Morris tribune., 1883-07-28
ASSASSINATION OF LINCOLN.
RecoIIections of Son Of Ex-Pfesf-
dent HamliR.

RecoIIections of q Son Of Ell Pfesf-
dent HamliR.
Correspondence OF the Cincinnati Enquirer.
While in Name last week / fell in
with Gov. Hamlin, as the ex-vice presi-
dent and senator is generally called
there. One Of his sons is in partner
ship with Eugene Hale, the youngest
senator from Maine, OF the town of Els
worth, about 60 miles south of Bangor.
From what ! could understand the Gov
ernof's sofis gre lniich respected, though
they take but a little part in managing
politics. The elder son entered the
war, and, after serving while in the
field, became assistant to the Chief Of
Artillery Of the Army of the Potomac,
and he gave me an Interesting descrip-
ton of being present in Ford'e Theatre
the night Mr.. Lincoln was murdered.
"f had never been able to see the ,play
called the "AmefiCan Cousin" said Gen.
Hamlin, "though had several times
made engagements to 60 and see 1t, and
have never seen it fully performed, so
that have sort of superstition about
the piece. That night that Mr.. Lincoln
was murdered | observed that the
American Cousin" was to be played,
and took my sister, who is now dis
| eased, and another lady to the theater.
We had seats far down to the front,
| only few steps from the stage MT.
Lincoln came in and proceeded to his
box, which was the upper one on the
right, but he was not visible to the au-
| J;o-oa ha ho q nIQpQ hack
in the box, from which he could the
better See the stage. Indeed, from
| where / sat below could see no person
in the boxes. Not long before Mr.. Lin
coin was shot there was change OF
| scenes during an act, and it seemed to
| ME that it was the 10 'gest time required
to change scenes that | ever obs erVed
| in theatre. It Was 60 noticeably long
| that [ afterWard wondered w connec-
| ton with the murder if there might not
have bsen some resolution or perpiexlty
on that stage. Not long after there was
| a sound somewhat like the slapping of
your hands together. sharp, yet not very
loud, not loud enough to make me turn
my head and wonder what could have
made it, and whether it was pistol.
/ The next thing 1 saw was Booth get
| ting out Of that box. had seen Booth
| play on two occasions and knew his lace
| perfectly we'll. There never was a more
| deliberate thing than his stepping out
OH the sill of that box and leaping. from
it. He made as pretty jump as ever
saw. If he had practiced that leap 1t
| could hardly have been more elegant.
He alighted in cronching position, like
one who had brought his body down to
break the shock of the fall. While 1t
was a good jump in height it was not
dangerous one at all, perhaps from
where he leaped to the stage to l2feet.
| His spur tore flag, and that seemed to
bring him somehow, 30 that he alighted
with his face turned more to the audi
ence than wonld have been the case
had be merely hopped directly down
ward. His face was marble pale. In
his right hand he held knife, and in
theatrical way he held it upward and
distinctly said the words: Sic Semper
| Tvrannis' Then in very stacy stride,
still pale, serious and intense, he went
right across the stage and ont. Many
people at this stood UP, and
| near me was a naval othcer
whose name 1 still remember, who,
| hearing some on exclaim. "The pres
ident has been shotr' lifted himself. sail
| or fashion, up to the woodwork and
| decorationa OF the private box above,
| and he came down the same Way in the
laudience.
"Ofcourse. the audience was dismissed
and as / was going up the street few
| minutes afterward l met friend in the
service who said to me: ''This is terri
Bile news, Mr.. Stanton and (here I for
got the officer mentioned by Gen, Ham,
| i'm Mr.. Seward we fear have been NOR
tally wounded" At this went imme-
diately to my office and took the respon-
sibiity as chief of staff of the artillery OF
ordering out the field batteries we had
in the forts around Washington. l
feared the next thing would be some
kind of rebel rising in Washington. and
summoned the artillery to come down
| at once and had them put in positions to
| fire upon the town and clear the main
| avenues if there was to be any more
violence" r.