincoln was assassiDated Mr. Freder-
ick Seward, who was Assistant Secretary
of State, had asked his father what pre-
paration should be made for the presenta-
ton of Sir Frederick Bruce, which was
to take place the next day. Mr.. Seward
gave him the points of a reply to be made
to Sir Frederick, and he laid the outline Of
the speech upon the Presidents table,
and, as 1 have previously informed my
readers. Mr.. Lincoln that afternoon wrote
out the reply, adopting Mr.. Seward's sug-
gestions, and thus preparing that reeeP-
ton of the British Minister by President
johnson, which was regarded at the time
by the people to whose representative It
was was addressed as so friendly and fair
and dignifed.
HMr. Frederick Stewards first inquiry
after he came fully to his senses, which
was long time after the assassination,
was: HAS Sir Frederick Bruce been pre-
sentedg He thought that only one night
had passed since he knew not what had
happened to him, and his mind took up
matters Just where it had left them
"Mr Stewards mental experience during
his supposed assassination was in its nature
so like that of his son, that it raises the
question whether this absence of cOnster-
nation and observation Of minute partieu-
lars is not common in circumstances of un-
expected and not fully apprehended peril
Mr. Seward was lying upon his side, close
to the edge of his bed, with his head rest
ing in frame, which had been made to
give him ease and to protect his broken
jaw from pressure.
He was trying to keep awake, having
been seized upon by sick mans fancy
it was that if he slept he would wake up
with lockiaw. He was brought to full
consciousness by the seutfie in the passage
way, followed by the entrance of the as
sassin, and the cry Of Miss Seward, 'Oh ]
he will kill my fatherP But he saw no
thing of his assailant until hand ap-
peared above his face, and then his thought
was, What handsome cloth that overcost
is made Of The assassins face then ap-
peared, and the helpless statesman only
thought, What handsome mani Payne
was fine looking fellow.)
"Then came a sensation as of rain
striking him smartly upon one side of his
face and neck, then quickly the same upon
the other side, but he felt no severe pain
This was the assassins knife. The blood
spouted, he thought My time has come
and falling from the bed to the floor,
tainted. His first sensation of returning
consciousness was that he was drinking
tea, and that it tasted good Mrs. Sew
ard was giving him tea with a spoon. He
heard low voices around him, asking and
replying as to whether it would be pos
sible for him to recover. He could not
speak, but his eyes showed his conscious
ness, and that he desired to speak. They
brought him porcelain tablet, on which
he managed to write, Give me some more
tea shall get WELL And from that
moment he has slowly but steadily re-
covered health and strength"