Montgomery County sentinel., 1890-02-14
MisCellaMenmS.
Linc0ln's Murder.

From the "listory Of Lincoln" by
Nicolay and Hay, in the Century, we
quote the following:
"Holding a pistol in one hand and II
knife in the other, he (J Wilkes Booth)
opened ,he box door, put the pistol to
the Presidents head. and fired drop
ping the weapon, he took the knife in
his right hand, and when Major Rath-
bone sprang to seize him he struck saw
agely at him. Major Rathbone re-
ceived the blow on his left arm suffer
ing wide and deep wound Booth,
rushing forward, then placed his left
hand on the railing of the box and
vaulted lightly over to the stage 1t
was high leap. but nothing to such a
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 lcaped from
a rock twelve feet high. He would have
got safely away but for his spur catch
ing in the folds of the Union flag with
which the front of the box was draped.
He fell on the stage, the torn flag trail
ing on his spur, but instantly rose as if
he had received no hurt, though in fact
the fall had broken his leg, turned to
the audience, brandishing his dripping
knife, and shouting the State motto of
Virginia, Sic Semper Tyrannis, and
fed rapidly across the stage and out of
sight. Major Rathbone had shouted,
Stop him 7 The cry went out, He has
shot the President From the audience,
at first stupid with surprise and after
wards wild with excitement and horror,
two or three mon jumped on the stage
in pursuit of the flying assassin; but he
ran through the familiar passages, leap
ed upon his horse, which was in wait
ing in the alley behind, rewarded with
a kick and curse tho call-boy who had
held him, and rode rapidly away in the
light of tho just-risen moon.
"The President scarcely moved his
head dropped forward slightly, his eyes
closed Major Rathbone, at first not
regarding his own grevious hurt, rushed
to the door of the box to summon aid.
He found it barred, and on the outside
some one was beating ahd clamoring for
entrance lie opened the door; young
officer named Crawford entered one or
two army surgeons soon followed, who
hastily examined the wound. IL was
at once seen to be mortal 1t was after
wards ascertaned 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 President was carried to
house across the street and laid upon
bed in small room at the rear of the
hall, on the ground floor Mrs. Lincoln
followed, half distracted, tendcrly cared
for by Miss Harriss. Rathbone, ex-
hausted by loss of blood. tainted, and
was carrird home. Messengers we're
sent for the members Of the Cabinet, for
the Surgeon-G General, for DR.. Stone. the
Presidents family physician; crowd
of people rushed instinctivcly to the
White House and, bursting through the
doors, shouted the terrible news to
Robert Lincoln and Major Hay, who
sat gossipiug in an upper room. They
ran downstairs Finding q carriage at
the door, they entered it to go to Tenth
street. AS they we're driving away, a
friend came up aud told them that Mr..
Seward and most Of the cabinet had
been murdered The news was all SO
improbable that they could not help
hoping it was all untrue. But when
they got to Tenth street and found every
thoroughfare blocked by the swiftly
gathering thousands, agitated by tumul-
tuous excitement, they were prepared
for the worst. In few minutes oil
who had been sent for, and many others
we're gathered in the little chamber,
where the Chief of the State lay in hi
agony. His son was met at the doc
by DR.. Stone, who with grave tender
ness informed him that there was n
hope After natural outburst of grie
young Lincoln devoted himself the res
Of the night to soothing and comforting
his mother
"The President had been shot fe'
minutes past ten. The wound woul
have brought instant death to most men
but his vital tenacity was extraordinary
He was, Of course, unconscious from th