Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1897-02-11
SAW LINCOLN SHOT.
ONE WHO WITNESSED THE
GREAT TRAGEDY.
Story of the Man Who Was the First
to Reach the Side of the Wounded
President-His Clothing Stained by
the Blood of the Martyr.
Our Nations Darkest Dsv.

There now lives in Philadelphia a gem
tleman who saw the whole scene of Lin
coins assassination, and was the first to
reach the wounded man in the prevailing
panic. William Flood is the gentleman's
name, and he gave the following graphic
account, which is taken down in his eX-
act words:
AT the time the President was shot"
sald he III answer TO Il query, Il was in the
United States navy and was acting en-
sign and executive officer on board the
steamship Teazer. Captain Silas Owen
was the commander, and the ship was To-
Gated at the navy yard on April IA. That
evening Captain Owen, who had been
over in the city during the day, came
to the ship and suggested that we 20 to
the theater that evening, as Laura Keene
was to play Our American Cousin and
the PRESIDENT was to be there. We went
TO the theater and secured seats in the
parquet or orchestra chairs. The Presi-
dent occupied the second box up from the
orchestra and second from the stage. Just
as the curtain fell on the first act | henrd
a shot and saw man jump from the
PRESIDENTS box to the stage. AS he jump
ed MS foot caught in the folds of the tlag
that draped the box, and he fell sideways
on the stage. 1t was quite good iump,
ana he came very near falling back into
the orchestra. He got up and limped
away across the stage, brandishing a
great long knife in his right hand, and
shouted, Sic semper tyrannis.
I'm less time than it takes to tell if |
was on the stage. How | got there over
the heads of the orchestra | really don't
remember. just as | reached the stage
Mrs. Lincoln looked out of the box. She
was crying and wringing her hands and
SAID: They have shot papa; will no one
conner l answered that | would come.
ana Immediately climbed up the side of
the boxes to the one the President occu-
pied.
The President was sitting as If he
mad fallen asleep. He was breathing
however, and we at once laid him on thn
floor of the box. looked for the wound
but at first did not discover If. Miss
heene brought pitcher of water and
bathed his forehead with that SO as to re.
vlve him. | then discovered the wound
IN the back of his head, where the ball had
entered, and the blood ran out on nv arm
ana down the side of my coat. Some army
oihcers brought in a stretcher and he was
placed on that and carried out. | then
went to the front of the box and motion
ed for the audience to remain quiet. Every
one was talking, and there was general
uproar. AS soon as it ceased for n minute
told them that the President was still
allve, but had been shot, and was no doubt
mortally wounded. Captain Owens and
then went out to the front of the building
ana found a platoon of police in the
street. The sidewalks were so crowded
with people that we had to get out in the
middle of the road to get down the street
We went to the National Hotel. and bv
the time we got there the mob was So
dense we could get no further, so n couple
OF police took us through the hotel 70 q
street, at the rear, and we got a cab and
We're driven to the navy yard. I was 50
bloody from the wound. my right hand
and arm being covered, that it is a wonder
that was not hanged by that mob. They
were intensely excited at the time. and !,
would have taken very little to have
driven them into frenzy.