Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1881-04-25
LINCOLN'S.DEATH.
CIR aphic Descri ptiOn Of the Assnssina-
ton by an Eye Witness of the
Horror.
Chicago Times.

The recurrence of the anniversary OF
Abraham Lincoln's death revives remi
niscences of the martyred President
Last evening Times reporter was listen
ing to an account of the assassination a
given by one who saw it-John r. Dill
Ion, now employed as engineer of the
stock yards dummy of the Lake Shore
and Michigan Southern railroad. His
story is as follows:
"In the month of April, 1865, l was
employed in the billiard room in the rear
of Wizards Hotel, which was frequented
by the most prominent men of that day.
Being off duty on the night of the 14th,
aud time hanging heavily upon my hands
| strolled along the streets, until my at
tention was arrested by u placard an
nouncing that Laura Keene WIS playing
Our American Cousin at Ford's Theater.
Thinking it good way to kill time, l
resolved to go there, although the hour
was somewhat late However, before
going into the theater, Istepped into base
ment saloon next door to the theater,
known as the Shakespeare saloon, to
get drink. While there l observed j.
Wilkes Booth in conversation with the
barkeeper, and he seemed to have i'm
bibed pretty freely, though nothing in
his acts or words gave any indication of
his murderous intent. After leaving the
saloon | went into the upper gallery of
the theater and took my seat upon the
south side. La about twenty minutes
after heard great cheering, and l felt
convinced there were some distinguished
persons in the stage box on the same side
of the house on which | was seated. /
cross ID over to the opposite side, SO that
| would get good view of the box oc-
cupants. Lincoln was seated with his
back to the door, which opened into the
gallery, aud facing the stage. Mrs. LIN
coin and another lady, whose name | can
not recall, were seated in the center, with
Major Rathbone at the end furthest from
the President. My attention WAS about
equally divided 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 eff
fort to grapple with Booth, but was de
feated by knife-thrust Taking advan-
tage of this temporary liberty, Booth
tss tho s<e~-- j.
tsn feet and fell upon one knee 1t il
leg in the Jump, but be that as it may, he
arose as though he had not received the
slightest hurt, and brandishing his knife
which seemed to me u ten inch blade
in a dramatic manner he uttered the
memorable words: Sic semper tyrannis.'
Booth then retired as coolly as though he
was engaged to act part of the play
Great CONSERVATION and uproar was man
ifested by the audience, and 1t Is wonder
full that there were not many serious acct
dents Laura keene, by her GOODNESS, did
much to stay the stampede which ensued;
in fact, she seemed to be the only one
who had self possession sufficient to
seriously think or act as
becomes a rational being. One man,
whom I recognized in the audience as an
army officer, stood on his seat and ex-
claimed, That is Wilkes Booth; he did
the shooting Other persons cried out:
Run, Harry, rum believing that Harry
Hawk was the nne referred to. Charles
Withers, the leader of the orchestra,
lshed under the stage to the rear. think
ing to intercept Booth, but the latter's
knife a gain did him service, and WIthers
was forced to retire. | was the first one
to inform the assassinated Presidents
coachman of the dastardly deed, and he
at once whipped up his horses and
brought physician In the meantime
Lincoln was removed to a house opposite
| the theater on Tenth street, where he died
the next morning, April is, 1865. TWAS
/ common report az that time that sol
diers Immediately filled the theatre, but
such was not the case
After the connection had partially
subsidized. and while | was standing at
Wizards Hotel, man came along, full
| of excitement, and exclaiming: My
God, Seward is killed. l replied: so
is Lincoln to which he retorted: My
God, we will all be killed. The city
was in a ferment, the greatest excitement
prevailing everywhere. Soldiers wers
brought in from the outlying forts; PEG
pie went about in a subdued man
ner, their conversation held in {
hushed tone, and everything CAV
evidence that great dread was pervsd
ing the city.
"You will remember that. when Bootl
left the theater. he fled out of the city b,
the way of the Eighth-street bridge. owe
; the Eastern branch. This bridge has
| draw of about twelve feet to allow boat
, 10 pass. On the bridge near the draw
: sentry was on duty. and the sentry in
{ formed me, on the Sunday following tn
) murder, that he was inside the sentry
box when he heard sound as though
; horse. being ridden swiftly, was aI
preaching, and, fastening outside, wa
} only Just in time to see the horse and il
, rider clear the draw and speed away on
} of sight So quickly had the inciden
e passed that the sentry could scarcely cor
vince himself that any one had passe'
! that way"
TILE MEXICAN CLIMATE