The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-09-07
HE SAW LINCOLN SHOT
Eye. Witness Gives a Graphic Account Of
the Assassination.

Eye. Witness Gives a Graphic Account OF
the Assassination.
New York, Sept. Elm a letter to the
New York Sun, Mr.. George L. Cook gives
his personal recollection Of the circum-
stances attending the assassination on
President Lincoln on April IA, 1865. Mr..
Cook writes:
81 was then a clerk il the treasury
department, 10 years Of age. Learning
that President Lincoln and Gen. Grant
we're TO attend the presentation Of Our
American Cousin" by Laura Keene at
Ford's Theatre. party of four, OF which
was one, was made up TO attend.
purchased the tickets, securing the first
four seats, right hand side, Of the sec
ond row in the dress circle. At the close
OF office hours that day went from the
treasury department down Pennsylvania
avenue to the Kirkwooi house barber
shop, at Twelfth street. AS / took my
saeC in the be rber'S chair 1 noticed in
tne next chair on my left a very hand
some curley headed countenance under
going the usual operations. When its
owner vas gone 1 was told that he was
Wilkes Booth, and at once remembered
the face.
AN interesting after-dinner game Of
cards delayed our party somewhat and
cid not reach the theatre until the cur
tain was I'D and the first act was in
progress. Our party took seats SO that I
occuepied the fourth seat nearest to the
Presidents box, which was on a level
with Us. When, amid great cheering,
the Presidents party entered their box,
Mrs. Lincoln was so seated as to be the
best observed of the party. the president
sitting on the south side of the box look
ing toward the curtain and mostly
screened even from our view. The whole
front of the box down 10 the stage floor
was profusely decorated with flags and
colors. Shortly after the commencement
OF the third act, in which the whole house
seemed absorbed to the point of almost
perfect stiffness, a shot was fired which
was Distinctly heard, think by the en-
tire audience. The instantaneous i'm
preston was that it was from some
where behind the scenery, and was
man appeared at the box opening, clam
bered over the sill and seemed to glide
CT slide down the outside through the
folds Of the festooned flags until he
reached the stage floor, where he re-
manned in a sort Of crouching position
on one knee. Then he threw one arm
above his head and there appeared a
long flash, as Of a long-drawn. bright
blade, and then I distinguished some
words ending with the word tyrannis, or,
as I thought al the time, 'tyrraneous.
The head was bare and 1 Immediately
recognized the face I had seen that af-
ternoon at the barber shop. The man
went rapidly, in a STOPPING, creeping
posture. diagonally acress the stage and
in the scenery.
'On turning my eyes again toward the
box l saw Mrs. Lincoln standing at the
front, wringing her hands, moaning and
gesticulating frantically, and the realiza-
ton reached US all that the president had
beer shot. There was a dull sort OF pain
in the region of the heart for an instant,
as though the shot had struck me. The
house was at once in an uproar, many
people on their feet and making for the
exits, so that the isles were damned. One
man jumped in the orchestra stand and
ciambered Immediately on to the stage,
and followed the retreating figure of
Booth behind the scenes.
In the fifth and sixth seats OF our row
sat a lady and a gentleman, who proved
to be an army or navy surgeon. This
gentleman turned to me and said he was
a surgeon, and would go to the presi-
dents box and see If he could be OF any
If 1 would see that his COM
panion was protected while ne was gone.
Dur party had decided to remain quietly
IN our seats until the crush had subsided
and we could get out in safety. especially |
is one Of the ladies' was serious sufferer |
with heart trouble. The surgeon mmed- |
atsly made his way to the presidents |
ooX and was gone what seemed a half |
lour. but was probably under fifteen |
minutes. On his return to us he said: !
l have seen the president and examined |
lis wound. Il is behind the ear and |
-ery deep. There is no hope for him. |
Our party then made its way out. and |
vas detained at the TOD stairsace land |
ng 70 allow the party bearing the pres;- |
Tents form 10 go down As they passed |
We looked on Mr. Lincoln's living coun-
enance for the last time and saw there
| livid white face, with closed eyes and |
ips. which quivered with convulsive
hill and sigh. The party quickly passed
nd our party made its way 10 the street,
where all was confusion and apprehen-
ion. No loud uproar. but sort OF fear
illness pervG led the crowdede street.
taking our way homeward as rapidly as
'ossible. on account of the delicate lady
Win us. We reached home safely and in
ormei our friends OF the tragedy. Then
&c returned 20 the vicinity OF Tenth and
streets, ana opposite the theatre where
he president lay, but by that time the
Hlics and military had been placed on
uty about the house ana square. ana we
ould only wa.t for such announcements
$ might be made. Frequent rumors OF
ne death OF Grant, Seward and other
abinet officers pervadei and terrorized
ne crowds nto a fearful silence. As day
sht came on the announcement that the
IL, I