, 1865-04-21

A CT aplalo Description OF the Tragedy
fine Fatal Shtt, and Escape of> the

s,1; p;fss1.Pt,sna ss Iona e sesnE .hsrsSy
Murderer ~ :.
Piestdtn mt have already appeared in our coli
unps but as the public read every particular
will ayidity, we present the following very
circrmstan:;-l and graphic narrative from one
Of the New York pape7s:
WARRINGTON, April ls, 1896.
TIE SCENE AT THE THKATEn.
At o'clock the same evening, President
Lincoln and Speaker Colfax sat together In q
rriyate room at the White House, pleasant
~ conversing, General Gtaut, with whom
Theater that evening, had left with his wife
for Burlington. New Jersey, IN the 6 O'clock
train. Alter this departure, oIr- Lincoln IA.
ther reluctantly determined to keep his part
Of the engagement, rather than to disappoint
his friends and the audience. Airs. Llncolu,
entering the room and turning to Mr. Col
fax, said. in half laughing, half serious
the ihcater with me OF BOT ]" "I suppose /
shall have to 60, ColfAx," said the Prcsi-
dent, and the Speaker took his leave. In
company with Major Rathbonc, Of the Pro-
sost Marshal Generals office, who escorted
Miss Harris, daughter Of Senator Harris, OF
New York. Mr.. and Mrs. Lincoln reached
Fold's Theater at twenty minutes before nine
o'clock.
The house WAS filed In every part with q
large ana brilliantly a.tired audience. As the
preside n+inl party uscenaed the stairs, and
pissed behind the dress circle to the entrance
Of the private box reserved for them, the
whole nssemblage, having In mind the recent
Union victories, arose, chcered, waving hats
and handkerchfcfs, and manlfesting every
other accustomed sign Of enthusiasm The
President, the last to enter the tox, turned
before doing SO, and bowed q courteous nc
inowlcdgment Of his reception. At the mo-
ment of the Presidents arrival, Mr. Hawks,
one Of the actors. performing the well known
character Of Dundrearu, had exclaimed !:
says" The audience forced him, after the
interruption, to tell the story over again. It
evidently pleased Mr. Lincoln, who turned
laurhing1y ia his wife 1ud made q remark
which was not overheard.
TuE box.
The box in which the President sat consis-
ted OF two boxes turned in:o one, as on all
occasions when State party visited the thea
ter. The box was on q 1eyei with the dress
circle, about twelve feet above the stage.
There were two entrances-the door
nearest TO the wall having been closed and
locked; the door nearest the baulstrade Of
the dress circle, and at right angles with It,
being open aud left open after the visitors
bad entered. The interior was carpcted,
lined with crinsun paper, and furnished with
a sofa covered with crimson velvet, three
bottomed chairs. Fcstoons Of flags hung be-
fore the front Of the box aga' 'nst q background
Of lace.
THEAnRANoE,1ENT or TIE PARrT.
President Lincoln took one Of the arm chairs
and seated himself in the front OF the box, in
the angle nearest the audience, whcre, par
TALLY screened from observation, be had the
best view Of what was transpfring on the
stage. Mrs. Lincoln sat next him, and Miss
Harris in the opposite angle, nearest the
stage. Major Rathhone sat just behind Airs.
Lincoln and Miss Harris. These four were
the only persons In the boz.
TIE PLAY.
The play proceeded, although sour Amer
Jean Cousin" without Mr. Sotheru, has, since
that g stntleman's departure from this coun.
Try, been justly esteemed ve,,y dull affair.
Tie audience at Ford'a, including Mrs. Lin
colu, seemed to enjoy 1t very much. The
w0i lily wife OF the President leaned forward,
her hand upcn her husbands knee, watching
every scene in the drama with amused attep:
tion. Eten across the Presidents facc, at
intervals, swept smile, robbing it of 'ts
labitual sadness.
TIE AssAssE's rEEL1&1NAR1Es TO FLIGHT.
mare, standing in the stable In rear or the
theatcr, was disturbed in the midst Of her
meal by the entrance OF the young man who
had quilted her in the afternoon. It Is pre-
su1ncd that she was salaled aud bridted With
exquisite care.
EooTu ENTERS TIE THEAIER.
Havins completed these preparations,
Booth entered the theetef By the stage doo-
summoned one of,the scene shifters, Mr..
1x.1.% ~
door with that individual, leaving the door
open, and left the mare In hts hands 10 b.
he'd until he {Booth) should return. Bo~th
who was even more fash'onab,y and richly
dressed than ueutl, walked thence around to
the front Of the thrater and went in.
Ascending to the dress circle, he stood for a
little time gazing around upon the audience
graceful manner. &c was subsequently Oh.
served by Mr.. Ford, the proprietor Of the
tEcater, to bo slowly elbswing his way
through the crowd that packed the rear oi
the drcss-clrcle, toward the right side, at the
extremity Of which was the box where Mr.
and Mrs. Lincoln and their companions Tere
seated. Mr.. Ford casually noticed this a.
slightly extraordinary symptom Of Interest
on the part Of an actor so familiar with the
routine Of the thcater and the play.
ArrRoAcH OF THE CRISIS.
The curtain had arisen on the third act
Hrs. lNotutehessa,gton and 4sa Tftnchord Were
exchanging viyaclous stupdlt!es, when a
young man. 20 pr cise'y resembling the one
described as ]. vi kcs Booth, shat be Is rs.
serted to be the sams, appeared before the
open door o tie Presidents box, and Pre-.
pared to en.-r.
TIE ASSASSIN At THE Dox DOOR,.
The servant who attended Mr.. Lincoln
said politely. "1hts Is the Presidents box,
si7, no one Is permitted to entcr." II am a
Senator" responded the person, staIr. Lin.
ccln has sent for me-" The attendant savc
way, and the young man passed Into the box.
In THE Do1.
As he appeared at the door, taking quick,
comprehensive glance ut the interior, Ala}or
RAJ hhonc arose. s.AEe you awa:ea sir" he
said, coa1tcnusly, "upon whom you are In
trudiDge This Is the Presidents boz, and
no one Is admitted" The intruder answered
not a word. Fastening his eyes upon Mr.,
Lincoln, who had half turned his head to as.
certain what caused the disturbance, be
stepped quickly back without the door.
TIE SHOT.
Drawing Ds11ingcr pistol, and linking. By
means Of 81 me almost miraculous calculation,
a deadly aim. he fred through the closed
| door, on his right, the ball passing through
the door, and entering the brain OF the Prcst
dent.
THE AssAss1N's FLIGHT.
| The movements OF the assassin were from
bencelorth quick as the lightning. Spnnping
into the box through the door Of which hg
| had lust retreated. he dropped bis pistol on