New-York tribune., 1897-04-13
IN LINCOLN'S BOX AT FORD'S THEATRE.
LIEUTENANT LORING'S VERSION OF THE OCCUR
nrSr1cc Ia WHICH lie TOOK pART

IN LINCOLNS BOX AT FORDs THEATRE.
LIEUTENANT LoRING's VERSION OF THE OCCUR
RESCEs IN WHICH HE TOOK PART.
To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir OF late years interesting recollectons relat-
ing to the assassination OF President Lincoln nave
found their way into print-several In The Ir1ouhe
and as some Of them fail TO harnonize win mine
In their minor details. and in view OF the approach
ing anniversary of the event VIII give the 'e'-
sion Of one who in the box at Fords Ihea're-
think the seeond from the outside to reach 1t
and of tho four VINO carried 'he rieS'u0"'
to the room where he died.
In 1866 ] was attached to the Washington Nav!
Yard, and my sole motive for attending foro
Theatre on the evening OF April "a was the prom
ised opportunity for seeing and comparing the TWO
distinguished public personages who Tor the ''"e
filled the eyes of the word-President Lncom anu
General Grant; but as is we'll known, General
Grant was absent With this object. seIec'eu
seat on the same floor nearly opposite the box they
we're expected to occupy thus gaining an unob-
structed view of the interior After the import OF
the g,nshot had penetrated the minds OF the au-
dience | made my way, leapng over orches'ra
chairs to the stage, and reached II al the moment
a man was being assisted from IL INTO the rresi-
dents box With the seamans lnsuhcls anu 'ai'-
ing I followed and found the President insehsio'e'
stretched upon the floor his back, with my
tacbed to a vessel lying at the navy yaro) sca'eu
on the floor holding his head Ny hrst lmpuise was
~ cut his necktie with small penknife' 10 reheVe
his laborad breathing. Then. in search OF the
wound began with a larger knife borrowed 10. 3
.he nurpose cutting the Waistcoat open az the iet'
shoulder when the man holding MS heau a..
cdentally placed his hand upon the wouho ana no "a
claimed: "Here II is. in the back ot MS neau, ..
Meanwhile the door had been unoarreu ahI tMo
or three others had entered the box, MISS hrei,e
being one She rushed 10 the front ana calIeu;
"Rrandv, brandy. VIII some one bring a giass 3 9I
brandv3'' II was brought but the insensiole fresi-
den: could swallow neither brandy nor other od nauu
and in the confusion some portion OF II was spiiiso leu
Pras;Gent's body Miss Keene was asked ana
IA at.end 70 Mrs Lincoln who in pitiful condi,
lion had seated herself in chair By the e1'-hahd
front corner OF the box. . ,. .o- ,-ho,v
During this time Miss Harriss mind was whouy
occunied upon Major Rathbun. who sat In chaiI
NJ The right hand front corner OF the DON Grecu!
hv the Presidents head. was also olnlIy con-
scious that some one standing benlnd me EeaI
tho roar of the box. There is place across .1e
street where Mr.. Lincoln can be taken; saiu
man who came shortly after. and TO that pace
four of us carried him-one at his head one AT ms
feet and two aspng hands under his DacK pe-
ing at his right side. ,, a nc my
Two prominent surgeons soon arrived ana ds my
services were no longer needed departed Near
tba front door in the hall found Miss Harris
stiu faithful,v caring for Major Rathbun. ana at
her reouest | procured the carriage that conveyed
them home. -; w, ~, ~ e \