The sun., 1882-01-29
A WILD EIDE FOR LIFE.
"Reminiscences Of the Flight of John wilkes
Booth from Washington.


ground covered by Booth in his wild flight from
Washington the night he assassinntcd Lincoln
| followed the eNact route HooLh pursued for n
distance Of nearly forty mies. 10 the house OF
DR.. Mudd. near the village Of Bcnntown. ST.
Charles County. Maryland, where lie Ind his
broken ankle set After this he and his com
panion Harold rode seven miles further who sc
tnry struck the ferry on t'lo Potomac to Nir-
E,uia, crossed the river, and penetrated as far
rs, .Gprrctt,s farm where the ono was shot and
killed and the other rladc II prisoner
ne Object of my mission was an interview
WITH Dr.. Mgdd 94g of the alleged consr.,ai,ors
bus home from the Dry Tortugas where he
had bccn baniShcd for life. but was parioncd
by President Johnson after four ycals' contnc
ment. On the trial of the consptatols he came
within an ace of being hangcd-in fact it was
as close shave of the moose rs any ever re-
mcnber-nhd yet, practically. Mutd had no
than tho child unborn. l}ut in those days 1861
n fierce and vindctiyc wave of passion rolled
to appcaSc the cry for blood. Any, one against
whom tho least suspicion existed was ruth.
cssiy sri1cd and hurried OFF to tho Old Capitol
Prison in Washington.
Booths original intention was to abduci Pres
took when he attempted to make his escape.
ana deliver MIN over to the rebels.
evening, April "a, 1868 Booth had frequently
traye!!cd over this route between Washington
and Virginia via Maryland. and had made him
self acquainted with every house. every tree.
nnd every turn on the road. He visited the
stood unlimited whisky to the @ n,cn. "a and made
himself MIN Generally popnlar All this time hs
IL is understood by those who know tho facts OF
the ease best that the idea of assassination
mover came into his, head. and was nev-
Lee. less than week before tho awful
crime was committed. Among those whose ac-
none with whom he sought to ingratiato lin
Srli did he breathe the purpose he had in view
fn flS hr"tendsd to ]. Se very iond OF hunting ana
is famed for its wild game and sportsmcn no
sIllsplcion OF his motives, was ever entertained.
the county. and Booth was on the best of torms
win Father Flanagan. parish priest of Boan-
gregation. Alta place called by two letters. Il
-. was n tavern whore Booth was well known.
Iinid whcra hundreds of dollars were spent by
him on drinks for the rustic frequentcrs
AT tho moment when Booth shot Lincoln.
Sspanger. the stage carrcnter Of ford.s Fhoa-
entrance to the stage holding Booths horse. u
I'm" ,hs w,1lI-groomod , blo9dcd bay. T. took less
Jumped on the stage from the Presidents box,
after doing the fatal deod. until he was mounted
on on MS horse and breaking away down the cob
sparks flying from his horses hoofs rs they
struck 81 r * the uneven paving stones From tho
Four ana Half street, and then down to Penn
sylvania avenue. wheeling to the cast and boar
swept swiftly past the east front of the white
and silent building and struck tho continue
bnrsc % ci mi ;n sa a. hvehne E mnrS ne & ge is
course before him. rs far as the bridy" leading
sIrs he ast branch Of the n3ae int
mounted on n horse. was waiting TO receive
him. and here the course Of the narrative has
To Oc checked for u momontary digrrssion.
During the war. and for willie after its close.
miiitnry sentinels wotc posted ut both ends OF
Snch Il Re PoSmac 'fS from SS spc p Of
Columbia to Maryland These scntines sharp
~ cha.iengeI and inquired thc business Of
diflicnlty 1t was arranged between Booth and
Harold that tho latter. should stay in Union
then. about 10 o'clock. ride down to and cross
the bridge, answering the challenge of the SON
Sr OF eSns wha TSG' aes @TnnS @
of course. bound to pass him over. On ro-
rns ars snd SGr p,nG GsTtng nH2h near tnf
again Of Who COOS there p, by saying Tie
T. ride ilp. and 10 the challenge Of Who goes
ihnre 2 answer. The doctor"
old met Booth ut the appointed place and they
cro5sed over into Union City. - small village on
on th S,af wSu, d " SsniriGn h or
turned 10 the left. and for some distance was |
up mn. The night was fine. but cloudy. The
roads We're heavy here and there from recent
iM,ni. hut Booth took little thought OF that. |
When the lcyel road WIS reached he dashed |
ahead ut the fullest possible speed. and never |
arnw rein till he reached tho place. oddly called
7 u, sixteen miles from Washington where he |
was forced To- disn,ount. owing To- a broken |
saddle girth. This was quick ) repaired by II
handy man in the tavern. who rcmombcrcd |
VOL io9r years after. what an enormous drlnh |
ot brandy Booth swallowed before rpmuuniing |
,,iN llorS". NJ time WIS lost in Luttiug forward. |
lnth iugt'yc~ kept well together on the wings |
very lonely. and the country wears a de-olatc
and deserted took. Groves OF tall pine trees on !
nh' si;r and dreniy stretches OF niaishland Oh
F'yirs along this dark and gloomy Highway,
Miat ihuuShlS mus; have filled Iop,h's IN ind |
~ every nnddlnE plne branch hc must have |
imagined an arm vi vengeance s;retchcd out |
iIcroeS the road 10 smitc INN When nine
lilts rom ictntown ne had T. turn 10 the lrit, |
and t@Eo kind .: bride path through strip |
oi pine forest. Who will envy his thoughts ~
in the darkness and solitude created by the |
nverar"hing trees llo could not help rcncctna
thai, no matter to what and of the earth he |
lniSht ny. tho ayrn%ing hand Of an outraged !
crime? After emerging from the
@rrSt path he had - ride through IL number %!
l"ld.auds.
At o'clock in the morning he reached the
Dr Mudd's dwelling. Booth and Harold dis
mounted. The hitter opcned The WICKET in the
Ter for his broken ankle was now Givin.. him
great pain both moved forward to the entrance
i29r The knock was answered 10y Mrs. Mudd,
win hight IN her hand, and. as she told me
our years subsequently. she was shocked AT
he appearance of Booth. " Ills eyes she said
h'd II most unnatural expression. either from |
drinking or excessive mental excite
hent don't know which. His hair was in dis
'rdcr. his clothes covered with mud. and he
appeared unable to stand" Booth was taken
MO The paror and laid upon lounge.
Dr. Mudd was then called and asked by Booth
o examine his leg and see what WAS the matter
Win u. To do this il would b. necessary To
Iul of his boot. but as it was very close lifting
ne pam of the operation would bo excessive. SO
he Doctor took out his knife and cut the boot
9S down from tho top and around at the instep.
lie then slipped of the remainder of the boot
rom the foot. and Mrs. Mudd offered one OF her
olt woollen slippers in its place.
1ne Doctor spent some time feeling for n
racture or an induration and could discover
zone. but at last found that il WAS Il clean
'relk %! the leg. Just ~ a stick of candy
iiisht be broken in the middle and leave two
lean smooth surfaces. He then dressed the
ng and bound i tightly at the point whHr the
'reak os,prred, putting ON 'oot made OF
'astrhoard extending from the instep to "a
'aint below the knee. The BOOTLEG. that he cut
~ ne throw away In n corner. and never
houglIt moro about II, and yet il was this boot
~ that camc within hair of having him
anSed. and a. il was; had him sentenced to
he Dry Turtug;is for life.
Neither MUdl nor his wifc had the f,tiutost
!"t That Booth had A~s.iSsiuatrd the l'r-~i- |
Nnl, ana IN the remote pHrt of the cOuut !