Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1865-05-12

During this time Baker was holding the
door partly open. Hearing the shot, he
opened the door and went in just in time Ia
see Booth fall. Conger, who Immediately
entered the barn, said. He has shot him.
self" Baker reached the body and clasped
Booth by the atms, thinking he was probably
only wounded, but finding him powerless,
with the aid of Conger, Doherty, and two
soldiers, be was carried out Of the barn and
laid upon the grass short distance from the
door. He appeared to be inseLsible. but by
applications Of water, and bathing his face
and head, he revived, opened his eyes and
made an effort to speak. Col. Conger placed
his ear to Booths mouth, and heard him say,
" Tell mother die for my country"
The heat became so intense that Booth was
taken to the porch OF CARROTS house. Col.
Conger Immediately sent TO Port Royal for a
surgeon. An hour elapsed before the sur
geon arrived, during which time Lieut.. Baker
constantly bathed Booths head in ice water,
and placed in his mouth wet cloth, Booth
being unable to get his lips to a tumber.
owing to the fact that he could not be raised
up.
In the meantime it was discovered that the
wound was inflicted by a shot from pistol
in the hands Of Sergeant Corbett, Of the 9th
New York cavalry, the ball passing entirely
through his neck, perforating both sides Of
his shirt collar
Shortly after Booth was laid upon the
porch he made an effort to speak He said,
" Tell my mother died for my country. |
did what thought was for the best" This
was said with great difficulty and apparently
ia the greatest pain. He said two OF three
times at intervals, Kill me kill me-" and
by signs indicated that be wanted to cough.
and that he wanted Conger to put his hand
on his throat. Conger did so, but Booth did
not succeed in coughing.
He seemed now to be failing rapidly, but
revived again and said, My hands" His
hands were lying motionless by his side
Baker raised one of bis hands so that Booth
could see it, and bathed it in ice water
Booth, with great effort, his eyes glaring al
The hand. said, Useless, useless" Baker
let 60 his hand, which fell poweress by the
byng mans sida. Again Booth sank away
and was fast falling when the surgeon arriv.
ed. He examined the wound for some min
utes and said Booth might live for twenty
four hours but Booths countenanoe soon
changed, his eyes assuming CLASSY appear
ance. The surgeon then said he thought he
was dying.
About this time Col. Conger left for Wash
ington, with orders to bring the body. when
death ensusd, to the boat at Belle Plain
Booth seemed now to be in the agonies o
death bis face was terribly distorted, his
chin drawn down and to one side, his coun.
tenance turned blush. and seemed to be in
the greatest agony. 1t WAS soon over, and
the surgeon pronounced him dead He re-
ceived the death wound at 2.l5, and died al
7.20 o'clock Wednesday morning
Besides Lieuts. Baker and D5herty, and
the soldiers. there were present ht the death
scene four or i've ladies of the Garrett family,
and old Garrett and bis two sons.
After the surgeon had pronounced Booth
dead, Lieut. Baker took his blanket from his
saddle, and in it rolled the body, sewing the
blanket up about the feet and head. Previous
TO this. the surgeon had led up the dead man :
chin and hands, and closed his eyes. The
body was placed on rickety one horses bug
gy wagon, belonging to free negro near by,
and taken thirty miles over the country. to
Belle Plain, were the boat Ida was in readi.
ness to bring the party to Washington.