Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1897-05-22
SAW LINCOLN KILLED
WILLIAM WlTHERS, LEADER OF FoRD'S
ORCHESTRA, TELLS HIS EXPERIENCE.
Had Written a Song For That Particular
Performance-Was on the Stage and
Booth Struck Him With a Dagger-He
Was First to Identify the Assassin.


Was First to Identify the Assassin.
AT the Professional Woman S league,
tver the novelties being made for the
coming bazaar, the question came up,
''Is there anybody living who saw Lin
coin assassinated?"
Immediately everybody had some
thing to say about somebody else who
had friend who was at the theater that
night. The most interesting story was
told of William Withers, Jr now Or
chestra leader for Mr.. DAILY, but at the
time of the assassination leader of the
orchestra of Ford's theater.
Mr.. Withers enjoys the distinction of
having not only been at the theater the
night Lincoln was assassinated, but Of
having been pierced by the dagger of
the assassin just few moments after
Booth had fired the shot that made Lin
coin martyr. Every time he goes to
Washington he is requested to tell this
story, and, although many and varied
are the recitals of this thrilling event,
Mr.. Withers' is somewhat different from
the others. Here is the story as he tells
it in the Washington Post:
81 was leader of the orchestra at the
time, and as the president was to wit
ness the performance of Our American
Cousin thought that, as befitted the
occasion, would compose song. So 1
did. 1t was entitled Honor to Our Sol
diers' and dedicated to the president
This was to be sung between two Of the
acts by quartet had engaged and the
entire company, who We're to be attired
i'll the American colors.
AS was OH my way to the theater
met John Wilkes Booth just in front
of George Harry's saloon, which ad
joined the theater. 1t was sultry
night, and Booth had his overcoat over
his arm. Good evening, Billy he said.
Come and have something?'
GAS I was leaving to enter the thea
ter Booth remarked, I'll witness the
performance tonight noticed nothing
strange about his demeanor and subse-
quently saw him as l was coming out
for the overture.
"soon the president, his wife, Major
Rathbone and Robert and Tad entered
their box. l signaled for Hail to the
Chief and the audience cheered, and
the president turned smilingly and
bowed. Then he seated himself, and
with his accustomed modesty drew the
curtains half across the box.
'After the first act j. P. Wright, the
stage manager, sent me word he would
be unable to have the special song sung
at that time, but he would try to have
it rendered between the second and third
acts A similar message was sent to me
at the close of the second act, and I be-
came somewhat exercised. I started to
go upon the stage when saw Booth on
the balcony walking down the aisle in
the direction of the presidents 8 box. He
was seemingly attentive toward the act
ing, for the curtain had again gone up.
encountered scene shifter, SpangIer,
whose Office afterward learned was to
turn out the lights in the theater as soon
as the shot was fired. He obstructed my
passage.
What do you want here?' he de-
manded. In reply told him it was
none of his business. Mr.. Wright ap-
pearing, Spangler left his position on
the stage alongside the box in which
vas the apparatus for Illuminating the
tLeater closed the lid of the box and
sat upon it to talk to the manager, un-
conscious that was spelling the plan.
'Mr. Wright told me the song would
be sung at the close of the performance,
and Miss Keene had sent word to the
president requesting him to stay to
hear it.
II was just about to return to the Or
chestra when the crack of a revolver
startled me. All was quiet instantly. I
saw man jump from the presidents
box Oh to the stage. 1t was Booth. He
ran directly toward the door leading
into the alley. This course brought him
right in my path. He had dagger in
his hand, and he waved it threatening.
ly. He evidently did not recognize ms
for he appeared like maniac. His eye
seemed starting from their sockets, an
his hair was disheveled.
with head down, he ran toward me
and cried, Let me pass! He slashed at
me, and the knife cut through my coat,
vest and underclothing. He struck
again, the point of the weapon penetrat-
ing the back of my neck, and the blow
brought me to the floor. watched him
make his exit into the alley and caught
sight of the horse, held by Peanut
John
1.-The commotion in the audience was
something terrible Several actors, in
cluding Harry Hawke, rushed out, and
a man who proved to be a detective lift
ed me up and said, 1 arrest you.
What's this all about?' l asked
I'm stabbed was quickly told what
was the matter. The thought flashed
across my mind that Booth was the as
sassin.
81 was taken to the police station,
and my deposition was received in the
presence of Mayor Wallach. That was,
l believe, the first intimation that they
had of the identity of the murderer. l
was at the trial of the conspirators and
the second to give testimony. My wound
healed in short time"
Evident.