The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1886-04-17

'''''si|thJ - 'iieJ l'o'SSu w 'iiS o'otS
I box" reserved for them. Little did
any one present dream that within the
hour enthusiasm would give place to
shrieks OF horror. 1t was 10 O'Clock
when Booth came upon the scene to
enact the last and greatest tragedy Of
the war. He had planned carefully,
but not correctly. a good horse
awaited him at the rear of the theatre,
on which he intended to ride into
friendly shelter among the hills of Mary
land. He made his way to the presi-
dents box--a double one in the sec
ond tier, at the left Of the stage. Tie
separating partition had been removed,
and both boxes thrown into one.
Booth entered the theatre nonchal-
antly, glanced at the stage with ap-
parent interest, then slowly worked his
way around into the outer passage
leading toward the box occupied by
the president. At the end of an inner
passage leading to the box door, one
of the presidents messengers" was
stationed to prevent unwelcome intru-
slons. Booth presented a card to him,
stating that Mr.. Lincoln had sent for
him, and was permitted to pass. After
gaining an entrance and closing the
hall door, he took a piece of board
prepared for the occasion and placed
one end Of it in an indentatlon in the
wall, about four feet from the floor,
and the other against the molding
panel few inches higher, making it
impossible for any one to enter from
without. The box had two doors. He
bored gimlet hole in the panel OF
one, roaming it out with his knife, SO
as to leave it little larger than buck
shot on the inside, while on the other
side 1t was big enough to give his eye
a wide range. Both doors had spring
locks. To secure against their being
locked he had loosened the screws
with which the bolts were fastened.
So deliberately had he planned that
the very seats in the box had been az
ranged to suit his purpose by an ac-
complete. Spangler, an attache of the
theatre, was suspected. The president
sat in the left hand corner of the box,
nearest the audience, in an easy arm
chair. Next him, on the right, sat
Mrs. Lincoln. a little distance to the
right of both Miss Harris was seated,
with Maj. .Rathbone at her left, and
little in the rear of Mrs. Lincoln, who,
intent on the play, was leaning forward,
with one hand resting on her husbands
knee. The president was leaning upon
one hand, and with the other was toy
ing with a portion of the drapery. His
face was partially turned to the audi
ence and wore pleasant smile.
The assassin swiftly entered the box
through the door at the right, and the
instant fired. The ball entered Just
behind the presidents left ear, and,
though not producing instantaneous
death, completely obliterated all con-
sciousness.
Maj Rathbone heard the report,
and an instant later saw the murderer,
about six feet from the president, and
grappled with him, but his grasp was
shaken off. Booth dropped his pistol
and drew long, thin, deadly-looking
knife, with which he wounded the
major. Then, touching his left hand
to the railing Of the box, he vaulted
over to the stage, eight or nine feet
below. In that descent an unlocked
for and curious thing happened, which
foiled all the plans of the assassin and
was the means of bringing him to bay
at last. Lincoln's box was wrapped
with the American flag, and Booth, iii
jumping, caught his spur in its folds,
tearing it down and spralnipg his ankle.
He crouched as he fell, falling upon
one knee, but soon Strengthened him
self and stalked Electrically across the
stage, brandshing his knife and shouted
the state motto of Virginia, Sic Sembcc
b2uuuiS afterward adding, "The
south is avenged !" He made his exit
on the opposite side of the stage, pass
ing Miss keene as he went out. A
man named Stewart, a tall lawyer OF
Washington, was the only person with
presence of mind enough to spring
upon the stage and followed him, and
he was too late.
1t had all been done SO quickly and
dramatically that many in the audience
were dazed and could not understand
that anything not part of the play
had happened. When, at last, the
awful truth was known to them there
ensued a scene, the like of which was
never known in a theatre before. Wo-
men shrieked, sobbed and tainted.
Men cursed and raved, or were dumb
with horror and amazement. Miss
keene stepped to the front and begged
the frightened and dismayed audience
to be calm. Then she entered the
presidents box with water and stimu-
lants. Medical aid was summoned and
came with flying feet, but came too
late. The murderer's bullet had done
its wicked work well. The president
hardly stirred in his chair, and never
spoke or showed any signs of con-
seriousness again.
They carried him Immediately to the
house of Mr.. Peterson, opposite the
theatre. and there, at 1872 the next
morning, the 18th of April, he died.