Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-03-28
JOHN WILKES BOOTH.
now HE CROSSED THE POTOMAC, AND WHERE he
SPENT THE WEEK FOLLOWING LNooLN's AS
BAssrNATIoN

send contributes an article to the April num-
Der of The Century accounting for week
in the history of Wilkes Booths fight after
his assassination of President Lincoln, unao.
counted for in that history as hitherto related.
Lincoln was shot at about 10 o'clock Friday
night, April IA, 1865. Near midnight he and
David E. Herold called at Surratt's tavern,
about ten miles southeast of Washington
Saturday morning they were at DIR. Samuel
A. Mudds, twenty miles farther on, where
Booths broken ankle was set and orutch
was made for him that evening he was at
the house of Samuel Cox, prosperous south
ern sympathizer, living about fifteen miles
southwest The last witness in Maryland
ended here. The government took up the
fugitive next at tho crossing OF the Kappa.
hammock river in Virginia ON the oath of
April. What occurred to Booth in the inter
val Mr.. Townsend tells on the authority Of
one Thomas A. Jones, a foster brother Of
Samuel Cox, who always exerted a strong in.
huenoe over him. Jones was of course at
this time q strong sympathizer with the
southern cause, which he had aided through
out the war in his own small way. He is at
present in business at North Baltimore, and
keeps coal, wood and fuel yard. Among
the services which Jones rendered the con-
tederacy was the carrying of persons and
mails across the Potomac, a service involving
some danger, and frequently requiring cool
ness and cunning. His usefulness in this di-
rection was increased by the fact that after
being arrested in 1861 and released in March,
1862, he was not regarded with any suspicion
by the federal officers. He was aware of the
scheme which existed, late in the war period,
for kidnapping President Lincoln, though it
was not designed that he should take any
part in it, The batoau which was to carry
Lincoln across the river was kept in readi-
ness from the time the scheme YVES conceived
until the end Of the war. Jones heard Of
the murder of Lincoln on Saturday after
noon, April 10. The next morning Jones
was summoned to CoY's residence, the young
white man who bore the message intmating
mysteriously that there were very remarka-
BILE visitors nt Cox's the night before. Jones
responded to the summons, and being taken
aside by Cox was informed that on the previ-
Gus night the assassin of President Lincoln
had come to the house in company with an
other person, guided by negro, and had ask
ed for assistance to cross the Potomac river,
'and, " said Cox, "you will have to get him
across" He was directed to the place where
the fugitives were hidden among some short
pines near by and there he found them. As
he advanced into the pines he came upon a
saddlod mare rowing around in a little cleared
space, and tied her. He then gave a signal,
in his hand, came out. Herold conducted
him to Booth, who was lying on the ground
wrapped up in blankets, with his foot sup
ported and bandaged, and crutch beside him.
His rumpled dress looked respectable for that
country, aud Jones says it was Of black cloth.
His face was pale at all times. and never
ceased to be 80 during the several days that
Jones saw him. He was in great pain from
his broken ankle, which had suffered a frac-
ture Of one of the two bones in the leg. down
close to the foot. 1t would not have given
him any very great pain but for the exertion
of his escape, which irritated it by scrAping
the ends of the broken bone perhaps in the
flesh it was now highly irritated, and which
ever way the man moved he expressed by
twitch or n groRn the pain he felt
Booth was very solicitous to know what
mankind thought Of his crime, which be
fully admitted. He was very anxious to get
to Virginia, where he could have medical at
tendance, and he declared that he would new
er be taken alive. In q day or two Jones
went up to Port Tobacco to hear about the
murder and while there heard a detective
say he would guarantee 800, 600 to the man
who could tell where Booth was, but it new
er occurred to him for a moment that it would
be good thing for him to have that money.
He comforted Booth in his concealment as he
could, visited him daily and carried him food
With the fugitives in their concealment were
two horses on which they had rode. Within
a day or two after entering the pines Booth
heard band Of cavalry going along the road
at no great distance and the neighing of their
horses. He said to Herold "lf we can hear
those horses they can certainly hear the
neighing of ours, which are uneasy from
want of food and stablhg.' Jones subse-
quently said the horses ought to be put out
of the way, and they were accordingly taken
into a swamp and shot. No incidents broke
the mOuotony for days, though soldiers rode
hither and thithcr examining tho marshes,
but not penetrating the pines. Six days end
nights the tugitives remained in concealment,
and on Friday night an opportunity present
ed itself for escape. The night was pitch
dark and Jones had found that the soldiers
would be out of the way. He had but one
| little skill in which to make the ferriage of
the river. Going to Booth and Herold he
| said ''Now friends, this is your only chance.
| The night is pitch dark and my boat is close
| by. will get you some supper at my house,
and send you of if | can" With considera-
ble difficulty and with sighs and pain Booth
was lifted on to JOness horse and Herold was
put at the bride Jones led the way, prog
ress being made in silence, except as Jones
| occasionally gave whistle as signal. They
| stopped near Jones's house. Booth, with a
sudden longing, exclaimed, "Oh, can't go
| in the house Just moment and get a little
of your warm coffee 2" Tears came into
| Joness eyes as he denied the request, be-
cause, as he said, there were negroes in the
| house who would betray them. Jones went
| in ate his supper without haste, Joined the
| fugitives and proceeded to where his boat
was. Booth was carried TO the boat and en-
barked with Herold. Both were heavily
armed. Jones gave Booth the directions as
| to the course to be steered, and told him to
row up Machodoc creek to the house of a
Mrs. Quesenberry, who would care for them
| if his name were used. They were together
| at the waterside for some time, and at last
| Booth said to Jones with emotion, God
bless you, my dear friend, for all you have
| done for me-" The last words Jones thinks
Booth said were, "Good-by, old fellow r.
There was a moments sound of oars on the
water and the fugitives were gone. They
| did not succeed in crossing the river that Fri
day night, but struck the residence of Coi.
John j. Hughes, near Nanjemoy Stores in
Maryland, west of Pope's creek about eight
miles Booth hid in the marsh near by, and
Herold procured food for him at the house.
On Sunday morning, the ninth day after the
assassination, they reached Mrs Quesenber.
ry's, and left their boat there. They went
TO the house of man named Bryan, on the
next farm to Mrs. Quesenberry's, and Bryan
took them to the summer house Of DIR. Rich
ard Stewart, two or three miles back in the
country. DIR. Stewart was much annoyed al
learning that the assassins of President Lin,
coin were on his premises, and did not invite
them into the house, but sent them to one Of
the out-buildings. Booth was so chagrined
that he took a leaf from his diary, and with Q
lead pencil wrote letter to DIR. Stewart say
ing he would not take hospitality extended il
that way without paying for it, and incloset
three dollars. From Dr. Stewards he hat
himself conveyed to Port Conway. Hi
probably spent Sunday in Bryan's house
got to DR.. Stewards house on Monday, ant
the same day reached the Rappahannook riv
or, and went across with Capt. Jett. Thi
crossing was made on Monday, April "a
That afternoon he was lodged at Garrett
farm, three miles back. He spent the mex
day at this house, and slept in the barn. BE
ing informed that large body of fedora
cavalry had gone up the road this Tuesday
he was much distressed. On Wednesda.
morning, soon after midnight, the cavalr,
returned, guided by Capt. Jett The bar
was set afre and Booth shot soon after
O'Clock in the morning. He died little afte
sunrise on Wednesday.