Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1880-01-10

9oeiico to pe ieanlnS against the hay
NOW, supported by his crutches,
with his carbine in hand. He sprang
forward toward the fire with the
seeming intention of shooting the
man who touched the match. But
the intense light inside the building
prevented him from seeing objects in
the darkness without. He, then
turned, and with the aid OF one
crutch came rapidly in the direction
of the door, but halted about the
centre of the floor. Here he drew
himself up to his full height and
seemed to take survey of the ter
rlble situation. lie looked first at
the roaring flames and then his glar-.
ing eyes rested on the open door. He
resembled an infuriated wild beast
at bay. A cloud of smoke rolled to
the roof, swept across the room, then
came down to the floor on the other
side, and he appeared to be standing
III all arch of fire and smoke. He
remained but an instant III this posi-
tion, and then dropping his remaiu-
ing crutch, with his carbiue in one
hand and pistol in the other, he
dashed for the door. When within
about ten feet of the opening ,,the
crack of pistol was heard from the
rear of the barn. Booth reeled for
ward, threw up one hand, and fell
face downward Oh some hay which
was scattered on the floor. Lieut..
Baker rushed in, followed by Col.
Conger and young Garrett. The
lieutenant, not knowing how fatal
the shot, seized him by the arms, in
tending to secure him in case he had
only been stunned. On turning Booth
over Lieut.. Baker found pistol in
his lett hand, which he still held with
vise-like grip, and it required great
strength to wrench it from him. A
leathern belt was around his body,
with bowie-knife and another re-
volver in it.
Lieut.. Baker then accused Colonel
Conger of shooting him, which the
colonel denied, and said "BOoth shot
himself" This, the lieutenant claim
ed was impossible, as he saw him
every moment from the time the hay
was fired until he fell. Col. Conger,
said, s'The man who did shoot him
shall 60 back to Washington under
arrest" Upon further inquiry it was
found that Sergeant Boston Corbett
fired the shot from navy revolver,
through the crevice in the rear of the
barn. This was most difficult feat
to perform, for the ball struck Booth
on the side of the neck, a little back
of the center, and passed entirely
through, breaking the spinal column.
The fire was making such progress
that Booth was taken out of the
building and carried short distance
and placed under q tree. He began
to show signs Of life. Water was
dashed in his face aud little poured
in his mouth. His lips began to move,
and he family whispered, "Tell
mother-tell mother" He seemed
10 gain further strength, and then in
more distinct voice said: "Tell
mother l died for my country" Day
was breaking, and the heat from the
burning barn was 30 intense that the
wounded man was removed to the
piazza of the house. The young
ladies brought out a narrow straw
bed, and on this Booth was placed. A
cloth soaked III ice-water and whis-
key was placed in his mouth, which
revived him. He opened his eyes,,
seemed to take in the situation at
once, and said: "Kill me Oh, kill
me quick ~ The lieutenant said !:
''No Booth, we did not want to kill
you, and hope you will recover. You
were shot against ORDERS" He then
was unconscious for several minutes
when he again revived. His chest
heaved, his chin dropped, he put out
his tongue and seemed to wish to
know If there was blood in his
mouth. lie was assured there was
none, and then said, "Tell mother
died for my country. did what+I
thought best" He showed no signs
of life in his body below the wound,
with the exception OF the action of
his lungs. He said, "My hands, -
when one of his hands was raised 80
that he could see it, and it was bathed
in ice-cold water. HIS hand was
placed by his side, and he said, 'Use-
less, useless ~ which were the last
words of the dying assassin. Col.
Conger gave Sergeant Corbett q
stinging reprimand, and said to
HIM: "Why did you shoot without
orders 2" The sergeant took the
position of a soldier. saluted the
colonel, and, with right hand point
ing upward said: "God Almighty
ordered me to shoOt.'
| AAe euio ASPiy SOiOhCl Cu
in his manner, and said: 81 guess
he did )" and then dropped the SUBJ
ject. Col. Conger Immediately start
ed for Washington to apprise the
authorities of Booths capture, and
Lieut.. Baker and the escort remain
ed to bring the body as soon as life
was extinct. A neighborhood ply
sician was called, who gave it as his
opinion that Booth would not sur
vive much longer. Colonel Conger
started for Washington q little after
sunrise, and Booth died about fifteen
minutes after he left. The body was
sewed up in saddle blanket, pla ced
in one-horse wagon, driven. by a
negro, and taken across the country to
Belle Plain, where the party arrived
about dark. The tug Ide was wait
ing, the body put on board, and she
then steamed up the river for WASH
ington. The capital was reached
about daylight in the morning, aud
the body delivered to Secretary Stan-
ton, who ordered it placed in the
navy-yard. Here it was kept one
day for identitication, and the evil
| Qence of variOuS nartiaa taken f.-s.