National Republican., 1881-07-04
PRESIDENT LrNooLN,s MURDER,
a Glance nj Ills ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS At
tempt ON Stewards Life.

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The shooting of President Garfield nat
urolly recalls the assassination OF President Abra
ham Lincoln. It will be interesting, therefore, to
rccite the scenes attending that event. It was on
the evening Of Friday, April II, 1866, that Prcsi.
dent and Mrs. Lincoln with Miss Mary Harris and
Major Rathbun, OF Albany, son n-in-law of Senator
Harris, visited Fords Theatre in this city, for the
purpose of witnessing "Tho American Cousin"
which was running atthe theatre The fact that
this distinguished party was to be present at the
| performance had been duly announced in all the
local papers, and the theatre was densely crowded
| The presidential party occupied q box on the sec.
| ond tier The sceno was brilliant one, and all
went merrily with tho audience and actors alike
until the close Of the third act when the sharp
report OF pistol was heard and an instant AFTER
ward man was seen TO spring from the Presi-
| dents box to the stage, where, striking tragic
| attitude and brandishing n long dagger in his
| right hand, he cried out "Sic scmper trdnnis -
aud then, amid the bcwildcrment of the audience,
rushed through the opposite side of the stage and
made his escape from the rear Of the theatre The
screams Of Mrs Lincoln told the audience but too
plainly tbatthe President had beenshot All present
rose to their feet, and the excitement was OF the
widest possible description. rush was mndc to
the Presidents box, where, on n hasty examina.
ton being made, II was found he was shot through
the head The President was quickly removed to
IllNuNt HDuSt OpppolNt Nllt NntuUei WncTc,
on further examination his wound was pro-
nounccd TO be mortal. This tragic occur
renee of course Immediately put stop to the
performance and the theatre was closed as quickly
rs possible. The assassin, In his hurried flight
dropped his hat and spur on the stage. Tho hat
was Identified as belonging TO J. wilkes Booth, q
prominent actor, and the spur was recognized as
one obtained by him at II stable on that day One
OF two other actors and members of the orchestra
declared that the assassin WITS no other than
Wilkes Booth and the evidence almost momen.
tarily occumulating fixed him beyond doubt as
the author Of the bloody tragedy. Almost before
tho audience had lofl the theatre II was known
that the assassin, afer he got out, made his escape
on horseback.
SECRETARY sEwARDs Escape
The news of this hideous tragedy spread like
wlldnrc, and the greatest excitement prevailed
throughout the city, dense throngs OF persons
grcgating in the locality Of the house where Prcsl.
dent Lincoln was lying While the general excite
mont was at its widest height 1t became known
that an attempt had been made to assassnate Mr..
Seward, Secretary OF State. At about ten o'clock
man called nt the Secretaryshousc stating that he
had been sent by the family physician with pre-
scripton for the Secretary, who was sick, at the
time stating that he must see him personally,
as he was instructed to give particular directions
concerning the medicine. He pushed his way
Seward could not be seen, and rushed
upstairs to Mr.. Stewards room, where he
was met by the Secretarys son, Mr.. Fred
Seward, who said he would take charge of the
medicine. The man dealt him n heavy blow and,
rushing past him into Secretary Stewards room,
sprung upon the Secretary as he lay in bed and
stabbed him several times in the neck and breast.
Major Seward, another of the Secretary's sons,
rushed to his fathers assistance and got badly cut
in tussle with the rufian who after hard strug.
gle managed 10 escape from the house, and,
mounting the horse he had left at the door, gall
loped of, shouting out; Sic semper tyrdnnis."
Surgeon. General Barnes was Immediately sent
for and pronounced the Secrctarys and Major
Stewards wounds not fatal, but the inju.
ries which the dGsperado had Einhlcted
on Frederick Seward and the servant of
the house were considered more serious When it
was known that Secretary Seward was not danger
ously wounded the general anxiety was centred on
President Lincoln, and, while the. scene in the
streets was one of the widest excitement and con-
fusion, within the chamber where President Lin
coin was lying all was sadness and stiffness. Sew
eral members of the Cabinet had hastcned TO his
side. Medical and surgical aid were obtained, and
everything was done TO relieve the suffering Presl
dent II was soon ascertained however, that IL was
impossible for him to survive the only question be-
ing long he would linger All through the weary
hours of the night and early morning the Presi-
dent lay unconscious, rs he had been ever since
his assassination. lie was wachedby several faith
ful friends in addition to near relatives, AT his
bedside were the Secretary of War, Secretary of
the Navy, Secretary Of the Interior, Postmaster
General, and the Attorney General, Senator Sum
ner, General Farnsworth General Todd cousin to
Mrs Lincoln), Major Hay, NJ b. Field General
lnleck, Mnjor.G General Meigs, Rev. Dr. Gurley,
George Oglosby (of Illinois, and Drs Z. N. Abbot,
II. X. Stone C. d. Hatch, Neal, Hall, and Liebcr.