Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-05-30
N FORD'S THEATRE.
AN EYEWITNESS STORY OF THE AS
SASSlNATION OF LINCOLN.


~ 'hahSe from oihfhN To I"rfihle lrag
edy Booths Leap t" the stage A
Stage Carpenter. Interpretation of the
As-assin's Exclamation Escape.
Twenty one years ago occurred the great
est tragedy Of American history II was
the assassination Of President Lincoln in
F"rd's thtateT in this city The story
grows more Interesting as time goes on
In this letter wish To give yuu some curl
Gus gossip in regard Ia it, which yuU may
not find III yUur libraries Mr. Davis. who
has been a leading lawyer of Washington
since the days Of James BuchaHuun was
present in FOrds theatre the might that
Lincoln was shot He Chattrd with me
about the assassination the other might.
Said he Il had not intended To- 20 tu the
theatre, but saw II stated IN the Diapers
that both the president and Gru Grant
would he there, and went mere tu ~,.t.
Grant than anything else His fame at
this time was in every unr mouth. hut he
had not been much at Washington. and :
had not met him
TRANSITION FEpN COMEDY To TENDFDY.
The play WAS, yoU know. Our American
Cousin" and the house WAS crowded /
sat within five or six rows OF the front in
the pit, and Joe Stewart, the six foot 40
weight of man who attempted I" catch
the assassin, was immediately in front of
me. President Lincoln entered the the
atre with his party when Dundreary was
telling why dog wagS lis tail The audi
enCe greeted the president with cheers
and Clapping Of hands. and a. 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 it 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 n 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 LinCulu'S Eaud rest
ing on his knee. In the midst Of a scene Il
pistol shot rang out and scream from
Mrs. Lincoln drew my attention To IAo
president. | saw clouds Of smoke coming
out between the flags, and through this
saw the presidents head fall upon his
chest Then out of the smoke form
sprang down on the stage, hi- foot catching
in the flag rs he fell II was John Wilkes
Booth. Tall, thin black hair. and with
eyes which glittcred like those of wild
beast. his face was As white As chalk He
rose half upon his knees and waved a
sword-like dagger which can See glitter
ing before my eyes now heard him say
i'll tragic tones, Sic semper tyrannis, and
then he limped fast across the stage, go
ing behind the scenes
THE AUDIENCE WAS DUMRFOUNDED.
All this happened in an instant. and all
the time Mrs. Lincoln was screaming As
Booth rush from the stage he pushed
aside Laura krene. who was ready to en-
ter for her part and within half minute
he was in the alley and away The audi
ence was dumbfounded for 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 fuOtlights burned his
fingers, and when at last he Clamberei
up he was too late He was able to see
Booth galloping out of the alley. \ mo
lll0Ilb Ath1tL luC " Ilblt W dN Ill lut
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. | did not see Grant, for yuu 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 | 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 MCGlnniS
Among the men tried was a commits
sion merchant whom | had done some
business for He sent Il note for me To
come and defend him. An orderly brought
it. | refused, of course, though did not
believe him guilty. | would not have
taken his case for $1,000. The feeling was
such and the Opprohrium of having any
thing to do with the assassin was So great
that il would have been 10y no means
safe. Carp in Cleveland Leader.