Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-11-14
rmE AcToR AsaAasuN.
lateresaiag l0caaeass Delsssue a The
killing of President l.aaeoua.
RECALLED BY WILLIAM wrrHKRs WHO LED
THE ORCHESTRA THE MIGHT or THE rRAo-


RECALLED By WILLIAM wrrHKRs, WHO LED
tn. oncHEsrRA THE NIGHT or THE rRAo-
KpY.
From the Louisville oourierJournsi
The leader OF orchestra with the Adah Rich
mond buriesQue company, now PLAYING
at the New Grand theater, n Mr.. William
Withers- Mr.. withen 10 q figure In national
history, for he drecled the music at Ford's
opera house, In Washington, on the night tina.
President Lincoln was assassinated, and was
the FIRST 20 give 10 the authorities the name az
the murderer.
The particulars of Mr. witherx' connection
and interesting. 81 was, " said he, "the regular
leader NJ Fordis opera house At the close OF the
into band. OF which Tad Lincoln shs frers.
dents youngest son, was the drummer. I had
free access to the White House, and ire
thus came into contac. With the PresId saa
often. His excelency had not attended
70 the nsS Ss des He u.ea psEr
modestiy and unobserved usually, but when
he was seen great applause greeted him. Until
edged these denominations, so modest was he.
On the night In question IL was known that he
S wSuld occupy box, and IN answer 70 the vo,
times. For years everything that happened ON
thar fearful night haunted me like a blood
brance Is as vivid as Il it had occurred but .
short time ago.
81 had composed q piece OF music entitled,
Honor 20 Our Soldiers, and had rehearsed Q
chorus TO sing IL before the President between
the acts on the night he was shot Laura keene
the first act, but was put Oh from act to ACT
until became exasperated. I had gone 20 so
much trouble TO compose the music, get the
was bound Il should be sung ~ possible. 50
after the number had been played preceding
the last act, took my way behind the curtain
ID Mr. riChf ha
manager.
"Mr: Wright was standing in very narrow
entrance al his post and just behind him was Q
box with a lid, containing the governor q
valves which, when turned, controlled the
ernor every light In the house could 6e entirely
extinguished. l. was angry, and when saw
spangler, a scene-shfter, standing between me
ana the stage manager, with his hand on the
governor, 1 said: Look out spangler. / want
to talk to Mr.. Wright He asked: What do
remain where he was / answered: .It's none at
your business. What do you mean? Now YOU
Just move on He went very reluctantly and
and sat upon It. Mr.. Wright said he would ar.
range matters satisfactorily TO me, and as was
returning to my post through the back en-
blow for the scenes I'm the last act 10 be opened
The whistle called Spangler TO his duty aud
tol-shot knew there was no pistoI-shot used
In the play, and stopped very suddenly RIG mt
In the stage entrance from the outside. The
stage entrance, and hesitated before going
down. As stood there, L heard q heavy Jump
upon the stage and in q second some one en-
tered the narrow stage entrance from the direc-
ton OF the stage. All this occurred within a
few seconds, and gave me little time for thought
or action.
"The man advanced upon me through the
narrow entrance, and by the dim light he
looked frightful. His hands were clinched,
and his arms extended toward me as IL TO do
me injury. In one hand cleaned a long knife
HIS face was pale and haggard, and his hair on
ends. he uttered an imprecation aud made a
savage thrust at me with the knife. felt IL cut
into my clothing, and thought IL had entered
my stomach. He then struck me a powerful
blow on the back Of the neck with sthe butt OF
the knife and fell headlong and dazed TO the
floor. He ran over me, and he pulled the
door open saw a horses head and the figure OF
peanut ohm, boy employed about the place,
holding the bride. The door WAS slammed
and that was the last I saw of Wilkes Booth.
had recognized him when he first met me I'm
the passage-way, for i knew him well. Two
other men in hot pursuit ran over me where I
| lay, and did not get up, 30 badly Was stunned
| and scared, until the police came and took me
away. When Booth ran by the governor he
! dashed his hand on the box, thinking IL was
open. He evidently meant 10 turn out the gas.
but as had closed the box he did not have
time TO open it, and went on without efiecting
anything In that way. Booth had evidently
drawn Sprangler, who was a weak fellow, into
his plot, and his position at the governor was a
preconcerted arrangement
well, L was finally taken before Mayor
Waiiach and about twenty other gentlemen,
and released after being closely questioned
had been cut clear TO the skin, but WAS un burt
except a small wound In my neck, from which
the blood trickled down and made IL appear at
first was cut I'm the abdomen. I stood tremb-
ling like an aspen leaf while they were remov-
Ing my clothing, and fully expected TO be told
that was cut In two"