The Washington times., 1895-04-21
Graphic Story of the AssaSsina-
ti0n BY a Washington man.
HIS COAT STAINED NTH BLOOD
William q. Flood, Of 937 C Street south-
west c!ambered Up to the Presidents
Box and Held the Wounded Kan in Hif
Arms-Fearsd That the Mob Would sss
the BIOodstains and Lynch Him.

Mr.. William H Flood who was in tts
theater at tie time Mr.. Lincoln was shot
on the night Of april Il, 1865, and who was
the first person out Of the audience to reach
his side after the shooting, now lives in this
city at No 937 c street southwest.
Wishing to ascertain from him the rea
facts in the matter, as he witnessed them
a representative OF The Times called at NJ
residence. kr. Floods story ran as foIIowz
At the time the President was shot I waI
in the United States Navy and was Actiar
ensign aud executive officer On board tha
steamship "Teaser." Capt Stiles Owen
was the commander in charge and the ship
was located at the Navy Yard on AprE
l4th.
On the afternoon OF that day Mr.. Lincoln.
accompanied by Mrs. Lincoln. Grove overto
the yard in a carriage and seut for me I
came out to the carriage and Alr. Lincoln
said the Secretary of War had informed him
that the ship Monitor was at the yard
and be wished TO see it. So We went around
and looked at the Monitor
Ii was not until We arrived there that any
one in the yard even suspected that the
President was anywhere IN the vicinity and
when they did discover il. a number OF
salutes from the guns were fired in shoDor.
BOOTHS LONG JUMP.
That evening Capt. Owens, who had been
over in the city during the day, came to the
ship and suggested that we go 70 the
theater that evening, as Laura Keene was
to play in Our American Cousins and
the President was to be there. We went to
the theater and secured seats in the
parqUette, or orchestra chairs The Presi-
dent occupied the second UOx up from the
orchestra aud second from the stage.
Just as the curtain fell on the first act
heard a shot and saw a man jump from
the Presidents box 10 the stage. As he
jumped his foot caught in the folds OF the
nag that draped the box and he fell sideways
on the stage. 1t vas quite long jump and
ne came very near falling back into the
orchestra. He got up and limped away
( across the stage, braudiShing a great long
knife in his right hand and shouted ''Sio
Semper Tyranris.'
In less time than it takes TO tell I was on
/ the stage. How / got there over the heads
OF that orchestra ! really don't remember.
Just as l reached the stage Mrs I5ccolu
looked out of the box
She was crying and ringing her hands
and said They have shot papa, VIII 10
Que Gomez" 1 answered that I would
come and imned ateIy climbed up TIE side
or the boxes to the Que the Presiden
occupied. I don't know how / got up
| there either, but i remember Just as my
! hands touched the railing OF the box a
young lady took hold OF them ard helped
me up.
The name of the young lady was Harris.
and / think she was daughter OF Senator
Harris
FEARED THE MOB.
The President was sitting in a large arm
chair, with his hands on the arms and his
head thrown forward Just as if he had
| fallen asleep. He was breathing. however,
and We at once laid him on tie floor of the
box. / looked tor the wound, Tut at fist
did not discover it,
Miss keene brought in a pitcher OF water
and 1 bathed his forehead with that so as
10 revive him. / tLen discovered the wound
in the back OF bis head where the ball had
entered and the 1iOOd ran out on my arm
and down the side OF my coat. Some army
officers brought in a stretchsr and he was
placed on that aud carried out.
/ then went TO the front of the box and
mOtioned for the audience to remain quiet
| Every ore was talking and there was a
| general uprOlr.
As soon as II ceased fOF minute told
them that the President was stlI alive, but
had been shot and was no doubt mortally
wounded. Capt. Owens and I then went
out 10 the front of the building and found
a platoon of police in the street.
The sidewalks were so crowded with
people that We had TO get ont in the
middle OF the road to get Down street.
We went to the National Hotel, arNi by
| the time We got there the mob vas so
dense we COGid get no farther, so a
couple Nf police took us through the hotel
to c street at the rear, and we got a
cab and were driven to the navy yard
I was SO bloody from the wound, my
right arm and hand being covered, that
it is a wonder I was not hanged hy that
mob. They were intensely excited at
the time, and it would have taken very
little to have driven them into a frenzy
The next day our ship vent down the
river TO head Booth Off and Gid not return
until after he was killed. 1 was then
sent for to go down and identify him.
/ recognized him very readily as he
jumped from the box as ]. Wilkes Booth
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