Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1873-07-03

Inexplicable, as horrible. was this
foul deed.
Not comprehending either object,
cause, or extent, We had the doors ol
the hoqseoloeked. .r
| In NW ninSses tie city vas fall oi
the wildest rumors Mortified and ex-
cited, the people ran through the
streets, giving utterance to expressions
OF grief and alarm, that grew deeper
and deeper, and rose higher and high
er, until the unusual sounds surged
into an uninterrupted roar. Attracted
by this unusual commotion, We lent
our ear to comprehend the meaning OF
the mysterious and frantic echoes Of
the peoples lament. 1t was then we
learned that Mr.. Lincoln had been
shot and killed., in the midst Of his
friends, by the side Of his wife, at the
acme Of the peoples jov.
The mystery was solved. 1t was q
hellish machination of political mad
ness. The discovery, although over
powering, was relief. The victims
OF the tragic act were innocent; the
causes were not personal. The odious
act sanctified the victims.
In the face Of so great a national
calamity, the calamity of Mr.. Seward
paled in comparison.
What 3 night for these two families !;
what night for the people Of Wash
ington. The deed was as dark as the
night the people were convulsed with
rage, with sorrow, with fear.
Tread, tread, tread The people ex-
citedly passed TO and fro, as if in
search Of an unknown something, stop
ping each other TO ask unanswerable
questions, and to relieve, with groaus,
their sorrow-stricken hearts. Shutters
we're iuquiringly thrown open by the
fearless, doors wese locked by the tim
id, anxiety was on every face. We're
we walking on volcano? Households
rose from their beds, mothers folded
their children within their arms, as if
they feared danger in the very air.
Men returned to their homes to shed
tears with their grief-stricken families.
Let us now recur to some of the
chief incidents Of the attempted as
sassination.
At or about 10 o'clock of the even
ing Of the lith Of April, thirty min
atcs after l had left Mr.. Seward. the
| bell of his house gave ring. William
Wells, a colored lad, who usually at
tended the door, answered that ring.
A man holding little package in his
hands, presented himself, saying
must go up to Mr.. Seward, to deliver
him the medicine and message from
DR.. Verdi.
The lad tells him he cannot go up !;
but would deliver both medicine and
message himself.
No; the stranger cannot trust the
important message, he must go up
himsalf
In vain the lad demonstrates. In
his testimony before the court, he
states:
II told him he could not go up; it
was against my orders. That if he
would give me the medicine, l would
tell Mr.. Seward how to take it. That
would not do; he started to 90 up.
Finding he would go up, stepped
past him, and went up the steps before
him. Then, thinking that such might
be the orders of DR.. Verdi, and that l
was interfering, begged him to ex-
cuse me. l became afraid he might
tell Mr.. Seward aud the doctor Of my
interference. He answered 'all right
AS he stepped heavily, l told him to
walk lightly, SO as not to disturb the
Secretary"
In the adjacent room TO Mr.. Sew
ards, Frederick is lying on the sofa,
resting. He hears steps and voices
ascending he comes out on the land
ing and there meets the stranger.
Frederick inquiries, "What do you
want!"
81 want to see Mr.. Seward l haye
medicine and a message to deliver from
DR.. Verdi"
My father is asleep; give me the
medicine and the directions will
take them to him."
mo, | must see him; | must see
him" he repeats in a determined man
ner.
"You cannot see him; you cannot
see him. ] am the proprietor here; |
am Mr.. Stewards son. If you cannot
leave them with me, you cannot leave
them at ALL
The man still insists; Frederick
still refuses. The determined tone Of
Frederick causes the man to b estate
he even turns to go down stairs, the
lad preceding him, telling him to walk
lightly. He descends four or five
steps, when suddenly he turns back
and springs upon Frederick, giving
him blow-doubtles with the heavy
pistol-on the head, that fells him to
the ground. The lad, seeing the bru-
tai assault, runs down crying, "Mur-
der, murderw He flies to the corner
General Augur's headquarters. He
finds no guard.
In the meanwhile Robinson, the
nurse in attendance on Mr.. Seward,
hearing the unusual noise, opens the
door and sees the stranger, and Fred
erick thrown ON his hands and BILE ed
ing before he has time for thought
the assassin Is on him, striking him to
the ground ; he quickly rises, but be-
fore he can clinch with him the assas-
sin is on Mr.. Seward, who having
awakened and comprehending the
scene at once, had risen in his bed.
The assassin plunges an immense kni fe
in Mr.. Seward's face he attempts an
other stroke at his neck, but Robinson
is on him, and the knife is partially
arrested. He tries to disengage him
self from Robinson by striking him
with the knife over the shoulders.
The daughter, who, too, is watching
in the dimly lighted room, screams
"help" and "murder."