The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1890-01-01
1he As.asslnntion of Lincoln.

/ rum Nit ilioAblN VI isluNOlu ~
/ Nicolay and Hay, now drawing 10 II
4 close IN The Century, we quote the fol-
/ lowing: No one, not even the comedi-
an on the stage, could ever remember
+ the last words OF the piece that were
uttered that night-the last Abraham
Lincoln heard upon earth The whole
/ performance remains in the memory of
those who heard IL a vague phantasma-
g0ria, the actors the thinnest of spec
tiers The awful tragedy in the box
makes everything else seem pale and
unreal Here were five human beings
in a narrow space-the greatest man OF
his time, in the glory of the most stu
4 pendous success i'm our history, the
idolZed chief OF nation already
mighty, with illimitable vistas of
+ grandeur TO come; his beloved wife,
proud and happy; a pair OF betrothed
lovers, with all the promise of felicity
that youth, social position, and wealth
could give them; and this young actor,
handsome As Endymion upon Latmos,
the pet Of his little world. The glitter
of fame, happiness, and ease was upon
the entire group, but in an instant
everything was To be changed with the
binding swiftness of enchantment.
Quick death was to come on the cen
trail figure of that company-the cen
trail figure, we believe, of the great and
good men of the century. Over all the
rest the blacklist fates lowered menac-
ingly-fates from which mother
might pray that kindly death would
save her children in their infancy
One was to wander with the stain OF
murder on his soul, with the curses OF
a world upon his name, with price
set upon his head, in frightful physical
pain, till he died IA dogs death in a
burning barn; the stricken wife was to
pass the rest of her days in melancholy
and madness; of those two young lovers,
one was To Stay the other, and then end
his life raving maniac.
The murderer seemed TO himself Ia
be taking part in play. The fumes OF
brandy and partisan hate had foI
weeks kept his brain i'm Il morbid state
He felt a ii he were playing Brutus of
the boards; he posed rs If expecting
applause. Holding a pistol in one
hand and knife in the other, he open
ed the box door, put the pistol to the
Presidents head, and fired; dropping
the weapon, he took the knife in hi,
right hand, and when Major Rathbune
spraug To seize him he struck savagely
at him. Major Rathbone received the
blow ON his left arm, suffering a wide
and deep wound Booth, Rushing for
/. ward, then placed his LETT hand on the
railing of the box and yaultcd light,
over 10 the stage 1t was a high leap
but nothing for such trained athlete
) He was in the habit OF introducing
what actors call sensational leaps IN
his plays. In Macbeth where he met
the weird sisters, he leaped from a rocI
q twelve feet high. He would have gol
safely away but for his spur catching in
! the folds OF the Union flag with which
p the 'front.' OF the box was draped. He
fell on the stage, the torn flag trailing
0n his spur, but instantly rose rs if he
had received no hurt, though i'm FACE
the fail had broken his leg, turned e
the audience, brandishing his dripping
knife and shouting the state motto O
Virginia, Sic Semper Tyrannis,' anC
fled rapidly across the stage and out o
sight. Major Rathbone had shouted
, stop him! The cry went out, He ha:
shot the President From the audi
ence, at first stupid with surprise ant
= afterwards wild with excitement anC
horror, two or three men jumped upol
the stage in pursuit of the flying assas
, sin; but he ran through the familiar
passages, leaped upon his horse, which
was in waiting in the alley beh ind, re
warded with kick and curse the call
| boy who had held him, and rode rapid
I ly away in the light of the just riser
moon.
The President scarcely moved; hi.
head dropped forward slightly his eye,
{ closed Major Rathbone, ut first no
nj Ia
To the door of the box To summon aid
He found it barred and on the outsd,
some one was beating and clamorinl
! for entrance He opened the door;
young officer named Crawford entered
one or two army surgeons soon follow
ed, who hastily examined the wound
1t was at once seen to be mortal Il
was afterwards aScertained that :
large derringer bullet had entered the
back of the head on the left side, and
passing through the brain, had lodged
just behind the left eye By direction
; of Rathbone and Crawford, the Presi
= dent wGs carried to "A house across the
street and laid upon bed i'm IA small
rooI1 at the rear of the hall, on the
ground floor. Mrs. Lincoln followed
l half distracted, tenderlv cared for by
Miss Harris. Rathbone, exhausted by
loss of blood, tainted, and was carried
home. Messengers were sent for the
members of the Cabinet, for the Sur
, geon-G General, for DR.. Stone. the Presi
{ dents family physicians; crowd of PEG
pie rushed instinctively to the White
House, and, bursting through. the
doors, shouted the dreadful news tc
Robert Lincoln and Major Hay, who sal
gossiping in an upper room. They ran
down stairs Finding carriage at the
door, they entered it to go to Tenth
street. As they were driving away. a
friend came up and told them that Mr.
Seward and most of the Cabinet had
been murdered The news was all Sc
) improbable that they could not helr
hoping lit was all untrue But when
{ they got to Tenth street and found
every thoroughfare blocked by the
swiftly gathering thousands, agitatcd
by tumultuOus excitement, they were
prepared for the worst In few min.
utes all who. had been sent for, and
many others, were gathered in the lit
tie chamber where the Chief OF the
State lay in his agony His son was
I met at the door by DR.. Stone, who with