Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-05-05
4 WILD RIDE FOR LIFE.

REMINIscEScE OF THE PLIGHT OF JOHN WILKES
BOOTH PROM WASHINGTON.
On n cool, cloudy day in March, 1863, l
drove with wagon and team of horses over
the ground covered by Booth in his wild
fight from Washington the night he assassi-
mated Lincoln. l followed the exact route
Booth pursued, for distance of nearly forty
miles, to the house of DIR. Mudd, near the
village of Beantown, st. Charles county,
Maryland, where he had his broken ankle
set. After this he and his companion, Har-
old, rode seven miles further, where they
struck the ferry on the Potomac to Virginia,
crossed the river, and penetrated as far as
CARROTS farm, where the one was shot and
killed and the other made prisoner.
The object Of my mission was an interview
with DIR. Mudd, one of the alleged conspira-
tors in the murder of Lincoln. He had re-
turned to his home from the Dry Tortugas
where he had been banished for life, but was
pardoned by President johnson after four
years confinement. On the trial of the con-
spirators he came within an ace of being
hanged-in fact, it was as close a shave of
the moose as / ever remember-and yet, prac-
tically, Mudd had no more TO do with the as
sassinaton of Lincoln than the child unborn
But in those days (lSG5) a fierce and vindic-
tive wave of passion rolled over the country,
and victims were demanded to appease the
cry OF blood. Any one against whom the
least suspicion existed was ruthlessly seized
and hurried of to the old capitol prison at
Washington.
Booths original intention was to abduct
President Lincoln, and to carry him down to
| Virginia. over precisely the same route that
he took when he attempted to make his es-
cape, and deliver him over to the rebels.
For six months before that fatGl Good Fri
day evening, April II, 1867 Booth had fire.
quently travelled over this route between
Washington and Virginia via Maryland, and
had made himself acquainted with every
house. every tree, and every turn on the road.
He visited The houses of the people, paid at
tention TO the girls, stood unlimited whiskey
10 the men, and made himself generally pop
ular All this time he was preparing for the
abduction of Lincoln, and it is understood by
those who know the fncts of the case best
| that the idea of assassination never came into
| his head, and was never limited at until the
| surrender Of General Lee, less than q week
| before the awful crime was committed.
| Among those whose acquaintance he culti-
waited was DIR. Mudd, but to none with whom
he sought to ingratiate himself did he breathe
the purpose he had in view. He pretended
| TO be very fond of hunting and fowling, and
as st. Charles county, Maryland, is famed for
| its wild game and sportsmen, no suspicion of
his motives was ever entertained. There was
a numerous Catholic population in the coun-
| ty, and Booth was on the best terms with
Father Flanagan, parish priest of Beantown,
| aud was well recommended TO his congrega-
tion. AT place called by two letters, t b,
was a tavern where Booth was well known,
and where hundreds of dollars were spent by
him on drinks for the rustic frequenters.
At the moment when Booth shot Lincoln,
Spangler, the stage carpenter Of Ford's thea
tire, was standing in the lane back of the rear
entrance to the stage, holding Booths horse,
a fine, wei. .groomed blooded bay. 1t took
less than three minutes from the time Booth
jumped on the stage from the Presidents
box, after doing the fatal deed, until he was
mounted on his horse and breaking away
down the cobble- paved lane with the speed
of the wind, tho sparks flying from his horses
| hoofs as they struck the uneven paving
stones. From the lane he turned into f
street, continued along Four and half street,
and then down to Pennsylvania avenue,
| wheeling to the east and bearing ON by the
north wing of the capitol. He swept swiftly
past the east front OF the white and silent
building, and struck the continuation of
Pennsylvania avenue. Here he gave his horse
full rein, for he had a straight and level
course before him, as far as the bridge lead
ing across the east branch of the Potomac in
to Maryland. At the Marine hospital, Har-
old, mounted on a horse, was waiting to re-
oeive him, and here the course of the nara
tive has to be checked for momen'ary di-
gression.
During the war, and for while after its
close, military sentinels we're posted at both
ends of the bridge that crosses the Anacos-
tian or east branch of the Potomac from the
District of Columbia to Maryland. These SEN
tinels sharply challenged and inquired the
business of every one crossing the bridge.
To get over this difficulty it was arranged be-
tween Booth and Harold that the latter should
stay in Union City, on the Maryland side, un-
til night, and then, about 10 o'clock, ride
down to and cross the bridge, answering the
challenge of the sentry of "WEo goes there p
by replying, "a messenger going for doc
tor" This answer was, of course, bound 10
pass him over. On returning, and after meet
ing Booth near the Marine hospital, Harold
was to ride back ahead, and after answering
the sentry's challenge again of who goel
there 2" by saying, "The messenger who
went for the Doctor" Booth was to ride up
aud TO the challenge Of "Who goes there 2
answer "The Doctor"
This arrangement worked to a charm. Har
old met Booth at the appointed place an6
crossed over into Union City, a small village
on the Maryland side, without suspicion OF
molestation, At the other side of the bridge
! the road turned to the left, and for some dis