The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1865-04-29

was obstructed in his passage across the stage by
the fright of the actors. and reached the back
door about three seconds after the assassin had
passed out. Col. Stewart got to the street, just
away. This operation shows that the whole
thing was preconcerted plan.
The person who fired the pistol was man
about thirty years Of age, about five feet nine
inches high, spare built fair skin, dark hair. ap-
paren.iy with large nioustacte. Laura keene
and the leader of the orchestra declare that they
recognized him as j. Wilkes Booth. the actor
and rabid secessionist. Whoever he was it is
plainly evident that he thoroughly understood
the theatre and also the approaches and modes
of escape TO the stage. A person not familiar
with the theatre could not possibly have made
his escape as well and quickly.
The alarm was sounded at every quarter.
Stanton was notified and Immediately left his
house. All the other members Of the Cabinet
escaped attack. Cavalrymen were sent out in
all directions, and dispatches sent to all the fortl-
fcations, and it is thought he will be captured.
The President, Secretary Seward and Major
Seward have been assassinated by some despera-
does tonight, evidently under some preconcerted
arrangement.
About halEpast ten o'clock this evening well
dressed person appeared at the house of Secre-
tary Seward, and asked to see him. He was in
that he had prescription from Surgeon General
Barnes. which he was ordered to deliver in per-
son. The servant referred him to Fred. Seward.
The latter told the stranger that he was master
of the house, and would take charge of the
medicine, but the desperate refused to deliver it,
and Immediately rushed past Fred. Seward and
struck Seward with daggr in the throat and
breast. but upon examination by the Surgeon
General he is pronounced safe. the dagger not
having Gu. the jugular vein or penetrated the
breast deep enough to prove fatal. He is now
pronounced safe. tltT
Maj Seward, son Of the Secretary, and Pay
master in the Army was also badly cut in his
efforts to defend his father The assassin had a
horse at the door, and as he was mounting. he
pronounced the motto of the State of Virginia,
''iSic Semper Tyrannis.' sNz
| Simultaneously with this, another desperate
appeared at Fords Theatre and obtained admit.
tance to the box occupied by Mr. Lincoln and
shot the President in the back of the head, then
jumped from the box to the stage, repeated the
motto of Virginia Sic Sen,psr 1yrGanis." In
a moment more he had disappeared
/ 1:l5 A. M.-The President is slowly dying; the
BRAIN is oozing through the hall hole in his fore
| head. He is of course insensible. There is an
occasional lifting of his hand and heavy stento-
rious breathing-that's all.
Mrs. Lincoln and her two sons are in a room
of the house opposite to Fords Theatre, where
! the President was taken and adjoining that
where he is lying. Mr. Sumner is seated at the
head of the bed. Secretaries Stanton. Welles,
Dennison, Usher and McCulloch and Mr. Speed
are in the room. A large number of Surgeons.
Generals and personal and family friends Of Mr.
Lincoln fill the house. All are in tears.
/ Andy Johnson is here He was in bed when
the assassination was committed in his room al
the Kirkwood. He was Immediately apprised oi
the event and got up. The precauton was taken
to provide guard of soldiers for him, and these
were at his door before the news was well through
| the avenue.
| Captain Rathbone Of Albany. was in the box
with the President. He was slightly wounded
/ WAshINGToN, April "a. $50 a. M-The
streets in the vicinity of Ford's Theatre were
densely crowded by an anxious crowd. guard
has been placed across Tenth street at f aud E
streets, and only certain official persons and par.
ticular friends of the President are allowed to
pass.
! The popular heart is deeply stirred, and the
greatest Indignation against the leading rebels
freely expressed. The scene at the house where
the President lies in e1tremis is very exciting.
Even Secretary Stanton is affected to tears
When the news spread through the city that
the President bad been shot, the people with pae
faces and compressed lips, crowded every place
where there was The slightest chance Of obtain.
! ing information in regard to the affair.
l:30 A. NIL have just visited the dying
couch of Abraham Lincoln. He is now in the
agonies Of death, and his physicians say he can
not live more than an hour
/ He is surrounded by the members of his
Cabinet. all Of whom are bathed in tears.--Sen-
ator Sumner is seated on the right of the couch
on which he is lying, the tears streaming down
his cheeks, and sobbing like child. All around
him are his physicians. Surg. Gen. Barns is
directing affairs. The President is unconscious
and the only sign Of life he exhibits is by the
movement Of his right hand, which he raises
feebly.
Mrs. Lincoln and her two sons are in asi adj
joining room, into which Secretary Stanton has
just gone 10 inform them that the Presidents
physician has pronounced his case hopeless.
As pass through the passage to the front door
hear shIieks and cries proceeding from the room
in which the griefstricken wife and children are
seated. 81 4F. 1T 5ss 3.4@.5:3s..9s ss7 E /
We obtain from Quartermaster Gen Meics the
following account of the assassination: About
half past ten o'clock man dressed in dark
suit and hat, entered the private box in which
Mr.. Lincoln and his party, consisting of Mrs.
n E.sv.on u