Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1895-10-10
FORD'S.
FRIDAY.
Orchestra.
Section 3.
Seat 173.

1t is the coupon of the ticket Capt
Owen used at FOrd's theater on the
night that Lincoln was murdered, says
was then the commanding officer of the
United States ship Primrose and he and
his masters mate, William H. Flood
had gone to the theater especially be-
cause 1t was understood that the Presi-
dent would be present. and Owen had
taken seats that would be directly in
the line Of vision with the presidential
box. He cherishes the memento warm
ly, and frequently talks to his friends
about that awful and impressive Incl
dent. He Is a trustee of Round Lake,
and in one of his recent official visits
here he gave an interesting reminis-
cence of it.
Flood" said he was the first man
to reach the presidents side and was
the second. The firing of the shot
hardly gave us any idea of the awful
deed that 1t indicated Booth clambered
down the side of the box and crossed
the stage and even then we could COM
prehend nothing of the awful nature of
the catastrophe until Mrs. Lincoln
leaned over the edge Of the box, wiring
ing her hands and. with face Of terror
and amazement that will never be
erased from my memory called aloud:
They have shot pa l remember the
homely phrasing SO we'll.
That was enough. Flood was out of
his seat as ii he had been shot from
mortar. He jumped over the head of
the leader and climbed into the box be-
fore the rest Of the audience seemed
even yet to comprehend it. To shoot
the president seemed, even in all the
horrors Of the long war, to be some
thing too incredible. l followed Flood
and was second at the side of the dying
man. Flood found him still sitting in
his chair but with his head resting on
his breast and 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.
1t was not blood. He showed it to me
and we knew that the dreadful deed
was complete. 1t was the pure white
matter Of the brain.
Il see stated that they show people
the dress Of Laura Keene at the tomb.
all dabbled with the presidents blood
If this Is SO It Is mistake, for Mrs.
Keene was not at the presidents side
that night. to my knowledge. The
blood was shed most likely by Booths
knife, for the assassin made stroke at
her with it. And that calls for another
1t has frequently been told
how Booth strobe majestically and
across the stage and. with a
flourish of dagger, cried. Sic semper
tyrannis! AS matter of fact he did
not stride majestically at all. He
pulled one foot after the other very
slowly. for he had fallen as he jumped,
his foot being caught in the folds Of the
American flag which enveloped the
lower edge of the stage. and sprained
his ankle and his stride was most
painful process. At the side of the
stage just between the curtain, which
was down, and the edge of the prosoen-
IuIl DOA, StOOu MIS-. Nccucs WHO uuu
been there some time. She was not in
front receiving the applause of recall.
rs has also been stated, nor was Harry
Hawk with her. Booth dragged him |
self up to her and she seemed to COM
,rehend ahead of the rest of us what |
lad happened. for she put her hands out |
oward him and said: What have yov
lone. John" He then made thrust at |
Ter with his dagger and seemed to rip |
he sleeve of her dress, and he prob |
IDLY wounded her in the arm. for it was
/ savage blow. 1t was then that he |
Uttered the cry. Sic semper tyrannis'-
hat incredible parody and mockery of |
he noble Romans utterance.
THE memory Of that great event."
aid the captain. will remain wildly
With me forever. as it remains now,
ver thirty years after it happened"