The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1881-07-19
WOODSFIELD MONROE COUNTY, OHIO TUESDAY, JULY 49, 1881
From the NY. World, Sd inst.

From the N. Y. World, Sd inst.
A Vivid Description by a Surgeon
who Saw President Lincoln Shot
and Watched Him Die.
DR. Charles A. Leale, a practitioner
of this city, attended President Lincoln
from the time be was shot by Booth up-
til he died. DR.. Leale was surgeon in
the regular army and was stationed at
Washington as the executive officer of
the Armory Square Hospital. DR.. Leale
gave the following accountof the events
Of the Dight OF April IA, 1865, to re-
porter yesterday: II was at Ford's The
atre, seated within q few feet Of the
Presidents box, which was draped in
flags, the Presidential party being ex-
pected 70 appear in the theatre as the
public desired to see the President after
peace hid fen declared. The play was
Oar A16ss ban Cousfn' ana -Laurs Keenes
was the star. Tie theatre Was crowded.
The play bad begun and suddenly there
was . lull in the performance. Looking
around saw the President, Mrs. Lin
coin, Miss Harris, q daughter Of Sena-
tor Harris, and Major Rsthbourne en-
tering. In recognition of their entry
the play had ceased for a moment and
the President and Mrs. Lincoln bowed.
Mrs. Lincoln smiled and seemed partic-
ularly cheerful, but / noticed that Mr..
Lincoln had peculiarly sad look as he
slowly walked to the box, the door of
which was opened by the usher, who re.
mained outside and after the party had
entered closed the door firmly. The
usher then took a seat, remaining as a
sentry by the door. Everything then
went on as usual. About 1920 o'clock
l heard whispering outside the Presi-
dents box. and looking around / saw
Wilkes Booth talking to the usher and
trying to force bis way to the President.
In his hand be held a package of papers
that looked like official documents. He
was evidently trying to persuade the
usher that he had business with the Pres
ident but the usher persistently refused
to let him enter. At last, by persuasion
and force, he gained access to the box,
and after entering closed the door, the
usher remaining outside. Just then one
of the most exciting scenes in the play
was being represented and in the midst
of it the report Of pistol was heard.
Almost instantly l saw Booth holding
aloft dagger as be leaped from the box
to the stage about ten feet below. He
wore riding boots, and in his leap spur
on his heel caught in one OF the flags
causing him to fall forward to the stage,
either breaking his leg just above the
ankle or spraiuing his ankle. He still
kept his dagger in his right hand, and
using his hands and sound leg he crawl
ed or hoped across the stage, quickly
disappearing through side door.
81 have often been asked" said DR..
Leale, "if Booth cried, sic semper ty-
rannis,' as be leaped from the Presi-
dents box. I did not hear him say any
thing but it is possible he did SO. As
Booth jumped on to the stage cries OF
Murder and the President has been
shot, were heard in the box. At first
the audience was stunned; but when
Booth was going across the stage there
we're cries of stop him A surgeon was
called for and ! made my way over the
seats to the box. After some difficulty
the door was opened from the inside BY
Major Rathbourne. 1t had been barri.
caded by Booth on his entry; the day
before be had had carpenters to lix an
iron hasp on each side of the door, and
large beam bad been placed in the cor
ner of the box. When Booth entered
he slipped the beam into the hasps, thus
firmly barricading the door. l suppose
he had been in the box thirty seconds
before the shot was heard. Major Ratb.
bourne. who had received severe
wound in the arm from Booths dagger,
at last removed this beam after delay
that seemed great, though it was really
very slight. was the first person who
entered the box. Ifound the President
leaning back in an armchair, his head
hanging down, apparently dead Mrs
Lincoln was at bis side weeping bitterly.
She asked me to take charge Of her hus-
baud and called out, .Oh, do what you
can for him-do what you can! Is be
dead, is he dead =
81 lifted the Presidents head to sup
port it, and while doing SO ielt blood
ON his shoulder. / thought be had been
stabbed in one of the large blood yes
sells under The collar-bone; so with the
assistance OF those about we removed
the President from the chair and placed
him on the floor, l asked to have his
clothing cut, and Immediately some one
with a dirk cut through the coat and
other clothing. There was no wound !;
but by this time the President had ceas-
ed to breathe, and l lifted his eyelids to
examine the pupils. found them
greatly dilated, an indication of pressure
on the brain. then passed nay fingers
quickly over his head and found clotted
blood on the head an inch and half
behind and above the left ear. / re-
moved the clet with my fingers and also
cleared away the clot that had formed
around the opening into the skull. The
hole was as smooth as il it had been
polished. After the removal of the clot
the pressure on the brain was relieved,
when there was sudden spasmodic
gasp for breath, and at long intervals
there was deep sonorous breathing. In
few minutes I procured some brandy,
of which gave the President small
quantity.
CAT this time another surgeon, DIR.
Taft, was brought into the box from the
stsge, the crowd about the door being
very dense. DR.. A. F. King of Wash
ington, however, managed to get in by
the door. l feared some further DEM
onstrstion against the Presidents life,
80 requested to have him removed to
the nearest house. ! was importuned
to carry him to the White House, but
refused to do so, as he would probably
have died before reaching there. with
others raised the President from the
floor and walked with him towards the
door, where there was such crowd that
it seemed impossible that we would be
able to carry the President out of the