Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-04-15
TwENTY-kOUR YEARS AGO.
To-day the Anniversary of Abraham
Lincoln's Death.
SOME OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES CONNECTED wTTH
HIS ASSASSINATION RECALLED By MEN WHO
WITNESSED THE OCCURRENCE AND WHO RE-
MEMBER THE INCIDENTS.

Twenty-four years ago last night Abraham
Lincoln was assassinated in Ford's Theater on
10th street, by John Wilkes Booth, and to-day
is the anniversary of his death. The wild ex-
element that pervaded the city on the occa-
sion is well remembered by persons in middle
life, but generation has sprung up since that
time who know of the event only by
hearssy. The murderous plot was not
confined alone to President Lincoln.
but a desperate attempt was made upon the
life of Secretary Seward, who lived in the house
on Lafayette square, which is now being fitted
up for Secretary Blaine's occupancy. and it was
intended that Vice-President johnson, who was
boarding at the Kirkwood house, then situated
at the corner of 18th street and Pennsylvania
avenue, on the site of the present Pslais Royal,
should also be victim In Mr. Johnson's case
the plan absolutely failed, but the injuries in
fiicted upon Secretary Seward by Payne we'll
nigh proved fatal.
Il reached the theater," said an old citizen
to STAR reporter this morning, lust as the
wounded President was being taken from the
theater to the house across the street. where he
lay without evlnclng any signs of consciousness
until his pulse ceased to beat on the following
morning. The crowd was great, but space for
those bearing their precious burden was quickly
MADE, and soon company of soldiers came
and cleared the square from L to F
the Gordon of sentries established without pass
from the officer i'll command. All night the
crowds stood both on + and on streets its
composition constantly changing as some would
go to their homes and others would arrive, hav-
ing been reused from their beds by the start
hing intelligence that the President had been
shot"
The assassin was known and the direction of
his flight was soon ascertained, but there was a
good deal OF delay i'll arranging an organized
pursuit. so he had some hours the start Had
he and Herold who was his companion in
hight, been captured that night, both would
have had short shrift and a speedy death.
DooRKEEPER BUCKINGHAM's MEMORY.
"You were keeping door at the theater on
that fatal night. were you not?" said STAR
reporter recently to Mr.. John Buckingham.
now the doorkeeper at Albaugh's, when the
conversation had turned upon the tragedy latter
speaking of Edwin Booths oath never to play
III Washington again.
Il was, indeed" was the reply, land don't
want ever to go through such an experience
again. Booth came up to the door and looked
into the house two or three times during the
evening, before he went upstairs to 20 around
TO the Presidents box. He made some pleas
ant remark to me, and wanted L should leave
the door and go into the adjoining saloon with
HIM and take a drink, but declined to do SO.
He had the run of the house and could, ofcourse.
go where he pleased. l never once thought
OF MS having any particular motive in his fire.
quent visits to the door and glances about the
house. 1t was late when the President arrived,
and there had begun to be fear that after all
the preparations that had been made, such as
decorating the boxes, &c. he would not put in
an appearance. He did come, though, and
remember he had the same kindly smile,
though tlnged with sadness, that / had always
noticed when he came to the theater. l was
not looking at the stage when the shot was
fired, but the moment heard the sound of the
pistol turned into the house just in time to see
Booth jump from the box and rush back of the
scenes. No one realized at first what had hap
pened, until there was one piercing shrek
from Mrs. Lincoln. and then the cry from some
one, He shot the President told of the terri
BILE crime that had been committed Harry
Hawk and Laura keene were on the stage, for
you remember it was Our American Cousin
that was being played, and they ap-
peared perfectly paralyZed with terror.
Billy Withers, who was leading the orchestra.
and big Joe Stuart were the first to get upon
the stage and make rush for Booth and the
former had a slit or two cut in his coat by the
knife which Booth had in his hand. Neither
of them could stop him, however, and he got
away. You know all the rest l had light
overcoat that l had put under the rack where
L kept my checks, and forgot all about that
until a month afterward, when L found it just
where l had left it,"