The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1895-07-03
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SAW LINCOLN SHOT.
One of the Audience who Witnessed the
Tragedy Thirty Years Ago.

One OF the Audience Who witnessed the
Tragedy Thirty Years Ago.
1t is 80 years since Lincoln died Of
the wounds received in the theater ON
the evening Of April ID at the hands of
Booth. And there now lives in this city
q gentleman who saw the whole scene
and was the first to reach the wounded
man in the prevailing panic. Mr.. Will
liam Flood is the gentleman s name, and
he gave the following graphic account,
which is taken down in his exact words:
''At the time the president was shot,"
said he in answer to a query, II was in
the United States navy and was acting
ensign and executive officer ON board the
steamship Captain Teazer. Silas Owen
was the commander, and the ship was
located at the navy yard ON April Ia.
On the afternoon of that day Mr. Lin
coin, accompanied by Mrs Lincoln,
drove over to the yard in carriage and
sent for me. l came out to the carriage,
and Mr.. Lincoln said the secretary of
war had informed him that the ship
Monitor was at the yard, and he wished
to see it. So we went around and looked
at the Monitor. 1t was not until we ar
rived there that any one in the yard even
suspected that the president was any
where in the vicinity, and when they
did discover it q number of salutes from
the guns were fred in his honor
"That evening Captain Owen, who
had been over in the city during the
day, came to the ship and suggested that
we go to the theater that evening, as
Laura Keene was to play Our American
Cousin, and the president was to be
there. We went to the theater and secured
seats in the parquet or orchestra chairs.
The president occupied the second box
up from the orchestra and second from
the stage. Just as the curtain fell ON the
first act l heard shot and saw man
jump from the presidents box to the
stage. AS he jumped his foot caught in
the folds of the flag that draped the
box, and he fell sideways on the stage.
It was quite good jump and he came
very near falling back into the orchestra.
He got up and limped away across the
stage, brandishing great long knife in
his right hand and shouted Sic semper
tyrannis.
"In less time than it takes to tell it l
was ON the stage. How got there over
the heads Of that orchestra really don t
remember Just as ! reached the stage
Mrs. Lincoln looked out of the box. She
was crying and wringing her hands and
said: They have shot papa Will no one
conner" / answered that would come
and Immediately climbed up the side of
the boxes to the one the president occu-
pied. don't know how got up there,
either, but just as my hands touched the
railing of the box a young lady took
hold of them and helped me up The
name of the young lady was Harris, and
think she was daughter of Senator
Harris
"The president was sitting in large
armchair, with his hands on his arms
and his head thrown forward, just as if
he had fallen asleep. He was breathing,
however, and we at once laid him on
the floor Of the box. / looked for the
wound, but at first did not discover it.
Miss Keene brought pitcher of water,
and bathed his forehead with that SC
as to revive him. 1 then discovered the
wound in the back Of his head. where
the ball had entered, and the blood ran
out ON my arm and down the side of my
coat. Some army officers brought in 9
stretcher, and he was placed ON that an6
carried out. / then went to the front Of
the box and motioned for the audience
to remain quiet. Every one was talking
and there was general uproar. AS soor
as it ceased for minute l told then
that the president was still alive, but
had been shot and was no doubt mortal
1y wounded. Captain Owens and ther
went out to 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 out il
the middle Of the road to get down the
street We went to the National hotel
and by the time we got there the mol
was so dense we could get no farther, st
a couple of police took us through tn,
hotel to @ street, at the rear, and WI
= got a cab and were driven to the navy
yard was so bloody from the wound
my right hand and arm being covered
that it is wonder / was not hanged b,
that mob They were intensely excitet
at the time, and it would have takel
very little to have driven them into
frenzy.
"The next day our ship went dow
the river to head Booth off, and did no
return until after he was killed. wa
then sent for to go down and identif,
him. recognized him very readily as h
jumped from the box as j. Wilke
Booth. - Washington Cor. Philadel
phia Times.