The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-12-15
THEGATE CITY.


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p The American CORRESPONDENT d the Lon.
don Spectator writes that he recently heard
Mr.. Seward and Mr.. Frederick Seward give
the following account of their own sensations
at the time of the attempted assassination:
4. g"Mr. Frederick Seward said that o. step
ping from his bedroom into the passage, and
seeing the assassin, he merely wondered what
he was doing there and called him to an &C.
count. On his resisting the fellows endeav-
or to press into Mr.. Stewards room, the as
Mr.. Frederick Stewards head. What follow.
ed, it must be remembered took place in .
few seconds. Mr.. Frederick Stewards first
thought was, "That's a navy revolver"
The man pulled the trigger, but it only
snapped, and his intended victim thought
''that cap missed fre.'' Aa~A- sas@
"His next sensation was that of confusion,
and being upon the floor, resting upon his
right arm, which, like his fathers jaw, was
barely recovered from a bad fracture-the as
ssssin had felled him to the floor with the
butt of of his pistol-he put his hand to his
head and finding hole there, he thought
THAT cap did not miss fire after ALL
"Then he became nsensible, and remained
cation Of returning consciousness was the
question, "Have you got the ball out?'' after
which he fell off again into comatose condi-
ton which was of long continuance.
ION the very afternoon of the day when
Mr.. Lincoln was assassinated. Mr.. Frederick
Seward, who was Assistant Secretary of State,
had asked his father what 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 previously informed my
readers. Mr. Lincoln that afternoon wrote out
the reply adopting Mr.. Stewards suggestions
and thus preparing that reception of the Brit
ish Minister by President johnson, which
was regarded at the time by the people to
whose representative it was addressed as so
friendly, and fair, and dignifed
"Mr. Frederick Seward first inquiry, after
he came fully to his senses, which was long
time, after the assassination, was: Has Sir
Frederick Bruce been presented Z He
thought that only one night had passed, since
ne knew not what had happened to him, and
ms mind took to matters just where it had
left them.
"Mr. Seward mental experience during
his supposed assassination was in its nature
80 like that of his son, that it raises the ques-
ton whether this absence of CONSERVATION and
observation of minute particulars is not COM
mon IN circumstances of unexpected and not
fully apprehended peril Mr.. Seward was II. |
ing upon his side, close to the edge of his bed, |
with his head resting in a frame, which had I
been made to give him ease and to protect /
his broken jaw from pressure.
lie was trying to keep awake, having been |
seized upon by a sick mans fancy-it was /
that IT be slept he would wake up with the |
ioek-law. he was brought to full conscious
ness by the seufte in the passage way, follow
cd by the entrance OF the assassin, and the
cry OF Miss Seward, "Oh, he will kill my
iather But he saw nothing of his assailant
until hand appeared above his face, and then
his thought was "What handsome cloth that
oVercoat Is made Of The assassns face
then appeared, and the helpless statesman
thsa only thought, "What handsome man.
tpayae was fine looking fellow
hen came sensation as of the rain stri.
KING him smaxtly upon one side of his face
and neck, then quickly the same upon the I,
other side, but he felt no severe pain. This F.,
was the assassin's knife. The blood spouted- /,
ne thought Ny time has come and falling ,
from the bed to the floor, tainted. His first
sensation OF returning consciousness was that :
az was drinking tea, and that 1T tasted good.
mrs; Seward was giving him tea with spoon.
de heard low voices around him, asking and
replying asto whether it would be possible
or him to recover. He could not sneak bnt
MS eyes showed his Consciousness, and that
he desired TO speak. They brought him a !.
tablet, on which he managed To
Fri,e, GIVE me some more tea. | shall pet q
ven. And from that moment he has slowly e
'ut steadily recovered health and strength 4