The Portland daily press., 1894-03-08
THE LOYAL LEGION.
General Charles Hamlin'S Account
of LincOln's Assassination.

Interesting Exercises at the Quarterly
Meeting of the Maine Commandery-
Large Attendance of Prominent
Veterans.
The quarterly meeting of the Maine
Commandery of the Loyal Legion was
held at the Falmouth hotel Iastsevening,
Commander George L. Beal presiding
At the business meeting before the
banquet, the following new members of
the first class were elected: Paymaster
Elipk alet Rowell of Hallowell; Signal
Officer Sylvester Baron Partridge of
Swallow, China, chief signal officer OF
the 25th corps in 1885, Executive Officer
John bennett of York; Captain George
Carey of Houlton of the First Maine
Cavalry; Lieutenant John Henry Clifford
of Fort Preble.
Recorder Henry Suffrage reported
large number of additions to the library.
At the dinner the following were
present: H. G. Vaughan, George E.
Wingate, B. F. Harris, Wainwright Cush-
ing, J.H. Knight, Ia. Titcomb, George
F. French, George E. Brown. A. L.
Turner, Hebron Wayhew, S. H. Allen,
II. S. Melcher, Frederick Robbie, Edward
M. Rand. Major McGinness, U.S.A.,
Seldom Conner, George L. Beal VIM. II.
Fem, Henry S. Burrage. Robert M.
Rogers, Jno. II. Clifford, S. G. Gordon,
George Varney, John Marshall Brown,
Sidney W. Thaxter, Charles o. Hunt, W.
". Whitmarsh. G. FL. Manning, JIG.
RundIett. Thomas 2. Beals, George W.
Verr1li, Charles W. Roberts. Charles
Walker, H. r. VIRGIN, Fl. Sawyer.
Grace was asked by Rev. DR.. Fem, who
was present as guest.
The great after dinner feature of a
Loyal Legion meeting is the war paper,
usually presented by some mem Der who
was an actor in the events described. At
the last meeting in Decem Der, General
Joshua L. Cham berlain read a paper on
the conflict at White Oak Road Last
evening
The Darkest Hour
was the subject of the paper, which had
been written by General Charles Ham
lin of Bangor. The writer being unable
to be present, the paper was read by
Major H.S Melcher. 1t related to per-
sonal experiences of General Hamlin at
the time of the assassination of Presi-
dent Lincoln. Before the reading of the
paper the Commandery Joined with
Companion. George F. French in singing
Marching Through Georgia"
General Hamlin's paper began with an
interesting reference to superstitions
about unlucky events and days. Three
times he had attempted to see the play,
"Our American Cousins" and each time
he had failed. One of these failures was
SO memorable as to justify recording it.
General Hamlin was at that time, in
1865, an officer with General Howe, who
had charge of the artillery about Wash
| ington.
On the evening in question General
Hamlin went to Ford's theatre accom-
panied by his wife and sister. They
arrived early before the President
arrived. The orchestra was playing
patriotic airs, blue uniforms and bright
buttors flashed besides the silks and
laces of the ladies, and there was great
joy pictured on every countenance.
The first act had begun when the sud-
den striking up of Hail to the Chief"
announced to the audience that Lincoln
had arrived. Loud cheers greeted the
great President as he moved quietly to
his box.
1t was a happy occasion, and President
Lincoln seemed to take great pleasure in
observing the pleasure of the audience.
After one or more scenes the actors had
left the stage, and pieces of scenery were
moved from each side of the stage to
form the walls of room. The scene shift
ing was bungling, and the delay was
long Suddenly a pistol shot was heard,
but General Hamlin thinks it is part of
the next act. Still no actor appears. A
murmur of curiosity and disappointment
runs through the audience. Time
enough thenEelapses..to arouse the curious
and Impatient who rise in their places
just as man is seen standing on the
outer edge of the Presidents box. He
suddenly jumps down upon the stage
landing after flight Of nearly fifteen
feet, in crouched position, about six or
eight feet from the side of the tier of
| boxes. He rises and with his face
| to the audience he walks leisurely to the
| CeubIo VI OuO SGdSo, dSll uc UoIOuSOu W
| the troupe, and was entering upon his
part. AS he faces the audience in the
| centre of the stage, about ten or twelve
| feet from the footlights we get a clear
view of him. He is dressed in faultless
black. the opening of his vest disclosing
white shirt front. His face has
A Death1y Pallor,
surmounted by waving black hair, and
his eyes are glittering bright, almost
emitting fire. Hating in the centre OF
the stage, he Kisses out these words
"Sic semper tyrannis," raising dagger
in his right hand above his head with
the flashing. blade pointing down.
The audience did not then understand
what was going on, even as the assassin
walked Ieisurely off the stage. General
Hamlin was aroused by his sister, who
said: ,
but it is not possible. He is not
down on the bill, was the reply.
Then some one shouted, 1.-The Presi-
dent is shot"
Several persons started across the
stage, among them a naval officer named
| EIood who cai1ed the rail of the PreSl-