The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-12
A MAN WHO SAW LINCOLN SHOT.
And Also Met Wilkes Booth on the
Afternoon of the Assassination.

Afternoon of the Assassination.
George C. Read. in New York Sun.
l recently picked up a clipping from the
Sun containing a statement OF James N.
Mills. who CLAIMS 10 have been present az
the time the lamented Abraham Lincoln
was shot,,
In some things l can heartily agree with
Mr.. MillS'S account of that memora bic night,
but | rather imagine he has told this so
often that gradually it has been added TO
and made more of a story than II was
facts as stated by Mr.. Mills, as he undoubt-
eddy was present in the theater when the
great tragedy of the nineteenth century
I, too, have a story that has never been
related in the public prints. 1t also mas 70
do with a little thing that l witnessed at
and also something that occurred the aItei-
noon prior to it, have never written TINS
for publication, and have hesitated long
time now before / could make up my mlnq
to do so. My reasons are simple enough l.
have always had an idea that II ala write
it as it occurred it might be doubted at TINS
late day. / have no one to vouch for the
truthfulness of it, eXceptN perhaps, those
to whom l at different times since IL hap
pened related it. However, i made up my
mind after reading what Mr.. Mills said 10
go on record and give a short synopsis OF
certain events in my life that were clos NI.
connected with the eventful day and night
of April IA, 1865
l am not writing this to the New York
Sun for the purpose of getting my name
before the public or bringing out any con-
troversy, but merely to see if it will be be-
lieved, or bring back to life among the
thousands of those who peruse the paper
every day one certain man. If he is awe
and it catches his eye, he can Vouch for
the more important details
| was only a boy at the time, scarcely
nineteen years of age. l had been IN the
army since August 1862. Was enlisted In
Company H, Northumberland fortieth New
York Volunteers, as a drummer. I was de-
tached from my company nearly all the
time from the spring of 1863 to the time l
was discharged from the service as a foot
orderly at brigade headquarters. i served
in that capacity under the colonel OF my
regiment, who, for time, commanded the the
Third Brigade, Second Division, Fifth
Corps, Col. P. H. O'Rourke, who, by the
way was killed at Gettysburg; also under
General Weed. who was also killed at Get 5;r
ard of the hundred and-forty-slx sixth
New York Volunteers commanding the bril-
war, I was with General Griffin and Gen.
Ayers AS | said, | was only foot or
derby, consequently did not have the confl-
dence of the officers attached to headquar-
tiers, still was among them, ready to obey
any orders given me day or night. was
in the front most of the time, but dld not
have the honor of capturing whole brigade
of the enemy or performing any OF the ne
roic acts others tell about.
Some time in the latter part of March,
1865, / was sent to Washington on account
of the loss of my voice. / remained there
most of the time in barracks on east Capt.
toll hill On the afternoon of the fated April
a. 1865 / happened in the saloon next door
to Ford's Theater to see the barkeeper, one
Jim Peck. While standing near stove
about the center Of the room three men
came into the place laughing and talking
loudly. They all went to the end of the bar
nearest the door, and ordered q drink. One
a tall, handsome fellow, dressed in the
latest fashionable clothes, if ] remember
rightly, and the others appeared like work.
men of some kind. Both were carelessly
dressed and | think one was in his shirt
sleeves. They had their drink, and then the
fine-looking man, turned toward where |
was standing and said. "COme up, soldier,
and have a drink" l declined for the rea-
son that I had not at that time acquired
the habit of social drinking. He then APP
preached me and took me by the arm and
said. Have something; take a cigar" This
/ did not refuse. and he put his hand in his
vest pocket. and, pulling out cigar handed
it to me without any further remarks He
then turned to his companions at the bar.
They remained, if l remember correctly.
about five minutes after, and then, all
laughing at something that Peck said, left
the place. AS soon they were gone [
asked Peck who the big man was and he
said that he was an actor-one of the Booth
family-John Wilkes Booth had heard of
him before, but paid no further attention
to it except to remark that he seemed to
be in a happy frame of mind, when Peck
stated that he was on drunk, and as
ISOLATED with the stage mechanics in the
theater all the time
what history would develop in few short
hours Peck asked me to accept couple of
tickets to the theater for that night. I was
glad to get them, having no money to pur-
chase the same, and knowing that the Pres
ident would be at the play. Later I found
a young man, like myself, broke; and in
vited him to accompany me to the play:
We were on hand early, and, having. good
reserved seats about the center of the
house, were elated over our luck.
Suffice it to say that the c went up
and "Our American Cousi rs intro
duced. was intently interest I'D cannot
remember positively what acl was that
was on, except what is told IN history,
when l heard a shot, and immediately a
dents box, and, without waiting, jumped
to the stage beneath. |. as well as all 9TH
ers in the theater, was astonished. He ran
to about the center of the stage and raised
his left hand and said something l did not
catch, and then disappeared behind the
wings. AS soon as | saw him / recognized
the handsome man / had seen in the sa-
loon that afternoon. and turned to my com
rade and said That's Wilkes Booth, the
actor, and l think he is on a drunk" Be-
fore I had finished even this cry went up
that the President had been shot. stop
that man." and many other EXPLANATIONS
/ have forgotten. 1t was all done so quickly
that one had hardly time to think. Immed-
ately the audience rose as one person and
cries were heard all over the house, stop
that man. THE President has been as
sassinatedw and many others. The people
began to crush each other and try to get
out of the theater, but they were quoted to
a certain extent and the provost guard on
duty there fought to make them keep their
places. Soon there was Il movement on the
side aisle running from the Presidents box
| could see what appeared to be party of
men carrying some one. Later the rest Of
the party were conducted out Of the thea
ter, and when / managed to get outside i
saw a crowd looking up at a house oppo-
site. On asking what it meant / was told
that the President had been carried there
and was dying. / lost my comrade in the
crowd and have never met him since
1t is unnecessary to go into any more de-
tails of what occurred that night. | was ex-
cited as well as everyone else in the city,
and got little rest. But that is my expert
any stretch of imagination. If | had to do
with the same again think it would have
been better if | had told the officials what
| saw that afternoon. but, as 1t was, all
came out right. and the really guilty ones
suffered the penalty of their crime | met
Peck the next year in New York city, but
have never heard of or seen him since.
THE ZONE SYSTEM OF FARES.
European Railways Encourage Trav-