News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1889-03-14

repneu clearly, who wishes much
surrender" And Baker heard I'll
assassin say to Harold "Leave m,
will YOU? Go! I don't wish you I
stay"
Harold raped on the door as soon {
this permission was given, and sait
LET me out 1 know nothing of thl
man in here"
Bring out your arms, and you ca
come, " replied Baker.
"I have no arms"
"You have" insisted the officer
"You brought carbine and piste
across the river. Bring them out.
Captain, interrupted Booth calmly
"the arms are mine, and I shall kee
them"
Harold was a coward at heart, and h
fairly prayed to be let out. When tn
door was opened, he put out his hand
at command, was pulled out. by Lieu
tenant Baker and turned over to
! guard. Then the officer turned his at
1 tentfons to Booth again. " You, too
had better come out and surrender" b
said.
A gleam of hope came to the murder
en- Tell me who you are and what yol
want of me" he called eagerly. sI
may be 1 am being taken by m,
| friends. "
ut makes no difference who we are
We have fifty well armed men arounC
this barn and you cannot escape"
There was momentary pause, anC
then Booth said, despondently, "Cap
tain, this is q hard case, 1 swear! 1 an
lame. Give me a chance. Draw III
your men twenty yards from the door
and will come out and fight the whole
command"
1--WE are here not to fight" replied
Baker, ''but to take you. You are now
free to surrender.
"Give me little time to consider, ,
urged Booth.
'Very well; you can have two min.
utes."
Booth was quiet until the time had
nearly elapsed. Then he said entreat-
ingly: Captain, [ believe you to be a
brave and honorable man. I have had
half dozen opportunities to shoot you,
and have bead drawn on you now,
but l do not wish to do it. Withdraw
your men from the door and [ will
not be taken alive. 'Your time is up, -
was the grim reply. eve shall wait
no longer. We shall fire the barn"
The theatrical instinct was still strong
in the murderer. In n stacy tone he
exclaimed: "Well, my brave boys, YOU
can prepare q stretcher for me then. -
And after slight pause the listening
officer heard him mutter: Gone more
stain on the glorious old banner"
Colonel Conger ignited a match on
his side of the barn, and lighted the
corn leaves that protruded through n
crack. AS they famed up Lieutenant
Baker swung open the door and looked
i'll. Booth seemed to be leaning against
the NOV, but was crouched as though
in the act of springing forward His
crutches were under his arms and his
carbine in his hands. His appearance
indicated that he intended to Jump to-
ward the fire and shoot the man who
had lighted it. But the sudden glare
blinded him. He hesitnted. Then
forward he caught at an old
ia Bile as 1T was about to tip over upon
He quickly saw the 'futility of this,
and dropping one crutch he limped
with the other toward the door. At
about the center of the barn he stopped
and drew himself up to his full height.
The leg fractured in his jump to the
to the stage after the assassination of
the President was forgotten, and Booth
stood before his solitary watcher erect
and defiant. His hat was off and his
dark hair pushed back from his high,
white forehead. He held his carbine in
one hand and revolver in the other.
In his belt was another pistol and a
bowie knife. His lips were compressed,
his features fierce and his full dark eyes
were rolling and glittering with excite
ment. The flames swept up to the
roof, rolled across and to the floor below.
He was picture of Apollo in a frame
of fire. He stood under an arch of
flame, leaping, rolling and kissing, as
in mockery of his misery.
His only hope now was to make dash
for the door and run the gauntlet of the
Gordon of soldiers. Suddenly he drop
ped his remaining crutch, threw down
the carbine and sprang forward. Then
sounded the pistol of Boston Corbett,
the man President Lincoln had pardon
ed when sentenced to be shot for
remissness in guard duty, and Booth fell
forward ON his face. Lieutenant Baker
sprang upon him and caught the nerve
less arms. 1t was unnecessary. The
shot had paralyzed him below the wound,
and all save the fertile brain and fiutter-
ering heart and lungs were already
dead The assassin was carried from
the barn and laid under an apple tree
out of reach of the flames. Presently
he opened his eyes and appeared to rea-
lie his condition. In painful whisper,
he said:
Tell mother. Tell mother"
Then he became unconscious again,
The heat of the burning barn grew
intolerable under the tree, and he was
removed fo the piazza. A cloth wet with
brandy and water was placed between his
lips, and at length he revived again
His eyes looked with dumb appeal into
the faces of those about me. ooh! kill
me; kill me quick" he whispered bit
terly.
Another lapse into unconsciousmess,
and it seemed impossible that he could
revive again, but, just before sunrise,
there was last brighenting of the stun
ned brain. AS he revived he put out
his tongue, and Lieutenant Baker,
thinking he wanted to know if there was
blood in his mouth, told him there was
none.
'Tel mother 1 die for my country, u
Booth gasped to the officer. II did what
L thought was best.
Baker lifted one of the nerveless
hands. 1t fell back by his side again.
"Useless, useless, murmurcd Booth.
These were the last words.