The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1881-06-04
LINCGLN's LAST
Graphic Description Of the Assassi
nation by an Eye-Wftne n.


nati0" by an Eye-wifne y.
Chicago Times
A Times reporter lately heard an at
count of the ASSASSINATION as given b.
one who saw is-John +. Dillon, no,
employed as engineer of the stock
yards dummy of the Lake Shore an'
Michigan Southern Railroad. Hi
story is as follows
"In the month of April, 1865, l wa
employed in the billiard room i'm tn
rear of Williard's Hotel, which wa
frequented by all the most prominen
men Of that day. Being off duty OF
the night of the 18th, and time hang
ing heavily upon my hands, i strollet
along the streets until my attention
was arrested by a placard announcing
that Laura Keene was playing "Oul
American Cousin" at FOrd's theatre
Thinking it q good way to kill time,
resolved to go there, although the houl
was somewhat late. However, before
going into the theatre, stepped into
a basement saloon next door to the
theatre, known as the Shakespeare sa.
loon, to get drink. While there
! OBSERVED J. WILKES. BOOTH
in conversation with the barkeeper
and he seemed to have imbibed pretty
freely, though nothing in his acts OIL
words gave any indication of his muir
derous intent. After leaving the saloon
l went into the upper gallery of the
theatre and took my seat upon the
south side. In about twenty minutes !
heard great cheering, and felt con-
WINGED there was some distinguished
person in the stage box on the game
side of the house on which was seat
ed. Icrossed over to the opposite side
80 tltft l could get a good view of the
box occupants LincolH was seated
with his back to the door, which open
ed into the gallery, and facing the
stage. Mrs. Lincoln and another
lady, whose name | cannot now recall
were seated In the centre, with Mai.
Rathbone at the end farthest from the
President.
My attention was about equally di-
vided between the Presidential party
and the performance. Harry Hawk,
who was supporting Laura Keene, was
on the stage when Booth made sud-
den entrance into the stage box and
fired, shooting Lincoln in the back of
the head. Major Rathbone made an
effort to grapple with Booth, but was
defeated by ktife-thrust. Taking
advantage of this temporary liberty,
Booth jumped to the stage, u distance
of about ten feet, and fell upon one
knee. IL Is commonly asserted that
Booth broke his leg in the jump: but,
be that AS it may, he arose ms though
he had not receiced the slightest hurt,
and brandishing his knife-which
seemed to me ten inch blade-in a
dramatic manner he uttered the memo
rable words: sic semper tyrdnnis.'
Booth then
RETIRED AS CooLLY
as though he was engaged to act part
of the play. Great CONSERVATION and
upTOar was manifested by the audi
ence, and 1t is wonderful that there
were not many serious accidents.
Laura Keene, by her GOODNESS, did
much TO stay the stampede which en-
sued; Ia fact, she seemed to be the
only one who had self-possession suf-
ficient 10 seriously think or act as be-
comes rational being. One man,
whom 1 recognized in the audience as
an army officer, stood on his feet and
exclaimed, That is Wilkes Booth he
did theshooting.' Other persons cried
out, Run Harry run = believing that
Harry Hawk was the one referred to.
Charles Withers, the leader of the Or
chestra, rushed under the stage to the
rear, thinking TO intercept Booth, but
the latter's knife again did him SER
vice, and Withers was forced to retire.
/ was The first one 10 inform the as
Presidents coachman Of
the dastardly deed, ahd he at once
whipped up IBIS horses and brought a
physician. In the meantime Lincoln
was removed to IA house oppotite the
theatre ON Tenth street, where he died
tile next morning, April Is, 1865. II
was common report at tina; time that
soldiers Immediately filed the theatre,
but such was not the case.
After the commotion had partially |
subsidized, and while | was standing at |
hotel, "a man came along full |
" excitement and exclaiming: MY |
God, Seward is killedv / replied 80
8 Lincoln, TO which he retorted My
Sod, we will all be killed.
1.-THE CITYwAs IN A FERMENT,
ne Rrcattsl excitement pTeNalllUB
Soldiers were brought in
rom the outlying forts; people went
bout in a subdued manner, their con-
,ersation held i'm a hushed tone, and
gave evidence that great
Tread was pervading the city.
You may remember that, when
Booth left the theatre, he fled out Of
he city by the way Of the Eighth
treet bridge, over the eastern branch.
The bridge has draw of about twelve
eet to allow boats to pass. On the
ridge on the draw u sentry was on
uty, and the sentry informed me on :
he Sunday following the murder, that
e was inside the sentry-box when he
card a sound as though horse, being
idden swiftly, was approaching. and,
astening outside, was only just in
me TO see the horse and its rider clear
he draw and speed away out of sight.
o quickly had the incident passed
nat the sentry could scarcely con-
ince himself that anyone passed that
Iay.
"Shortly after the assassination n
ian on the streets made the remark
He ought to be killed. referring TO
lincoln. Hardly had the words pass
l his lips ere he was strung 10 lamp
Ost near by, and would have Jared ,
ably were il not for the Intervention
an officer of the army.n