The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1897-05-14
DETAILS OF THE ASSASSINATION.

WASHINGTON, April Isl 80 a. m.
President Lincoln and wife, with
other friends, this evening visited
Ford's Theatre, for the purpose of wit
Messing the performance of the "Ameri-
lean Cousin"
1t was announced in the papers that
General Grant would also be present,
but that gentleman took the late train
for New Jersey.
The theatre was densely crowded, and
all seemed delighted with the scene be-
fore them. During the third act, and
while there was temporary pause for
one of the actors to enter, a sharp re-
port of a pistol was heard, which merely
attracted attention, but suggested moth
ing serious, until man rushed to the
front of the Presidents box, waving his
right hand, and eXclaiming, "Sic
Semper T'yrdnniSw and Immediately
leaped from the box, which was in the
second tier, to the stage beneath, and
ran across to the opposite side, making
his escape, amid the bewilderment of
the audience, from the rear of the
theatre, and mounting a horse, fled.
The screams of Mrs. Lincoln first dis
closed the fact to the audience that the
President had been shot, when all pres
ent rose to their feet, rushing toward
the stage, many eXclaiming, "Hang
him Hang himw
The excitement was of the widest
possible description, and of course there
was an abrupt termination of the
theatrical performance.
There was a rush towards the Pres
idents box, when cries were heard ::
"Stand back and give him air" "Has
any one stimulants?"
On a nasty examination it was found
81, oh
through the head, above the back of the
temporal bone, and that some of the
brain was OoZing out
He was removed to private house
opposite to the theatre, and the Sur
! geOn General of the Army was sent for
| to attend to his condition.
On an examination of the private box
! blood was discovered on the back of the
cushioned rocking-chair on which the
| President had been sitting, also on the
partition and on the floor. A common
| single barreled pocket pistol was found
! on the carpet
a military guard was placed in front
of the private residence to which the
President had been conveyed, An
immense crowd was in front of it, and
deeply anxious to learn the condition
Of the President. 1t had been previous
ly announced that the wound was
mortal, but all hoped otherwise. The
shock to the community was terrible.
At midnight, the Cabinet, with
Messrs. Sumner, ColfaX and Farms
worth, Judge Curtis, Governor Oglesby
General Meigs, Colonel Hay, and few
personal friends, with Surgeon Genera
Barnes and his immediate assistants
were around his bedside.
The President was in state o
syncope, totally insensible, and breath
ing slowly. The blood oozed from tn,
wound in the back of his head.
The surgeons exhausted every pos
sible effort of medical skill, but all hope
was gone.
The parting of the family with thu
dying President is too sad for descrip
ton.
The President and Mrs. Lincoln die
not start for the theatre until tifteel
minutes before eight o'clock. Speaker
Colfax was at the White House at tn
time and the President stated to hin
that he was going. Mr.. Lincoln hat
not been well, but because the paper
had announced that General Grant ant
they were to be present, and, as Genera
Grant had gone North, he did not wisl
the audience to be disappointed. H
went with apparent reluctance, an,
urged Mr.. Colfax to go with him, bu
that gentleman had made other engage
, ments, and with Mr.. Ashman, o
. | NTo,,,o obuSattS hid him UOOd hive