Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-07-15
LLNcOLNS AsSAssLNA rLON.

lbb hnOObluB VI Ethlutub NrhIutiu uhbuEhl-
ly recalls the assassination of President Abra-
ham Lincoln. 1t is of interest," therefore, to
recite the scenes attending that event. 1t
was the evening Of Friday, April IA, 1865,
that President and Mrs. Lincoln, with Miss
Mary Harris and Ma jor Rathbun, of Albany,
son-in-law of Senator Harris, visited Fords
Theatre, in Washington, for the purpose of
witnessing "The American Cousin" which
was running at the 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 dense
ly crowded. The presidential party occupied
a box on the second tier. The scene was
brilliant one and all went merrily with the
audience and actors alike until the close of
the third act, when the sharp report of pis-
tol was heard, and an instant afterward a
man was seen to spring from the Presidents
box to the stage, where, striking tragic at
titude and brandishing long dagger in his
right hand he cried out "Sic semper tyrdn-
MS 7" and then, amid the bewilderment 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 that
the President had been shot. All present rose
to their feet, and the excitement was of the
widest possible description. A rush was
u
hasty examination being made, it was found
he was shot through the head. The President
was quickly removed to private house op-
posite the theatre, where, on further ex-
animation, his wound was pronounced to
be mortal. This tragic occurrence of course
Immediately put stop to the performance,
and the theatre was closed as quickly as pos
sible. The assassin, in his hurried flight
dropped his hat and n spur on the stage. The
hat was identified as belonging to j. Wilkes
Booth, a prominent actor, and the spur was
recognized as one obtained by him at a stable
on that day. One or two other actors and
members of the orchestra declared that the
assassin was no other than Wilkes Booth, and
the evidence almost momentarily accumulat-
ing fixed him beyond doubt as the author
of the bloody tragedy. Almost before the
audience had left the theatre it was known
that the assassin, after he got out, made his
escape on horseback.
The news of this hideous tragedy spread
like wildfre, and the greatest excitement pre-
vailed throughout the city. dense throngs Of
persons congregating in the locality of the house
where President Lincoln was lying While the
general excitement was at its widest height
it became known that an attempt had been
made to assassinate Mr.. Seward, Secretary of
State. At about ten O'Clock man called at
lut DtCItNhIy D uOustt hlhNiuR lilhL ne lhu
been sent by the family physician with pre-
scription for the Secretary, who was sick, at
the same time stating that he must see him
personally, as he was instructed to give par
ticular directions concerning the medicine
He pushed his way past the servant, who had
told him Secretary Seward could not be SEEN
and rushed up stairs to Mr.. Stewards room,
where he was met by the Secretary's son,
Mr.. Fred Seward, who said he would take
charge of the medicine. The man dealt him
q heavy blow and, rushing past him into Sec
rotary Stewards room, sprung upon the Sec
retary as he lay in bed and stabbed him sew
eral times in the neck and breast. Major
Seward, another of the Secretary's sons, rush
ed TO his fathers assistance and got badly cut
in tussle with the ruffian, who, after hard
struggle, managed to escape from the house,
and, mounting the horse he had left at the
door, galloped of, shouting out ".Sic Semper
tyrdHnis" Surgeon.G General Barnes was i'm
mediately sent for and pronounced the Secre-
tary's and Major Stewards wounds not fatal
but the injuries which the desperate had in
hicted on Frederick Seward and the servant
of the house were considered more serious
When it was known that Secretary Seward
was not dangerously wounded the general
anxiety was centred on President Lincoln,
and, while the scene in the streets was one of
the widest excitement and confusion, within
the chamber where President Lincoln was
lying all was sadness aud stiffness. Several
members ofthe Cabinet had hastened to his
side. Medical and surgical aid were obtain
ed, and everything was done TO relieve the
suffering President. II was soon ascertained
however, that it was impossible for him to
survive, the only question being how long he
would linger All through the weary hours
of the night and early morning the President
lay unconscious, as he had been ever since
his assassination. He was watched by sew
eral faithful friends, in addition to near rela-
tives. At his bedside were the Secretary of
War, Secretary of the Navy, Secretary Of the
Interior, Postmaster. General, and the Attor-
ney- General, Senator Sumner, General Farms
worth, General Todd cousin to Mrs, Lincoln),
Ma jor- General Meigs, Rev. DR.. Gurley,
George Oglesby (of Illinois,, and Drs. f. N.
Abbot, II. X. Stone, c. d. Hatch, Neal, Hall,
and Lieberman. Mr.. Lincoln died at an ear
ly hour on the morning of the 18th.
FROM WALT wHITMANs LECTURE ON LINCOLN.
The day, April IA, 1868, seems to have
been pleasant one throughout the whole
laud-the moral atmosphere pleasant, too
the long storm, so fratricidal so full of blood
and doubt and gloom, over and ended at last
by the sunrise of such an absolute victory,
such an utter break down of secession-we
almost doubt our own senses Early herb
age, early flowers weKe out Il remember
where was stopping at the time, the season
being advanced, there were many lilacs in
full bloom. BY one of those caprices that en-
ter and give tinge to events without being at
all part of them, find myself always remind
ed of the great tragedy of that day by the
sight and odor of those blossoms 1t never
fails.)
But must not dwell on accessories The
deed hastens. The popular afternoon paper
of Washington, the little Evening Star, had
spattered all over its third page, divided among
the advertisements in sensational manner in
a hundred different places '"The President
and his lady will be at the theatre this eve
ming"
On this occasion the theatre was crowded,
many ladies in rich and gay costumes, officers
in their uniforms many well-known citizens,
young folks, the clusters of gas lights, the
usual magnetism of SO many people, cheerful
with perfumes, the music of yiolins and flutes
and over all, and saturating all, that vast,
vague wonder, victory the nations victory,
the triumph of the Union, filling the air, the
thought, the sense, with exhilaration more
than all music and perfumes.
The President came betiInes, and with his
wife witnessed the play from the large stage
boxes of the second tier, two thrown into one
and profusely draped with the national flag
There is a scene in the play representing a
modern parlor, in which two unprecedented
English ladies are informed by an impossible
Yankee that he is not man of fortune, and
therefore undesirable for marriage-catching
purposes after which, the comments being
finished, the dramatic trio made exit, leaving
the stage free for a moment. At this period
came the murder of Abraham Lincoln. Great
as that was with all its manifold train oiroling
round it and stretching into the future for
many century, in the politics, history, art
ETC., of the New World, in point of fact the
main thing, the actual murder, transpired
with the quiet and simplicity of any common
occurrenee-the bursting of bud in the
growth of vegetation for instance.
Through tho long hum following the stage
pause with the change of positions came the
muffied sound of pistol-shot which not one
hundredth part of the audience heard at the
time-and vet n mOment5 hush-gomehoW