The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1891-06-05

ern branch of the Potomac, leading to
the insane asylum. The scntries shout
ed: 'Who goes there?" but he went ca
reering past them, calling in answer:
81 am Booth, and have killed the
president
The sentries thought that some Off
Ger, drunk and disorderly, was off on a
madcap carousal, and did not even fire at
the fleeing man. They did not for mo-
ment believe that anyone had killed the
president, or, if such Il thing had occurred,
they could not think that an assassin
would so announce himself. But, ten
minutes later, an orderly arrived and
asked if anyone had passed the bridge.
When informed of the episode, the or.
derby said: THE president has been
shot, Secretary Seward has been fatally
assaulted But, the man who went by
here must have been an accomplice.
who wants to mislcad US. 1t could not
have been Booth
Word was sent back to guard the long
bridge and the aqueduct bridge at
Georgetown, and look out for Booth.
But it was too late; the assassin had es.
capped from the city. Ten miles dowr
the river a boatman was stationed, who
ferrlcd Booth over to the other shore
and he was gone, apparently safe from
pursuit. The remainder of the story.
the search, day and night, the discovery,
capture and death of the first rericide
of this country, everyone knows. | use
the word regicide advisedly, for, though
president of the republic, Abraham
Lincoln was the uncrowned king of q
limited monarchy.
For twenty-five years the old stable
was an object of curiosity on account Of
its historic association with that ire
mendous tragedy and national affection.
The shot of the assassin brought moro
woe upon the unfortunate section OF
the country which had been in rebel
lion than the loud mouthed columbiads
which had so long beseiged the confed.
crate capital. 1t deprived the south Of
her best friend in an emergency when
his wisdom, conservatism, charity and
patriotism were most needed. They
used to point out the very stall from
which the horse was led, to go forth
upon that successful mission for the es.
cape of the greatest of modern crimi.
nails. For many years the colored man
used to point out the route over which
he led the animal, and he told, circum.
stantially, the occurrences of the even.
ing. Twice, while he stood in front OF
the theater, Booth went into a saloon
thrives, and drank with his friends. He
told stories, seemed hilarious and enter.
tanning; yet, all the while was nerving
himself to commit the crime.
Old Ford's theater has long been oc.
cupied by the offices of the surgeon gen.
eral, and the records of the field and
general hospitals are there kept and
daily examined for evidences of wound
and disease, to prove that claimants are
entitled to pensions for services rem.
dered during the war which so tragic
ally closed. Now the old stable is nc
more. Upon its site there will be
erected a ten-story building, which VII
adorn the avenue, and furnish motor
to hundreds of street cars. All is util-
lldI IttIi. llllc CIiiii5CS ali JlllllpS, OD-
litcrates landmarks and mergcs places
and events into oblivion. 1t might be
well for us all if in some manner there
might be forever blotted from memory
and official records all trace OF the oc-
currence of that Good Friday night,
which threw pail over an entire ma.
ton. Out of the darkness, however, came
the light of matchless eloquence. To an
excited throng in New York city Con-
gresham James 4. Garfield exclaimed:
God reigns; and the government at
still lives" Poor Garfield!
Fifteen years later he fell in the prime
of life, and at the height of fame, in
similar manner, by the hand of an OBJ
scure man of unsound mind. One les
son alone is learned from these Incl.
dents: No man can kill president and
escape the hand of justice.
SMITH d. Fry.