The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1882-03-25
A WILD RIDE FoR LIFE.
"Reminiscences OF tho Flight OF John
wilkes Booth from Washington.

wilkes Booth from Washington.
Henry Y. O'CoHnor, IN Boston Trarsier.
On a cool, cloudy day in March, '6o,
drove with wagon and team of horses
! over the ground covered by Booth in
hiswild fight from Washington the night
he aSsassinated Lincoln. followed the
exact route Boothpursued, for distance
of nearly forty miles, to the house Of
DIR. Mudd, nearthe village of Beantown,
Charles county, Maryland, where he
had his broken ankle SIT. After this he
and his companion, Harold, rode seven
miles farther, where they struck the ferry
on the Potomac to Virginia, crossed the
river, and penetrated as far as Garratt S
farm, where the one was shot and killed
and the other made prisoner.
The object OF my mission was an in
ierview with DR. Mudd, one of the al
legged conspirators in the murder of Lin
coin. He had returned 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 any ever remember
and yet, practically, Mudd had no more
10 do with the assassination of Lincoln
than the child unborn. But in those
days (IS6s) fierce and vindictive wave
OF passion rolled over the country, and
victims were demanded to appease
the cry for blood. Any one against
whom the least suspicion existed was
ruihlessly seized and hurried off TO the
old Capitol Prison in Washington.
Booths original intention was 20 alb
due, President Lincoln, and to carry
him down 20 Virginia, over precisely
the same route that he took when he
attempted to make his escape, and de-
liver him over 10 the rebels.
For six months before the fatal Good
Friday evening, April -, 1868, Booth
had frequently travelled over this route
between Washington and Virginia via
Maryland, and had made himself ac-
quainied with every house, every tree,
and every turn on the road. He visited
the houses OF the people, paid attention
10 the girls, stood unlimited whisky TO
the men. and made himself generally
popular. All this time he was prep1r-
ing for the abduction of Lincoln, and
i, is understood by those who know the
facts OF the case best that the idea Of as
saSSination never came into his head,
and was never limited at until the sur
a A h.s n.
before the awful crime was committed.
Among those whose acquaintance he
cultivated was DIR. Mudd, but 10 none
with whom he sough; TO ingraiia,e him
self did he breathe the purpose he had
in view. He pretended 10 be very fond
OF hunting and fowling. and as
Charles county, Maryland, is famed for
its wild game and sportsmen, no suspi-
cion OF his motives was ever entertained.
There was a numerous Catholic popula-
ton in the county, and Booth was on
the best terms with Father Flanagan,
parish priest Of his congregation. AT
a place called by two letters, I. b., was
a tavern where Booth was we'll known,
and where hundreds of dollars were
spent by him on drinks for the rustic
frequentcrs.
At the moment when Booth shot Lin
coin, Spangler. the stage carpenter OF
Ford's Theatre, was standing in the lane
back Of the rear entrance TO the stage
holding Booths horse, fine, we'll.
groomed blooded bay. II took less than
three minutes from the time Booth jump
ed on the stage from the President
box, after doing the fatal deed, until he
was mounted on his horse and breaking
way down the cobble.paved lane with
the speed Of the wind, the sparks flying
from his horses hoofs as they struck the
uneven paving stone. From the lane
he turned into +. street, continued along
to -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 o
Pennsylvania avenue. Here he gave
his horse full rein, for he had straight
and level course before him, as far rs
the bridge leading across the east branch
Of the Potomac into Maryland. AT the
Marine Hospital, Herold, mounted or
a horse, was waiting to receive him, and
here the course Of the narrative has tC
be checked for momentary digression
During the way, and for while after
its close, military sentinels were posted
at both ends Of the bridge that crosses
the Anacostian or east branch Of th,
Potomac from the District Of Columbi;
to Maryland. These sentinels sharply
challenged and inquired the business o.
every one crossing the bridge. To ge
over this difficulty il was arranged be
tween Booth and Harold that the lattel
should stay in Union City, on the Mary
land side, until night, and then abou
10 o'clock, ride down to and cross th'
bridge, answering the challenge Of th'
sentry Of "Who goes there 2" by reply
ing, "A messenger going for a doctor.
This answer was, Of course, bound tC
pass him over. On returning, and af
ter meeting Booth near the Marin'
Hospital, Harold was to ride back ahead
and after answering the sentry's chal
lenge again of "Who goes there p b.
saying, "The messenger who went 70
the DOCTOR" Booth vas TO ride up
and to the challenge Of "Who goe
there 2" answer, "The DOCTOR"