The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1883-07-19
THE ASSASSINATION OF LINCOLN
Recollec tions of a son of Ex-Nice Presiden
Bamlin.

Recollec tions of a son of Ex-Vice President
Bamlin.
While in Maine last week / fell in with
Governor Hamlin, as the ex-vice president
and senator is called there. One OF his sons
is in partnership with Eugene Hale, the
youngest senator from Maine, at the town
of Ellsworth, about fifty miles from Ban
eor. From what | could understand the
governors sons are much respected, though
thew take but little part in managing pol
itics. The eldest son entered the war, and
after serving awhile in the held, became
assistant to the chief of artillery OF the ar
nv of Potomac, and he gave me an inter
esting description OF being present In
Ford's theater the night MIR. Lincoln was
murdered.
az had never been able to see the play
called The American cousin, said Gen
eral Hamlin. "though had several times
made engagements to go and see it, and l
have never yet seen it fully performed, Sc
| that have sort OF superstition about the
piece. The night that Mr.. Lincoln was
murdered | observed that The American
| Cousin was to be played, and took my sis
| ter. who is now deceased, and another lady
| to the theatre. We had seats far down to
the front, only few steps from the stage
Mr.. Lincoln came in and proceeded to his
box, which was the upper one on the llgnt
| but he was not visible TO the audience
where he sat, having place back In the
OOA, lron which he coula INC 9etCE Sc .ni
stage, Indeed, from where l sat below
could see no person in the boxes. Not long
before Mr.. Lincoln was shot there was
change OF scenes during an Get, ana II
seemed to me that 1t WAS the longest time
required to change scenes that l had ever
observed in a theater. 1t was SO notceaoly
long that afterwards wondered in connec.
ton with the murder II there might NOT
have been some irresolution or perplexity
on that stage. Not long after there was q
sound somewhat like the slapping OF your
hands together, sharp, yet not very loud,
but loud enough to make me turn my
head and wonder what could have made IL,
and whether it was a pistol. 49,.
1.-THE next thing saw was Booth getting
out Of that box. 1 had seen Booth piay. on
two occasions, and knew his fa,e perfectly
we'll, There never was q more deliberate
thing than his stepping out on the sill OF that
box and leaping from 1t. He made as pretty
a iump as / ever saw. IL he had prac-
ticed that leap IL could hardly have been
more elegant. He sligbted in q crouching
position, like one who had brought bis
body down to break the shock OF the fall
While il was q good jump IN height, u was
not dangerous Out ~ MI
where be leaped to the stage TO II feet.
His spur tore flaL, and that seemed 70
bring him around somehow 80 that be
slighted with his face turned more 70 the
audience than would have been the case
had he merely hoped directly downward.
His tace was marble pale. In bis right
hand he held q knife, and, in theatre
bal way, he stretched II upward and dis
tfpctly said the words: Sic semper tyran
nis (" Then, in q very stagy stride. still
pan, serious and intense, be went right
acrcss the stage and out. Many people 1t
this sAood ND, and near me was naval OH
Ger vhbse name / still remember, who,
hearing some one eIclaim, the president
has beeb, shotl lifted himself. sailor-iashion
no 20 tia wood work decorations OF the
private bof below, and eli nbed into the
box above Ind be came down the same
way In the audience.
6Of coursa the audience was dismissed
and 81 | was koing up the street lev 10.
utss Afterwards I met friend In the servict
Who said 70 he. This IL terrible news
Mr. Stanton and HERE / forgot the offlcel
mentioned bv Gederal Hamlin) Mr.. Seward
ws fear have beprf MORALLY wourded. Al
tbis I went imm4iistsly 70 my Office and
took the rpspousi1 Iify a. chief II stan o
he srtIllery Of Offering out the 6sld bat
| te-ies ne hsd in ~ forts around Washine
ton. I feared tha DeIt thing would b
some kind Of reid rising In Washington
and summoned tbt artillery 70 come dow
ct once, and had tlsm put In positions =
frs upon the tOvb and clear the mail
s-euues ffhere vsA 20 be any more Tloi
enc. ~ rCorrespoDdtnt Cncinnsh In
quirsr.