The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1890-01-23
rur AssAss1NArIoN OF LINCoIN.


iian on the stage, could ever remember
the last words of the piece that was ut
Tered that night-the last Abraham Lin
cold heard upon earth. The whole per-
Torrance remains in the memory OF
those who heard it vague phantasma-
goria, the actors the thinest of specters.
The awful tragedy in the box makes
everything else seem pale and unreal.
Here were five human beings in mar
row space-the greatest man OF his time
in the glory of the most stupendous sue
cess in our history, the Idolized chief ri
nation already mighty, with illimita
be vistas of grandeur to come; his be-
loved 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
nlindIng swiftness of enchantment.
Quick death was to come on the centraI
figure of that company-the central fig
ure we believe, of the great and good
men of the century. Over all the rest
the blacklist fates lowered .nenacingly-
rates from which a mother might pray
that kindly death would save her child
rem in their infancy. One was to wan
der with the stain OF murder on his
,oul. with the curses of a world upor
his name, with a price set upon his
mead, ir frightful physical pain, till h.
lied a dogs death in burning barn
the stricken wife was to pass the rest OF
or days in melancholy and madness
It those two young lovers, one was t.
.lay the other, and then end his life 9
raving maniac.
"The murderer seemed to himself tt
be taking part in play. The fumes o
brandy and partisan hate had for week
kept his brain in a morbid state. H.
cit as if he were playing Brutus off th,
boards; he posed, expecting applause
Holding a pistol in one hand and knit
IN the other, he opened the box door
Jut the pistol to the Presidents heat
and fired; dropping the weapon, he took
{ ,e knife in his right hand, and wheI
Majpr Rithbone sprang to seize him ht
struck s,vagely at him. Major Rath'
Done received the blow on his left arm
suffering a wide and deep wound
Booth, rushing forward, then placed hi
hand on the railing of the box anc
vaulted lightly over to the stage. 1t wa
high leap, but nothing to such :
trained athlete. He was in the habit o.
nitro iucing what actors call sensations
leaps in his plays. In Macbeth, wher'
le met the wIerd sisters, he leaped from
rock twelve feet high. He would bav'
got safely away but for his spur catch
ing in the folds of the Union flag which
mich the front of the box was draped
de fell on the stage, the torn flag trail
ng on his spur, but instantly arose as i
le had received no hurt, though in fac
he fall had broken his leg, turned to tn
audience, brandishing his dripping knif'
md shouting the State motto of VIr
i Linia, Sic Semper TyrannIs,' and fieC
-apidly across the stage and out Of sight
Major Rathbone had shouted, 'SLol
umr The CRY went out, He has sho
he President From the audience, a
tirst stupid with surprise and atterw I'd
wi d with excitement and horror, Nv
or three men jumped upon the stage II
pursuit of the flying ass 4ssln; but h
ran through the familiar passages
,eaped upon his horse, which was il
waiting IN the slley behind, rewarded
with ok and curse the boy who ha'
held i'm, and rode rapidly away in tn
light of the just risen moon.
The President scarcely moved; hi
mead dropped forward slightly and hi
ewes closed. Colonel Rathbone, at frs
not regarding his own grievous hurt
rushed to the door of the box to sum
mon aid. He found il barred and OF
the outside some one was beating ant
clamoring for entrance. He opened thu
door; young officer named Crawford
entered; one or two army surgeons sooI
followed, who hastily examined tn
| wound, 1t was at once seen to be NOR
tai. 1t was afterward ascertained tina
A large derringer bullet and entered tn
back of the head on the left side and
passing through the brain had lodge,
lust behind the left eye. By direction
| If RAthbone and Crawford the Presiden
was carried to house across the stree
and laid upon bed in small room a
the rear of the hall. on the ground floor
Mrs. Lincoln followed, half distracted
enderly cared for by Miss Harris
R4thbone, exhausted by loss of blood
tainted and was carried home. Mes
.engers were sent for the members o
he cabinet, for the encouragement. TO
Or. Stone the Presidents family physi
ctan: a crowd of people rushed instinct
lively to the White House and, bursting
through the doors. shouted the dreadful
,ews to Robert Lincoln and Major Hay
who sat gossiping in an upper room
they ran down stairs. Finding a cal
rage at the door they entered 1t to go t
Tentn street. As they were driyin
away, a friend came up and told Their
that Mr., Seward and most of the cabine
mad been murdered. The news was a
, 80 probable that they could not help bu
hope it was all untrue, But when the
got to Tenth street and found the thor
oughfsre blocked by the swiftly gather
ing thousands, agitated by tumuItuou
J excitement, they were prepared for tn
worst. In few minutes all who ha
been sent for, and many others, wer
gathered in the little chamber where tn
Chief If the State lay in his agony. Hi
son was met at the door by DR.. Stone
: who with grave tenderness informe
him that there was no hope. After
natural outburst of grief young Lincol
devoted himself the rest Of the night
} soothing and comforting his mother.
THE President had been shot a fe'
minutes past ten. The wound woul
have brought instant death to most me
nut his vital tenaciiy was extraordinary
He was. Of course, unconscious from tn
first moment; but he breathed wit
slow and regular respiration Throughout
the night, AS the dawn came. and tn
lamplight grew pale in the fresher beam
ais pulse began to fail; but his face eve
hen was scarcely more haggard tina
those of the Borrowing group of states
men and generals around him. His au
tomato moaning. which had continue
through the night, ceased, look of un
speakable peace came upon his wor
features. At twenty-five minutes pas
seven he died. Stanton broke tn
silence by saying, Now he belongs I
he ages. DR.. Gurley kneeled by tn
bedside and prayed fervently. Tn
widow came in from the adjoining roor
supported by her son and cast hersel
with loud cutlery on the dead body"
BABY's BATH.
Tho haDniest mart of the daV,a nro