The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1879-06-12
nR. LIScoLS's AssAsSISArioN

+ Walt whitman, the poet, eclurcd I
IS New York, on the evening OF the lill
y the anniversary Of The killing ofPresiden
/. Lincoln, by John Wilkes Booth. lil
i subject was Reoolleetions OF Lincoln, /
0 The course OF 1t lie thus graphically dt
IS seribed the murder:
Q Of the actual murder Of President Liu
II coin, though so much has been written
. probably the facts are yet very indefnit
D In most persons minds.
$ The day, April Il, 1865, seems TO hsv
9 been pleasant Que throughout the who'll
J land, the moral atmosphere pleasant too
{ The lone storm, so dark, so fratrIcidal
I full OF blood and doubt aud gloom, owe
I aud ended at last by the sunrise of sucl
an absolute national victory and u,teI
} break down of secession-we almos
doubted our ownIseHses! Early herbage
early flowers were out. remember
where was stopping at the time there
were many iIacs in full bloom. BY one
OF those eaprices that give tiuge to events
without being at all a part of them | find
myself always reminded OF the great trag.
edy OF that day by the sight and color OF
these blossoms.
Bot must not dwell on accessories.
The deed hastens. The popular afternoon
paper of Washington, the little Evening
Star, had spsttered all over its third page,
divided among the advertisements 10 a
sensational manner in a hundred different
places, The President and his lady will
be at the theatre this evening. Lincoln
was fond OF the theatre. | have myself
seen him there several times. remem-
Der thinking how funny it was that he,
in some respects the leading actor in the
storiniest drama known to history's stage
through centuries, should sittthere and be
so completely interested and absorbed In
those human jackstraws moving about
with silly little gestures, foreign spirit
and flatulent text.
On this occasion the theatre was crowd.
ed, many ladies inlrich and gay costumes
officers in their uniforms, many WELL
known citizens, young folks, the
usual magnetism of OF so many peo.
pie, cheerful with perfumes, music of
violins and futes-and over all and satu.
rating all, that vast vague wonder, victory
the naiion's victory, the triumph Of the
Union filling the air, the thought, the
sense, with exhiliration more than all
music aud perfumes.
The President came betimes, and with
his wife witnessed the play from the large
stage boxes of the second tier, two
thrown into one aud profusely draped
with the national flag. There is a scene
in the play representing modern paror,
in which two unprecedented English |
ladies are informed by an impossible Yam
kee that he is not man OF fortune and, |
therefore, undesirable for marriage catch
ing purposes; after which, the comments |
being finished, the dramatic trio make |
exit, leaving the stage clear for moment.
Through the general hum following the /
stage pause, with the change of positions /
came the muflled sound Of pistol shot
which not one hundredth part of the au. I
dience heard at the time; and yet mo.
menfs bush, somehow, surely vague,
startled thrill-and then through the orna-
menied, draperied, starred aud striped
spaceway OF the Presidents box sudden
figure raises himself with hands and feet,
stands moment on the railing, leaps be-
low to the stage, falls out OF position,
catching bis boot heel in thy copious dra-
perry OF the American flag, falls on one
knee, quickly RECEIVERS bimself, rises as If
nothing had happened, and so the fignre,
icseed in plain black broadclotb, bare
headed, With lnl head Of glossy raven
hair and his eyes like some mad animals I
flashing with light aud resolution, yet
With certain calmuess, holds aloft in
one hand large knife, walks along not
much back from the footlighls, turns fully !
towards the audience bis face OF statu.
,sque beauty lit by those basilsk eyes /
lashing with desperation, perhaps inssn- |
ty, launcses ont in firm and steady /
1oice the words Sic semper tyrannts, and {
ben walks with neither slow nor very I
'apid pace diagonally across The back Of
he stage and disappears as II this terrible :
Gene bad all been rehesrsed by Booth.
A moments hnsh--a scream-the cry
II Murder-Mrs. Lincoln leaning out OF $
be box with ashy cheeks and lips, with /
Involuntary cry, pointing 10 the retreat. '
ng figure, He has killed the Presi- G
lent Ia
And q moments strange, ineredulous I
uspense, aud then the deluge l--then
bat mixture Of horror, noises, uncertain
y (the sound somewhere back, Of a '
lorse's hoofs Gathering With speed. The 4
'eople burst through chairs aud and rail-
ngs and break them up. That noise adds O
0 the queerness OF the scene. There is I
nextricsble confusion and lerr0r-women q
alnt, quite feeble persons fall and sre /
rampled on, many cries OF agony are e
'esrd, the broad stage suddenly Oils to c
ufoeaiion with 3 dense aud motley :
rowd like some horrible carnival, The
u Hence rush generally upon II (si least
be strong men do,) The actors aud act. II
esses are 81 there ia their play costumes v
nd painted faces with mortal fright J
howing through the rouge, some irenb- L
log, some Ia tears. The screams snd {,
alls, confused taik-rejonbled, trebled D
wo or three mauGge TO pAss up water 10 o
be Presidents boz others try 10 clam 4