The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1890-02-06
LINcoLN,s MURDER.
Graphic Recital Of the Assassination
in the Theatre.

From the "History of Lincoln" by
Nicolay and Hay, in the Century, we
quote the following:
"Holding pistol in one hand and
knife in the other, he 81. Wilkes BOOTH
opened the box door, put the pistol to
the Presidents head, and fired dropping
the weapon, he took the knife in his right
hand, and when Major Rathbonc sprang
to seize him he struck savagely at him.
Major Rathbonc received the blow on his
left arm, suffering 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
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 rock twelve feet high. He would have
got safcir away but for his spur catching
in the folds of the Union flag with which
the front of tho box was draped. He
fell on the stage, the torn flag trailing 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 audi
cnce, brandishing his dripping knife, and
shouting the State motto of Virginia, Sic
Semper Tyrannis, and fled rapidly across
the Stage and out of sight. Major Rath-
bone had shouted, Stop himp The cry
went out, HE has shot the President"
From the audience, at first stupid with
surprise and afterwards wild with excite
ment and horror, two or three men jump
cd on the stage in pursuit of the flying
assassin; but he ran through the familiar
passages, leapcd upon his horse, which
was in waiting in the alley behind, re-
warded with a kick and curse the call
boy who had held him, and rode
rapidly away in the light of the just-risen
moon.
'The President scarcely moved; his
head dropped forward slightly, his eyes
closed. Colonel Rathbone, at first not
regarding his own gricvous hurt, rushed
to the door of the box to summon aid.
He found it barred, and on the outside
some one was beating and clamoring for
entrance. He opened the door; young
officer named Crawford entered; one or
two army surgeons soon followed, who
hastily examined the wound. 1t was at
once seen to be mortal. 1t was after
wards 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 Craw-
ford, the President was carried to a house
across the street and laid upon bed in
small room at the rear of the hall, on the
ground floor. Mrs. Lincoln followed,
hnlf distracted, tenderly 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 Surgeon
General, for DR.. Stone, the Presidents
family physician; a crowd of people
rushed instinctively to the White House
and, bursting through the doors, shouted
the terrible news to Robert Lincoln and
Major Hay, who sat gossiping in an upper
room. They ran downstairs. Finding
carriage,at the door, they entered it to 60
to Tenth street. As they were driving
away, a friend came up and told them
that Mr.. Seward and most IF the Cabinet
mad hcen murdered. The news WAS ali
so improbable that they could not help
hoping it was all untrue. But when they
got to Tenth street and found every
thoroughfare -blockeG- by the -swiftl:t-
gathering thousands, agitated by tumul-
t IS Excitement, they were prepared for
The Worst. In few minutes all who
h. d>b zen sent for, and many others, were
gatheredin the little chamber, where the
Chief Of the State lay in his agony. His
son was met at the door by Dir. Stone,
who with grave tenderness informed him
that there was no hope. After a natural
outburst of grief young Lincoln devoted
himself the rest of the night to soothing
and comforting his mother.
"The President had been shot few
minutes past ten. The wound would
have brought instant death to most men,
but his vital tenacity was extraordinary.
He was, of course, unconscious from the
first moment, but he breathed with slow
and regular respiration throughout the
night. As the dawn came, and the lamp
light grew pale in the fresher beams, his
pulse began to fail; but his face even then
was scarcely more haggard than these OF
the sorrowing group of statesmen and
generals around him. His automatic
moaning, which had continued through
the night, ceased a look of unspeakable
peace came upon his worn features. AT
twenty-five minutes after seven he died.
Stanton broke the silence by saying,
Now he belongs to the ages DR.. Cur.
ley kneeled by the bedside and prayed
fervently. The widow came in from the
adjoining room, supported by her son,
and cast herself with loud ontcry on the
dead body" =