Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1873-06-25

miraculous escape. Even here l wal
glad to be able to give a word of comfort
And all this the work of one man
yes, of one man fa5l .gabu-3Y
No one in that honse knew then tha
at that very moment, a more fatal, if no
SO extensive tragedy, was being per
petrated in that theater where we thought
people were rejoicing. lsz
We were SO engaged with the perilou'
condition of the victims of this terrible
slaughter. that we had not time even tc
ask for an explanation.
A blight. as if from thunderbolt, had
passed over this house, laying its inmates
low with stricken bodies, with paralyzed
souls. ai csl
What human passion. what frantic
revenge, could find a vent in such a
nonstrous deed .. 'i.
What could Mr. Seward have done, in
the course of bic life, to have awakened
such demoniacal passion : sia
These questions each mind put to itself,
yet.no answer could be given. Yet, one
man. man unknown even to Mr.. Sew
ard himself, had done it all
1nexplicable, as horrible, was this foul
deed. -I =.
Not comprehending either object,
cause, or extent, we had the doors Of the
house locked. e.. .t.ga.
In a few minutes the city was full Of
the widest rumors ; Mortified and excited.
the people ran through the streets, giving
utterance TO expressions of grief and
alarm, that grew deeper and deeper. and
rose higher and higher, until the unusual
sounds surged into an interrupted roar.
Attracted by this unusual commotion, we
lent our ear to comprehend the meaning
of the mysterious aud 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 joy. ....f...#
The mystery was solved. 1t was a
hellish machination of political madness
The discovery, although overpowermg,
was a relief. The victims of the tragic
act were innocent the causes were not
personal. The odious act sanctified the
victims.
In the face of 20 great national ca
lamity, the calamity of Mr. Seward paled
in comparison.
What a night for these two families /;
what night for the people of Wash
ington. The deed was as dark as the
night; the people were convulseG with
rage, with sorrow, with fear.
Tread, tread, tread The people ex-
citedly passed to and fro. as il in search
Of an unknown something, stopping each
other to ask unanswerable questions, and
to relieve with groans, their sorrow.
stricken hearts. Shutters were inquiring-
ly thrown open by the fearless, doors
were locked by the timid, anxiety was on
every face. Were We walking on vol
cano! 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 grief.
stricken families.
Let US now recur to SOME of the chief
incidents Of the attempted assassination.
At or about 10 o'clock of the evening
Of the l4th Of April, thirty minutes after
l had left Mr. Seward, the bell of his
house gave a ring William Wells, a
colored lad, who usually attended the
door, answered that ring. A man hold
ing little package in bis hands, pre-
sented himself, saying I must go up to
Mr. Seward, to deliver him the medicine
and message from DIR. Verdi.
The lad tells him he cannot 60 up +;
but be would deliver both medicine and
message himself.
No; the stranger cannot trust the i'm.
portant message, he must go up himself.
In vain the lad demonstrates In his
testimony before the court. he states:
Il told him he could not 60 up; it was
against my orders. That if lie would
give me the medicine, l would tell Mr.
Seward how to take it. That would not
do +; he started to 60 up. Finding that
he would go up. Finding that he would
60 up. stepped past him. and went up
the steps before him. Then, thinking
that such might be the orders of DR..
Verdi, and that was interfering, beg
ged him to excuse me. / became afraid
be might tell Mr.. Seward and the doctor
of my interference. He answered all
right" AS he stepped heavily, 1 told
him to walk lightly, SO as NO: to disturb
the Secretary"
In the adjacent room to Mr.. Seward'e
Frederick is lying on the sofa. resting
He hears steps aud voices ascending he
comes out on the landing and there meets
the stranger.
Frederick inquiries, What do you
want 2" ..r -.5
IL want to see Mr.. Seward. l have