The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-09

4 capture ana Lfldl the 6ONti liS was 1cdN-
ing no stone injured to secure him. He
must also have read of the arrest of Mrs.
Surratt, Payne. Atzerodt, Arnold, OLaugh-
lin and DIR. Mudd, which were all accom-
plished facts at the time he made his en-
tries in his diary, but he did not give him
self the slightest concern about the fate of
Mrs. Surratt, although he knew that it was
through her aid that he obtained the very
carbine and feldglass which he then car
ried on his person. and which he was using
as a means of escape. Nor was he much
troubled about the other conspirators who
had stood with him in his crime; nay, he
was proud of what he had done, and took
special glory in the fact that he had been the
means of Riding the world of Abraham
Lincoln.
At Port Conway the two assassins met
three young men, Major NJ. B. Ruggles,
Lieutenant A. b. cambridge and Captain
William Jet, all of whom were arrayed in
Confederate uniforms. They were soldiers
on their way home. Port Conway is III
King Georges county, Virginia. The width
of the R~appahannock river at that point is
about three hundred yards. 1t is directly
opposite Port Royal. The ferry was owned
by a man named Rollins, but the scow was
pushed across by Peyton Washington, a
negro. AS the soldiers rode up they no.
ticed a wagon with two - and
Herold-in it. To the wagon were hitched
two horses. The negro driver, Lucas, had
refused to carry the men any further. On
beholding the soldiers approach Herold
went towards them. He gave his name as
Boyd, and stated that his brother had been
wounded in making his escape from prison,
and was anxious to be helped on his way
South. The soldiers promised their aid, and
said they would do for them what they
could. While waiting for the return of the
scOw from Port Royal Booth got out Of
the wagon. He walked, with the aid of
the crutch, which his friend, DR.. Mudd had
caused to be made for him. and was evil
IDENTIFY in much pain. He appeared to mis-
trust Herold, for the first words he uttered
on meeting the Confederates were: Il sup
pose you have told who L am" Ruggles,
remembering what Herold had told him,
answered in the Affirmative. Then Booth
threw his whole weight on his crutch, and,
drawing a revolver, exclaimed: Yes, 1 am
John Wilkes Booth, the slayer of Abraham
Lincoln. and l am worth just $4,000 to the
man who captures me-"
To these defiant words, Ruggles answered
that, though they did not sanction his act
as an assassin, they were not men to take
blood money" and that having promised
his friend Herold to take them across the
river to a place of safety, they would do
so. AT these words Booth put up his
weapon.
STILL AMONG FRIENDS.
Captain Jet was well acquainted in Caro-
line county on the Port Royal side of the
river, and said to Booth with the approval
of his companions, Ruggles and cambridge,
that he would find a place for them where
they would be secure. God bless you, SIR
| calculated ROOtb his fapa all tho Tina
writhing with the pain from his disabled
leg. When Booth realized that he was
among friends. he threw off all reserve and
became quite communicative His face was
covered with a short thick growth of hair,
and he kept pulling at his mustache, which
had somewhat grown since his exit from
DR.. Mudd's house. He exhibited to Rug
giles the initials u. w. B." done in India
ink on his right hand, and said the shawl
had done good service in concealing these
~tell-tale marks. Over his shoulder was
strung a pair of large field glasses; they
were attached by a long leather strap, and
were the very same field glasses he had
given to Mrs. Surratt on the afternoon of
the 14th of April, which she in turn had
delivered to John NJ. Lloyd, and which
Lloyd handed to the two assassins when
they made their appearance at his house at
midnight after the murder. Booth acknowl-
edged that the glasses had not been of
much use to him because "He had been
forced to keep under cover too much
When the scow at length arrived Major
Ruggles assisted Booth to mount his Rug-
gles's) horse, and then the whole party
started across the Rappahannock for Port
Royal. All this time they were very keenly
eyed by the dusky ferryman, and very little
was said by any of them. When they
touched the wharf Booth lost no time in
landing. His spirits seemed to have re-
turned, and he cried out joyously: II am
safe in glorious old Virginia, thank God!'
NOW, boys" said Jet, II propose to take
our friend Booth up to CARROTS house. I
think they will give him shelter there and
treat him kindly"
Tn in your hands," answered Booth.
DO with me as you think best"
A start was then made for CARROTS farm,
which was reached after a journey of three
miles. Shelter was asked in behalf of the
fugitive, and granted. The Garrett house
was some distance from the main road and
was situated on a hill. When they arrived
at the gate leading into the farm Herold
remained with cambridge, and said he
would go as far as Bowling Green to buy
a pair of shoes. Jet and RuggIes accom-
panied Booth to the house. Herold and
cambridge went on to Bowling Green,
where they remained all night, stopping at
the house of a Mr.. Clarke. Jet and Rug
giles, after seeing Booth disposed of at Gar
rett's, also went on to Bowling Green and
put up at the house of a Mr.. Goldman,
whose daughter was Jett's sweetheart.
When Booth entered the Garrett house
he gave his name as James W.. Boyd. and
stated that he was a Confederate and was
wounded at Petersburg, and was trying to
get home to his people in Maryland, but
that his wound was too painful to allow
him to travel.
DISCUSSED THE MURDER.
At that time the Garrett family had not
heard of the death of the President. That
night at supper a neighbor came in and
told the family of the assassination, and
the subject was discussed, the wounded
man joining in the conversation. He agreed
that perhaps it was only a rumor started
by ~stragglers, but assented when old Mr..
Garrett said that if it was true, it was an
exceedingly unfortunate thing for the
South. The neighbor stated that there was
a big reward offered, 100000, and one of
the Garrett boys said that the assassin had
better not come that way for he would like
to make such a sum of money about that
time. Boyd (Booth) turned round and said.
Would you betray him for that" Young
Garrett laughed and said: They had bet
ter not tempt me-. I've not a dollar in the