The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1894-03-21
THE LINCOLN TRAGEDY.
Related by Harry Hawk. the Actor.
Washington Post.

the most shocking tragedy ever enact
ed within the walls Of an America
playhouse took place at Ford's theatre,
this city. The details Of the assassi-
nation of President Lincoln have been
described over and over, but there
seems always something new to learn,
and, now that years have done away
with the old, bitter feeling, we are
better able to get at the facts in the
case. Eye-witnesses who have for
years kept silent out Of respect to Ed
win Booth, have, since his death, felt
free to speak upon the subject, and the
result has been considerable aud in
teresting acquisition to the true story
Of the assassination.
With special interest in this connec'
tion is the testimony Of Mr.. Harry
Hawk, the sterling old commedian, at
present playing the comedy role Of
Gen. Septimus Cobb. the American
traveller, in Darkest Russia, at the
academy Of music. In those far-off
days Mr.. Hawk was even then lead
ing comedian, and he played the part
of Asa Trenchard in "Our American
Cousin" on that fatal night of Laura
Keene's benefit at the old Ford's the
atre. Moreover, it happened that he
was the only man on the stage at the
time the assassin 8 shot was fred, and
his account of the occurrence is prob
ably as interesting as any living man
could give to-day.
It is only since the death of his old
and esteemed friend, Edwin Booth,
that Mr.. Hawk would consent to saya
word on the subject. Moreover last
season an accident in Providence, R.
l., came near robbing the public Of his
testimony. There an elevator weigh
ing 1900 pounds fell on the comedian,
and it was only by miracle that he
escaped being crushed to death. Here
covered after long illness, however,
and this season has been playing with
all his old time spirit, while personally
he does not look the veteran he is.
To Post reporter last evening Mr..
Hawk said:
GIVE always been averse to referring
to Lincoln's assassination or John
Wilkes Booth on account Of my friend
ship for the late Edwin Booth, and
heretofore it has been solely on that
account that I've remained silent on
the subject.
THE matter was always tender
spot with Mr.. Booth, and all his
friends know it. I have often heard
him talk of his father, Junius Brutus
Booth, but I or any one, never heard
him mention the name Of his brother.
As I said, on account Of my esteem for
the eminent tragedian, I've up to now
refused to be interviewed on that sad
dest Of sensational affairs.
"As you are aware, it was the bene-
fit and last night Of Laura Keene, and
the house was crowded to the utmost
capacity, not only on account of the
popularity of the distinguished actress,
but from the fact of the President oc-
pying box.
''The applause was unusually en-
thusiastic, and every one, both in the
company and in the audience, was in
the happiest humor. At the time the
shot was fired I was on the stage
alone, and had just finished speaking
my lines.
'The report startled me somewhat,
but as the sound was muffled, |
thought it came from the property
room of the theatre, and did not real
ize at the moment that such terrible
crime had been committed.
"Before I could think of anythingI I
saw Booth rush through the Presi-
dents box and make a spring to the
stage. The spur on his boot caught
in the draperies which ornamented the
box, and, tripping him, threw him on
the stage. He Immediately regained
his feet, and brandishing huge dag
ger, a la Richard the Third, at the au-
dience, and crying Sic semper tyran-
MIS- he rushed across the stage.
"Now," said Mr.. Hawk, with
smile Of depreciation, "there has been
we'll meant attempt on the part of
you newspaper men to make hero
out Of me at this point. A Boston
paper stated the other day that | at
tempted to stop Booth and was badly
cut in the ARRAY. Now, I did nothing
of the kind. I have never played he
roic roles and for the sake Of historic
accuracy do not intend to be misrepre-
sented, even to my advantage. The
first thing I realized was that man
with an immense knife in his hand
was rushing directly toward me. 1
did not know what he had done, nor
did l stop to consider what his pur-
pose might be. [ simply did what
most other men would have done un-
der the circumstances-Ir ran.
IT made for my dressing-room,
which was up short fight Of stairs.
How I got there I don't know, but l
did, and very hurriedly. When re-
allied that the man was not after me |
went back on the stage. There l
learned that the President had been