Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-01-22


was heard TO say: Zone more stain ON
the glorious old banner"
Just as he ceased speaking, Col. Con.
ger applied match to some hay which
he drew through n crevice, and in an i'm.
slant the inside of the building was a
blaze of light. The lieutenant then
opened the door TO give him chance TO
come out, and from his position on the
outside could see every movement made
by Booth. He seemed to be leaning
against the hay-mow, 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 in
tense 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 di
rection of the door, but halted about the
center of the floor. Here he drew him
selfup to his full height, and seemed to
take a survey of the terrible situation.
He looked first at the roaring flames,
and then his glaring 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 in an arch of fire and smoke.
He remained but an instant in this posi-
tion, and then dropping his remaining
crutch, with his carbine in one hand and
a pistol in the other. he dashed for the
door. When within about ten feet from
the opening the crack of a pistol was
heard from the rear Of the barn. Booth
reeled forward, threw up one hand,
dropped his carbine. and fell face down
ward on 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, intending
TO secure him in case he had only been
stunned. On turning Booth over, Lieut..
Baker found pistol in his left hand,
which he still held with vice like grip,
and it required great strength to wrench
around his body, with a bowie-knife
and another revolver in it. Lieut..
Baker then accused Col. Conger of
shooting him, which the colonel denied,
and said Booth shot himself" This,
the lieutenant claimed, was impossible,
as he saw him every moment from the
time the hay was fired until he fell. Col
Conger said 1.-THE man who did shoot
him shall 90 back to Washington under
arrest" Upon further inquiry il was
found that Sergt. Boston Corbctt fired
the shot from navy revolver, through
a crevice in the rear of the barn. This
was a most difficult feat to perform, for
the ball struck Booth on the side of the
neck, a little back 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 dis
tance and placed under tree. He began
TO show signs of life. Water was dashed
in his face, and a little poured in his
mouth. His Lps began to move, and he
family whispered, Tell mother-tell
He seemed TO gain further
strength, and then in q more distinct
voice said: Tell mother died for my
country" Day was breaking. and the
heat from the burning barn was so in
tense that the wounded man was re-
moved to the piazzi of the house. The
6oung ladies brought out n narrow
straw bed. and on this Booth was
placed. A cloth soaked in ice water and
whisky 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
guick!" The lieutenant said, mo.
Booth, we did not want to kill you, and
hope you will recover. You were shot
against orders" He then was uncon-
scious for several minutes. when he
again revived His chest heaved. hi
chin dropped, he put out his tongue and
seemed to wish to know if there was
blood in his mouth. He was assured
there was none, and then said, TELL
mother I died for my country. I did
what I thought was best" He showed
no signs of life in his body below the
wound, with the exception of the action
of the lungs. He said, my hands,"
when one OF his hands was raised so that
he could see 1t, and it was bathed in ice
cold water. His hand was placed by
his side, and he said, Useless, use
less" which were the last words Of the
dying assassin.
Col. Conger gave Sergt. Corbett a
stinging reprimand and said to him:
"Why did you shoot without ordersP"
The sergeant took the position of sol
dier, saluted the colonel, and with right
hand pointing upward said: God AL
mighty ordered me to shoot" At this
reply the colonel melloved in his man.
ner and said: Il guess he did;" and
then dropped the subject. Col. Conger
started for Washington to
apprise the authorities of Booths cap
ture. and Lieut.. Baker and the escort re-
mained to bring the body as soon as life
was extinct A neighborhood physician
was called, who gave 1t as his opinion
that Booth could not survive much
longer. Col. Conger started for Wash
ington little after sunrise, and Booth
died about fifteen minutes after he left.
The body was sewed up in saddle
blanket, placed in n 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
waiting, the body was put on board and
she then steamed up the river for Wash
ington. The capital was reached about
daylight in the morning and the body
delivered to Secretary Stanton, who or
dered il placed in the navy yard. Here
it WAS kept one day for Identification,
and the evidence of various parties
taken.