Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1880-01-28

J caught hold of them, pulled nlm on
and Immediately closed the door Har
old was turned over to two soldiers
He kept making assertions that ht
knew nothing about Booth, and Col
Conger threatened to tie him and gag
him if he did not stop his noise. Thi.
had a quieting effect. 1t had beer
decided to fire the building, so thar
Booth would be driven TO the smal
door, where it was thought, he coult
be easily captured.
Another parley cnsued. Lieutenant
Baker again made the demand for bis
surrender Booth said, 'Who are you
and what do you want of me =? Ii
may be that | am being taken by my
friends" The Lieutenant said: THAT
makes no difference, we know who you
are, and want you We have fifty
men, Grmed with carbines and pistols,
around the barn and you cannot escape. =
After pause, he said: Captain, this
is a hard case, | swear. Give a lame
man chance Draw up your men
twenty yards from the door, and / will
fight your whole command" The
Lieutenant replied Eve did not come
to fight, but came to take you, and you
had better surrender" Booth replied,
Give me a little time to consider
The Lieutenant said, 'Verv well. take
time, YOU can have five minutes" He
was heard to come toward the door. or
near the door As he came he said ::
Captain, / believe you are an honora-
BILE and brave man. | have had half
dozen opportunities TO shoot YOU, and
have bead drawn on you now, but
don't wish to do it, Withdraw your
forces a hundred yards from the door,
and | will come out Give me a chance
for my life, Captain, for | will not be
taken alive" Lieut.. Baker said: 1--WE
have waited long enough. Now come
out, or we will fire the barn" Col
Conger then said: I'VE had better fire
the barn - and to this Lieut. Baker
gave his consent. Booth said in his
peculiar strange tone, "Well, my brave
boys, prepare a stretcher for me, then =
After a pause of about half minute
he was heard to say, "One more stain
on the glorious old banner"
just as he ceased speaking, Col.
Conger applied match to some hay
which he drew through a crevice. and
in an instant the inside of the building
was blaze of light The Lieutenant
then opened the door to give him
chance to come out, and from his posi-
ton on the outside could see every
movement made by Booth He seemed
to be leaning against the hay now,
supported by his crutches, with his
carbine in hand. He sprang forward
toward the fire with the seeming inten-
tion of shooting the man who touched
the match But the intense light in
side 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
in 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 this 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-
ton, and then dropping his remaining
crutch, with his carbine 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 recled forward, threw up one
hand, dropped his carbine, and fell face
downward 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, intend
ing 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 it from him. A leathern
belt was around his body, with bowie
Baker then accused Col Congcr 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, "The man that did
shoot him shall 90 back to Washington
under arrest
Upon further inquiry it was found
that Serg't Boston Corbett fired the
shot from a navy revolver, through
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, little back of the centre,
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 tree
He began to show signs of life. Water
was dashed in his face, and a little
poured in his mouth His lips began
to move, and he finally whispered,
"Tell mother-tell mother" He
seemed to gain further strength, and
then in a more distinct voice said,
"Tell mother | died for my country"
Day was breaking, and the heat from
the burning barn was so intense that
the wounded man was removed to the
piazza of a house. The young ladies
brought out narrow straw bed, and
on this Booth was placed. A cloth
soaked in icv-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 F! Oh, kill me quick !" The
Lieutenant said, "No, Booth we did
not want to kill Won and hone Won