Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-07-09


consulting him. His story of what fol
lowed is this: As soon as the play had
proceeded he went upon the stage. and
not S, eing the stage manager, went to
the prompter's desk at the wing, where
Mr.. J. Il. Wright. the prompter. was on
duty. The governor" or gas appa-
ratus, was in close proximity to Mr..
Wris hts desk. The cover of this gov
ernor was open, and Edward Spangler,
assistant stage carpenter, and one OF
the conspirators, was standing beside
it. Mr.. Withers said, "Spangler, step
away a moment. l want to speak to
Mr.. Wright" Spangler did not move.
An an Try frown overspIead his face,
and Mr.. Withers peremptorily ordered
him to go to his position as scene shift
er. He started away, muttering some.
thing, which Mr.. Withcrs did not hear,
and to which he paid no attention at
the time. He inquired of Mr.. Wright
why the song had not been sung, and
Wright said tha. the programme had
been changed so as to have the piece
brought in at the close of the perform
ance. "Go into the orchestra Just be-
fore tie finish" said Mr.. Wright, land
get your instruments in tune, ana we
will make the song the finale" Mr..
Withers said the effect would be lost
by this proceeding, and, turning down
the cover Of the governor" he partly
sat down upon it, and suggested that
the audience, at the finish, would be-
gin to move and spoil the piece, wind
ing up the matter by telling Mr..
Wright that, ii produced 1T all, the
song mast be sung during the play.
just then the whistle blew for the
change of scene, and Spangler had to
attend to the shifting. Mr.. Withers
then started down past the wings to a
stairway leading under the stage. Just
as he was in the act of stepping down
the first step he heard pistol shot.
Surprised at the report, knowing that
stopped and looked toward the pro.
scenium.
At tina. instant Booth dashed into the
passageway with dagger in his hand.
Withers was standing directly in line
with the stage door or private entrance.
His first thought was that Booth was
looking for the man who had fred the
shot; but the next instant the mailman
was upon him thrusting at him with
the dagger. The point of the weapon
cut two holes in the coat worn by the
musician. one on the back of the neck
and the other on the right shoulder,
going through all the clothing and
through the skin. In the struggle Mr..
Withers was knocked down and badly
bruised, and Booth escaped through
the private door. Before Mr.. Withers
could get upon his feet Harry Hawke,
the actor, came rushing through the
passageway after Booth, and fell over
the PROSTATE form of MIR. Withers. 1t
was then for the first time that the mu-
stefan learned what had happened. He
still has the coat he wore on that
memorable occasion. It is an evening
dress coat of blue.black broadcloth.
He exhibited it to the reporter, put it
on and described how Booth attacked
him and the exact position he was in
when the thrusts were made. The
only words uttered by Booth were,
"Get out of my way! get out Of my
way, or I'll kill you?"
The flag which has q place in history
was in the possession of Mr.. Withers
for long time, but it was subsequent
" given to its owner, who resided in
Memphis, aud is now, Mr.. Withers be-
lieves, in Washington. The flag, it
will be remembered, was torn by
Booths spur, which caught in it as he
jumped from the box to the stage, and
it was this accident to the assassin that
caused his leg to be broken.
Edward Spangler died on the 10th of
February, 1874, at the residence of DR..
Mudd, of Baltimore, a co.conspirator,
with whom he had suffered imprison-
ment. Before his death he made con-
fession, which has been communicated
to Mr.. Withers, in effect that the pres
ence OF the musician at the governor +"
prevented fearful panic. He (Spang-
ler) was lowering around the instru.
ment with the intention OF turning off
the gas in the auditorium the moment
Booth landed ON the stage. The cover
was up to facilitate that operation, and
had he not been ordered away by Mr..
Withers, who turned the cover down
to sit upon it, the gas would have been
turned off and nobody weuld have
known to certainty who assassinated
the President. Booth was not recog-
nized at the time of his leap by the au-
dience; but Miss Keere, who stood at
the wings, recognized him, and shouted
to the audience, It's John Wilkes
BOOTH At that time he was
struggling with Mr.. Withers at the
rear OF the stage. The turning off of
the gas at the proper time, Mr.. Withers
believes, would have allowed the assas.
sian to escape unrecognized, and led to
further tragic results.-N. Y. Herald.
AN ARTIST ON HIS DIGNITY. Mons.
Meissonier decidedly refuses to be
patronized. 1t is related that a rich