Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1870-12-17

wv 6o'es WI sho us'y ynu
bIldge-gsles opening toward the south.
as though they expected danger from
within. and not from without Al this
meeting | explained the construction OF
the gates. &c, and stated that was con.
ident the Government had wind Of our
! movements. and the, the beet thing we
coult DO would be to throw up the whole
project. Every one seemed 10 coincide
in my opinion except Booth. who sa, ST.
lent and distracted Arising at last. and
bringing down his 6si upon the table, he
SAID ""eII, gentlemen. if the worst
comes TO The WORST. shall know wha, to
DO" Some hard words. and even threats
then passed between him and some of the
parry; four Of US lben arose, one saving.
al understand ycu TO intimate snything
more than The capture of Mr.. Lincoln. |.
Tor one. bid you good bye" Every one
expressed the same opinion. We all
arose and commenced putting our hats
on. Booth perceived probably that he
had gone TOO far. and asked pardon. cay
ing lhsi he had drank too much cham
payne. Alter some difficulty everything
wss smicsbIy srrsIgneJ. and we sep.ra.
ted at o'cl"ck in the morning. Days.
weeks and months passed by wilhou, an
opportunity presenting itself for US to al.
tempt TO capture. We seldom saw one
smother. owing to the many rumors sfosl
that conspiracy OF some kind was being
concocted in Washington. We had all
arrangements perfected TO e.cspe from
Washington. For that purpose bosrs
were in readiness 10 carry US across the
river. One day We received information
That The President would visit Seven.
ieen'h street Hospital, for the purpose of
being present al an entertainment TO be
! gwen Tor the benefit OF the wounded SOL
diers- The repot, only reached US about
! ihree-qusrters oil hour before the lime sp.
| pointed. but SO perfect was our commu-
Dicsilon that we were instantly in our
saddles and on The way TO the hospital.
! This was between one and two o'clock in
the afleruoon.II was our intention 10 seize
the carnage which was drawn by
splendid pair Of horses, and TO have one
OF our men mount The box and drive ti.
rec, for Southern Mary land by way of
BenDing's bridge. We felt confident hat
the csvslry IN the city could never over
| haul US. We were all mounted on
ssilt horses. besides having a thorough
knowledge OF The country, It being de-
iesDined TO abandon The carriage sitter
passing the city limiis. Upon Tie sud-
! denness Of the blow aud The celebrity Of
our movements We depended for success.
By the time lie alarm could have been
gwen and horses ssddled we could have
been on our way through Southern Ma.
rylsnd toward The Potomac river. TO
our great disappointment. however. the
Presiden, was no, there. but one OF the
Government officials. MIR. Chase. # !
mistake not. We did no, disturb him.
as We wanted bigger chase (sugh,er)
than he could have afforded Ne. 1t was
certainly bitter disappointment, bu, yer
| think fortunate one Tor %. |, was
our La, attempt. We soon after Ihis be-
came convinced thai we could not remain
much longer undiscovered. and tia, we
must abandon our enterprise. Accord
IngIy s,epars,iun finally took place, and
| neser aiier raw any OF the party, ex.
! cep. one, and that was when was on my
way from Richmond 10 Canada 90 bu.I-
meas o. quite a different nature. about
which presently. Such 10 ,he story Of
our abduction plot. The last line ! saw
any OF the party. went 10 a hotel ard
saved over ihs, night, as detective had
been 10 NY mouse inQuiring OF The servant
! my whereabouts. In the early train next
n'orning, Tuesday. Apri! 4, 1865. | lef'
| for New York. aud that Wa, ,he lee, time
ever was in Washington until brought
there bv he United STATES Governments
captive in irons. all report, TO The c"nirs-
~ no,u outstanding. The UnIled States,
as you will remember. tried to prove my
p essence in Washington on the 18Th Of
April. the day on which Mr.. Lincoln
met his death. Upon arriving in New
York called a, Booths house, and MAS
told by The servant that he had leli thai
morning suddenly. on the ground OF 60
ing 10 Boston to lui6lI an engagement al
The theatre. In the evening OF HE same
day took he cars 10, Montreal, arriving
there The next day, and put up 8, the 81.
Lawrence Heel. registering myself as
John Harrison. such being my two h's'
names.
Then he detailed bis trip made once 10
Elmirs. New York. to make a sketch Of
The Confederate prisons there and 10 per.
tect plot formed in Canada to release
The prisoners. The mex, day after HE
arrival al Elmifa he heard Of the ssssssi'
nation. and just as he was about TO Start
Tor Washington, bot reconsIdered hl' tnP
and went sirsighi back TO Cansda. where
: lie was secreied TILL he went to Europe.
He repels the charge that he deserted his
mother. He says Washington friends
advised him that she was ia no dsnger,oul
does not mention that she knew snyihlnR
of the abduction plot He says the Wit
mess Weich'psn. on whose testimony
Mrs. Surrau was hung, was in The so-
duc!on plot. and while . clerk in The
War Department.. furnished Surau With
knowledge Of Federal troops. which
The latter conveyed 10 Richmond.
Qua CoscLUsIoS.-As far Is We are
sbls To judge land we have given the cub
4