The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1881-04-20
LINCOLN's ASSASSINATION.
Graphic Description of the Terrible Deed
by an Eyewitness.
rChfeayo Times


[Chicago Times
The recurrence of the anniversary of Abra-
ham Lincoln's death, April Is, reyives
"reminiscences of the martyred President.
On last evening Times reporter was listen
ing to an account of the assassination as
given By one who saw it-John +. Dillon,
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, 1855 j was en-
ployed in the billiaSlroom in the rear Of
Wizards Hotel, wiish was fyequented by
the most prominent wen of that day. Being
off dssty on the night of the 14th. and time
hangiag heavily on Isy hands, strolled
along she streets until ray attention was ar
rested BY plaeard announcing that Laura
Keene vas playing "Our American Cousin"
at Folds TheateT. Thinking it o good way
to kill time, resolved to so.there, although
the houD was somewhat late. However,
before going into the Theater, l stepped into
a basement saloon next doos to the Iheater,
known as the Shakespeare saloon, 70 get
drink. While there
IO3sERyED y WILKz BOOTH
IN conversation with the barbeeper. end he
seemed to have in,bibed pretty freely,
though nothing in his acts or words gave
any indication of his murSerous intent
After leaving the saloon L vent into the
upper gallery of theTheater and took my
seat upon the south side. In about twenty
minutes after heard great cheering, and |
felt cOnvincedithere we've some distinguished
rersOns in the stage box on the same 81 de Of
the house ON which was seated / crossed
over TO the opposite side so that would get
good view Of the box occupants. Lincoln
was seated withshis back to the door, which
Ooened into the gallery, ;nd facing the stars.
In 1on " vu /
can not recall were seated in the center with
Major Rathbone Mt the end furthest from the
President. My attention wasaboutequally di-
yided between the Presidential party and
the performance. Harry Hawk who was
supporting Laura Keene- was on the stage
when Booth made a sudden entrance into
the stage box and fired, shooting lincoln IN
ths back of the head. Major Rathbone
made an effort TO grapple with Booth, but
was defeated by knife-thrust. Taking adj
vantage of this temporary liberty. Booth
iuqsped to the stage, a distance of about ten
feet, and fell upon one knee. 1t is comInoR-
ly asserted that Booth broke his leg in the
junap; but, be that as it may, he arose as
though he had not received the slightest
hurt and brandishing his knife-whieh
seemed to me to be a tenineh blade-in
dramatic manner, he uttered the memorable
words: Sic semper tyrannis.' Booth then
RETIEED AS Co0LLY
"a though he was engaged to act part of
the play. Great CONSERVATION and uprOar
was manifested by the audience, and il is
wonderful that there were not many serious
accidents. Laura Keene, by her GOODNESS,
did much to stay the stampede which en-
sued in fact, she seemed TO be the only one
who had self-poSSession sufficient to serious
| ly think or act as becomes rational being.
| One man, whom recognized in the audi
sff CT N N
exclaimed: That is Wilkes Booth; he did
the shooting Other persons cried out:
Run, Harry, rum believing that Harry
Hawk was the one referred TO. Charles
| Withers, the leader of the orchestra, rushed
under the stage TO the rear, thinking to in
tercept Booth but the latter's knife again
did him service, ana Withers was forced
inform the assassinated Presidents
coachman of the dastardly deed,
and he at once whipped up his horses and
broughta physician. In the meantime Lin
coin was removed to a house opposite the
Theater, on Tenth street, where he died the
next morning, April 10, 1865 1t was COM
mon report at that time that soldiers imme-
diately filled the Theater, but such was not
the case.
after the commotion had partially sub
sided, and while l was standing at Willard S
Hotel, man came along, full of excitement,
and eXclaiming: My God, Seward is
killed. l replied: so is Lincoln to
which he retoTted My God, We will all be
killed.
THE CITY WAS IN FERMENT,
the greatest excitement prevailing every
where Soldiers were brought in from the
outlying forts; people went about in a sub
dued manner, their conversation held in a
huShed tone and everything gave evil
dence that great dread was pervading the
city.
you may remember that, when Booth
left the Theater, he fled out of the city by
the way of the Eighth street bridge, over the
Eastern Branch This bridge has draw of
about twelve feet to allow boats to pass On
the bridge near the draw sentry was on
duty, and the sentry informed me on the
Sunday following the murder, that he was
inside the sentry box when he heard sound
as though horse, being ridden swiftly, was
approaching, and, fastening outside, was
only just in time to see the horse and its
rider clear the draw and speed away out of
sight So quickly had the incident passed
that the sentry could scarcely convince him
self that any one had passed that way.
Shortly after the assassination man on
the streets made the remark: He ought to be
killed. referring to Lincoln. Hardly had
the words passed his lips ere he was strung
up to lamp post near by and would have
Jared badly were it not for the intervention
of an officer of the army"
Senator Bayard on Temperance