The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-07-12

1t is the coupon Of the ticket which Can't.
owen used at Fords Theater on the night
that Lincoln was murdered. The Captain
was then the commanding officer of the
United states ship Primrose. and he and
ms masters mate, William r. Flood. had
was understood that the President would
be present, and Owen had taken seats that
would be directly in the line of vision with
mento warmly, and frequently talks to his
friends about that awful and impressive
incident: He is a trustee Of Round Lake.
ana In one or his recent official visits here
ne ave an interesting reminiscence of it.
.flood.o said he was the first man to
second. The firing of the shot hardly gave
us any idea of the awful deed that had been
committed. Booth clambered down the side
then we could comprehend nothing of the
aWful nature OF the catastrophe, until Mrs.
Lincoln leaned over the edge OF the box.
wringing her hands. and with a face of ter,
ror and amazement that will never be erased
from my memory. called aloud, They have
shot pa l remember the homely phrasing
so well.
THAT was enough. Flood was out of his
seat as IL he had been shot from a mortar.
climbed into the box before the rest of the
audience seemed even yet TO comprehend il.
To shoot the President seemed. even i'm ali
thing too Incredible. Followed Flood, and
was second at the side of the dying man.
Flood found him still sitting in his chair.
1et "ttAt us AA1a1 III lis HDU
he gently lowered him to the floor. There
was no sign of any wound. and no flow OF
blood, and we believed that there was no
disaster. until while Flood held his head in
his lap he felt the soft trickling of matter.
IT was not blood. He showed ii to me, and
we knew that the dreadful deed was COM
brain.
Il see it stated that they show people the
dress OF Laura Keene at the tomb. all dab
bled with the Presidents blood. If THIS IL
so. IL is a mistake, for Mrs. Keene was not
at the Presidents side tina night. to my
knowledge. The blood was shed most like
a stroke at her with it. And that calls
for another correction. It has been fire.
ouently told how Booth strobe majestically
and tragically across the stage. and with
Tyrannis.' AS a matter of fact he did
not stride majestically at all. He pulled
one foot after the other very slowly. for he
caught in the folds OF the American flag
which enveloped the lower edge of the
stage. and sprained his ankle. and his
side of the stage, just between the curtain.
which was down., and the edge OF the
proscenium box. stood Mrs. Keene. who
had been there some time. She was not
call. as has also been stated. nor was
Harry Hawk with her. Booth dragged
himself up to her and she seemed to COM
prehend ahead of the rest of US what had
happened. for she put her hands out toward
him, and said, What have you done,
Johng He then made a thrust at her
sleeve Of her dress. and he probably
wounded her in the arm, for ii was a saw
age blow. II was then that he uttered the
cry, sic Semper Tyrannis'-that incredible
parody and mockery OF the noble Romans
utterance.
"The memory Of that great event." said
the captain. will remain vivi.iy with me
forever, as it remains now, over thirty
years after IL happened"