The Irish standard., 1897-07-31
SAVED BY BRAVE MAJOR ROBINSON
WHEN ABRAHAM LINCOLN WAS SHOT
BY BOOTH.
an INTENSELY INTERESTING STORY,
FOR THIRTY YEARS TIE NARRATOR
AVOIDED REPORTERS.

A correspondent Of the Boston Adj
Vertiser writing from Pomona, CAL,
says:
Major G. f. Robinson, the only per-
son on tile Pacific coast who has a vote
OF thanks from congress for a merit)r
GUS act, one of the very few persons
who has a gold medal given by congress
for bravery, and one of but two inch
who were ever promoted at once from
private to major in the United States
army, iives quietly here with his family
among the orange groves and on an
avenue Of palms.
At the same moment that Abraham
Lincoln was shct to death in Ford's
Theater in Washington, on April Ia:
N65, and when, but for a change of
plans, Gen. U. S. Grant would doubtless
also have been killed, Major Robinson,
unarmed and unprepared, grappled with
the armed and desperate assassin, Lewis
Payne, in the darkened sick room Of
Secretary Seward.
Major Robinson has studiously avoid-
ed through some thirty years interviews
by newspaper and magazine writers.
Last week. however, he permitted an
interview by a fellow townsman and
personal friend. Il have never known
said Major Robinson, chow came to lie
detailed to act as nurse at the home of
Secretary Seward in April, 1865. ]
had been confined to the hospital for
several months by gunshot wound in
my leg.
THE evening of April IA was beauti-
ful and clear A little before 10 D. IN,
when the secretary was sleeping easily.
the house was closed for the night Mrs.
Seward had gone to her sleeping room.
Frederick Seward, second son of the
secretary, had retired. Miss Fannie
Seward, daughter, and I sat in the
sick chamber on the third floor. Miss
Seward was near the bed. Her father
lay propped up in bed. Just before 10
the sound Of a man was heard down in
the hall. 1t was afterward learned that
the porter saw tall young man on
horseback dash up to the stone curbing
He claimed 10 be DIR. Verdis's assistant.
and pushed his way into the house. The
first that l knew of the assassin in the
house was when the front door closed.
Miss Seward heard the sound of some
one coming heavily up the front stairs.
and remarked upon the careessness OF
one who would so noisily approach a
sick chamber. At the top of the stair
way Frederick Seward met the sup
posed messenger.
"'What is it?' asked Mr.. Seward, in
low tone.
DIR. Verbs sent me with this medi-
cine for Secretary Seward was the
mans reply. 1t must be taken imme.
diately ] am the DOCTORS student, and
must tell Mr.. Seward how and when tc
take the medicine
Frederick answered that he would
see il his father was awake. Then lie
tiptoed over to the bed where his father
lay. He went back and remarked that
lie would not disturb tho patient at that
hour. AS he spoke he closed the door
behind him. In tricc there came the
sound of blows. as ii one had been
struck by Il rattan. Not a word was
spoken. l sDrang from my chair, threw
open the hail door in time to see a very
tall, powerful, bealdless man about te
open it himself, and back of him Fred
erick Seward, covered with blood from
wounds Oh his head
1.-THE stranger jumped through tfis.
door at me. l saw a knife flash in The
feeble gasliSht. He dealt me an awful
blow on the scalp and forehead. l fell
backward, while blood started down
my face aud beard. The stranger, wear
Ing a long, !ight-colored overcoat.
SLOUGH hat. and cavalry boots, gave Miss
Sewa = (who mad taken alarm and
started to call fer help Il thrust that
threw her aside. He bounced upon the
bedside. The assassin had his now
broken pistol in his lett hand and
long heavy knife in his right. He
leaned owe" and across the bed, and.
placing his pistol on Secretary Stewards
chest, struck nladly and frantical]y at
the head and neck. l saw, a thousand
times quicker than it takes tc tell IT
the assassin strike at the secreta.y's
head, and lay open cash in his righf
cheek and in the side of his neck.
leaped upon tho bed beside the stranger
from the rear, caught his arm rs his
hand g:ipped the knife for surer and
more powerful stroke, and thus divert.
ed the blade. The knife went into tn.
sccretary'a nccl; on the side nearest to
US as l p,lied MIN from the bed.
Then began 4 terrific hand-to-liand
grapple. The assassin gave me a deep
cut In the right shoulder as pulled
him backward from the bed. A second
later he gave Inc another cut. IN
twlnkl!ns he turned upor me With the
1eroc!ty of an cnrageI tiger, while Sec.
rotary Seward rolled Oft the further side
OF the bed. The assassin struck at me
RINDER TWINF. ::..: