, 1886-05-08
IN FORD'S THEATRE.
AN EYEWITNESS STORY OF THE AS
sAsSlNATloN OF LINCOLN.

A Change from Comedy to Terrible Trag-
edy Booths Leap to tho stage-A
Stage Carpenters Interpretation of the
Assassin's NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
Twenty-one years ago occurred the great
est tragedy OF American history. IL was
the assassination Of President Lincoln in
Ford's theater in this city. The story
grows more interesting as time goes on.
In this letter | wish to give you some curl
GUS gossip in regard to 1t, which you may
not find in your libraries. Mr.. Davis, who
has been a leading lawyer Of Washington
since the days Of James Buchanan, was
present in Ford's theatre the night that
Lincoln was shot. He chatted with me
about the assassination the other night.
Said he; IL had not intended to go TO the
theatre, but | saw 1t stated in the papers
that both the president and Gen. Grant
would be there, and | went more to see
Grant than anything else. His fame at
this lime was in every ones mouth, but he
had not been much at Washington, and !
had not met him.
TRANSITION FROM COMEDY TO TRAGEDY.
Tho play was, you know, our American
Cousin" and the house was crowded. l
sat within five or six rows of the front in
hA1 ~ AAaA NV AA1 - AtgAH NV
weight Of a man who attempted to catch
the assassin, was Immediately in front Of
me. President Lincoln entered the the
atre with his party when Dundreary was
telling why a dog ways its tail. The Il
ence greeted the president with cheers
and ~clapping OF hands, and as he reached
the door of his private box he turned and
bowed to the audience. He then followed
Mrs. Lincoln into the box, and took his
seat at the front Of 1t by her side. The in
interior OF the box was lined with crimson
velvet paper, and the people within it
shown out plainly from this as a back
ground. The front Of the box was hung
with curtains made of American flags,
and between those flags the president
looked out.
"The comedy went on until the third
act, and the presidents party seemed to
enjoy themselves. Lincoln was sitting
with his left arm on the balustrade OF the
box, and with Mrs. Lincoln's land rest
ing on his knee. In the midst of n scene a
pistol shot ran out and a scream from
Mrs. Lincoln drew my attention TO the
president. | saw clouds Of smoke coming
out between the flags, and through his |
saw the presidents head fall upon his
chest. Then out Of the smoke a form
sprang down on the stage, his foot catching
in the flag as he fell. 1t was John Wilkes
Booth. Tall, thin black hair, and with
eyes which g~littered like those of a wild
beast, his face was as white as chalk. He
rose half Upon his knees and waved a
sword-like dagger which l can see glitter
ing before my eyes now. heard him say
in tragic tones, Sic semper tyrannis,' and
then he limped fast across the stage, go
ing behind the scenes.
THE AUDIENCE WAS DUMBFoUNDED.
All this happened in an instant, and all
the time Mrs. Lincoln was screaming. AS
Booth rush from the stage he pushed
aside Laura Keene, who was ready to en-
ter for her part, and within half a minute
he was in the alley and away. The audi
ence was dumbfounded for a moment.
Then every one sprang to his feet, but my
friend Joe Stewart was the only one who
had attempted to seize Booth. He rushed
through the orchestra, crushing violins
and trombones in his efforts to get upon
the stage, but the f%ootlights burned his
fingers, and when at last he clambered
up he was too late. He was able to see
Booth galloping out of the alley. A mo-
ment later the whole audience was in the
street.
Lincoln was carried across to the Peter
son house, in which he died the next
morning. | do not think Mrs. Lincoln
ever recovered from the shock Of that
night. l did not see Grant, for you know
he was prevented from attending the
theatre by his baggage being left at the
depot, instead Of being brought TO the
hotel, as he had directed. On the trial OF
the conspirators I remember that a stage
shifter was among the witnesses, who, on
being asked as to what Booth had said as
he went across the stage, replied; He said;
| am sick; send for McGinnis.'
Among the men tried was a commits
sion merchant whom 1 had lone some
business for. He sent a note for me to
come and defend him. An orderly brought
1t. l refused, Of course, though l did not
believe hin guilty. l would not nave
taken his case for $4,000. The feeling was
such and the opprobrium of having any
thing to do with the assassin was so great
that it would have been by nc means
safe. "@"Carp" In Cleveland Leader.