The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-06-20
Thc 3utlanA naily Glohe.
FRIDAY, JUNE 90, 1873.
From the Washington Republic
The Assassiuation of the Stewards =.

0
Ky T. 5. VERDI, 4. NJ, Vi. u.
At the breaking out of the war we find
| Mr.. Seward in the Cabinet, and all his sons
William, Frederick, and Augustus. in the
service of their country.
| Frederick, a man of letters, was selected
by his father as his coadiutor in the Depart
ment of State, with the position of assistant
secretary.
Augustus already held commission as
paymaster in the regular Army. He is Il
graduate at West Point.
William left very lucrative business, u
young wife and baby, and, as Colonel of the
Ninth New York Artillery, came to brave
the hardships of a soldier. At the battle of
Monocacy he distinguished himself and was
wounded, for which he was raised to the
rank of brigadier general.
After the Colonel was wounded the hasty
retreat of the national forces he was left on
the field. The rebels rushing wildly in pur-
suit, did not discover that under simple
blue blouse was an officer of so much i'm
portance. He played ''possum," as they
say in the Army, waited for them to get out
of sight, then caught stray mule, mounted
it, and came in the lines at Washington.
| The simple and umconspicuOus uniform
saved him. as it saved many Of our officers
in campaigns. Had il been 9th arwise. he
would have been discovered, and probably
would have ended his life in the murdcrous
Southern prisons.
Colonel Seward---aitcrwards general--rc-
manned in service during the entire war, re-
signing only on June |, 1865.
In November, 1864, Frederick Seward
was in New York on official business. On
descending the stairs at the Astor House, he
fell and broke his right arm at the elbow.
He was consequntly confined to his house
for several weeks, and threatened with Il
stuff arm for the rest of his life. He. how
ever, recovered the perfect use of it, and
resumed the duties of his office.
On the 9th of April, 1865, the Secretary
and Frederick Seward rode ont to pay an
official visit to one of the foreign ministers.
As the carriage stopped in front fthe house
the driver descended from his box to open
the carriage door; from some reason or 9th
er, probably from an unconscious pull Mt
the reins, the horses started, dragging the
driver. They soon became unmanageable,
and flew off at frightful speed. Both Mr..
Seward and Frederick, seeing the dan
ger, jumped from the carriage. Fred
erick was unhurt, but Mr.. Seward could not
rise people rushed tt his assistance, and
found that he was seriously Injured, the
blood streaming from his mouth, and his
right arm lying powerless at his side. He
was Immediately picked up and carried to
his house, not a block distant.
found him in his bed, his face trighttully
bruised, his lower jaw completely fractured
on both Sides his right arm fractured, also,
near the shoulder. He was in great pain,
and it was with difficulty that he could be
relieved. His condition, considering his
age, was perious in the cxtrcmt. Suflu-
sion soon took place, his right eye closed
and the right side of his face became blue
from the confusion. His lower jaw was
hanging down, and being fractured on boil
sides, he could not raise il for mastication
The right side of the jaw, upon which he
evidently fell, became greatly tumefied ant
infamed, so much so that he could not bea
the slightest bandage. 1iic suiirrings he
came intense, a high lever rose, whicl
greatly aggravated his condition.
His nights became so restless that he re
qured Il constant watch His jaw was il
such q condition that it was difficult prob
lem for surgeons to decide how it could bC
kept in coaptation, so as to favor ossifca
ton and the knitting together of the broker
ends. He took his food through a tube an,
with great difficulty. His right arm was il
splints, and Mr.. Seward lay helpless on
bed of agony.
On the 9th, four days after this accident
the news reached Washington ofthe surrcn-
der of General Lee. The bells chimed til,
joyful tidings; the people rushed to and fr'
in their intoxication of gladness. The Pres
ident and the Secretaries received the ova
tons of the people, and he, the great pre-
mier, the man who had contributed so nue.
to the salvation of his country, was he'll
down by relentless physical suffering
The city was thrown in blaze by gen
eral and spontaneous illumination; the can
non resounded from every fort, and from
the centre of the city the peals of gladness
Even the sympathizers with the South re
joiced that the end of the war had come
His own house was a beautiful Transparent,
of national flags, yet he hardly dared to NOV
q finger for fear of drawing an unwilling
groan.
For five days our city, the capital of thi
redeemed land, wore the garb of festivity
The people were 10th to settle down, s.
great was the magic effect ofthe late events
The excitement seemed now and then t
allay, but only to break forth in some ne,
form. Every little incident was made Al
occasion for gathering, which ended il
the deafening hurrahs for the Onion, TO
the country, for the General, for the Presi
dent and for whatever favorite chief.
On the IA of April, Mr.. Lincoln was t
receive an ovation from the people Mt TIN
theater. Preparations were made on n larg
scale for this soulful reception by the PEG
pie of their President, At 8 o'clock | wen
to make my evening visit to the Secretary
and found that his condition was ameliora
ting scnsibly; | staid haitian hour with him
then bidding him good night, left him wit
Mr.. Robinson, the night watch. From
there | returned to my house, and half al
hour had not elapsed when heard per
, son running who suddenly stopped am
gave an extraordinary pull at my bell
Thinking that this was a pressing message
l went to the door myself, and there me
William NJ Stewards colored waiter, VIII
with a frightened look and in the most exc
ted manner, said son. come, doctor, MI
Seward is killed
Hardly comprehending the import of s.
sudden an announcement, | grasped m
surgical case and hatless, ran with hii
to the house. There were only two block
between my house and Mr.. Stewards
While running, | asked the boy what h
} meant, how was Mr.. Seward killed? "Oh,
he exclaimed, "a man came to the doc
and asked admittance in your name lc
him in he went up to Mr.. Stewards roor
and killed him."
| was amazed "Who, who, in m
name?" 1t was all could utter Who
for what, did a man go in my name!
were unanswered questions that passe
through my mind. In this short time,
great is the power of imagination,
thought of man who had begged me
recommend him to Mr. Seward for COZ
sulship; that had done so, but that Nj
Seward not having the place vacant, woul
not crafty the oflice-seeker, Now tn
man, mad with disappointment, is surel
gone to assassinate the Secretary. Thes
thoughts had hardly crossed my mind whe
reached the door of Mr. Stewards house
| assembled quickly, and when | got u
stairs | met the blanched face OF Mrs. Sew
ard, who in an agonized tone said, loo
to Mr.. Seward
Mr.. Seward lay on his bed, with pal