Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-08-24
Daily ysuatbsf Jdur,taI
PROTECTED SEWARD.
me Man a Ms Bedside d Last TELLS
The Story.

ous act one of the very few persons who
has gold medal given by Congress for
bravery and one of but two men VINO
we're ever promoted at once from private
to major in the United States army, lives
quietly here with his family among the
orange groves and on an avenue of
palms.
At the same moment that Abraham
Lincoln was shot to death in Fords the
alter in Washington, on April IA, 1865, and
when, but for change of plans. General
u. S. Grant would doubtless also have
been killed. Major Robinson, unarmed
and unprcpared, grappled with the armed
and desperate assassin, Lewis Payne, In
the darkened sick room of Secretary
Seward.
Major Robinson has studiousy avoided
through some thirty years interviews by
newspaper and magazine writer's. Last
week. however, he permitted an interview
by a fellow townsman and personal
friend. Il have never known said Ma
jor Robinson, how l came to be detailed
to act as nurse at the home of Secretary
Seward in April, 1885, l had been con-
fined to the hospital for several months
by gunShOt wound In my leg.
1.-THE evening of April IA was beautiful
and clear. AT little before 10 p. NJ,
when the secretary was sleeping easily.
the house was closed for the night Mrs.
Seward had gone to her sleeping room.
Frederick Seward. second son of the Sec
rotary. had retired. Miss Fannie Seward,
a daughter. and l sat in the sick cham
Der on the third floor. Miss Seward was
near the bed. Her father lay propped up
in bed. Just before ten the sound OF a
man was heard down in the hall. 1t was
afterward learned that the porter saw a
tail young man on horseback dash up to
the stone curbing. He claimed to be DIR.
Verdis's assistant. and pushed his way
into the house The first that l knew of
the assassin in the house was when the
front door closed. Miss Seward heard the
sound of some one coming heavily up the
"A r cd ra rn
1essness of any one who would SO nOisily
approach Il sick chamber. At the top of
the stairway Frederick Seward met the
supposed messenger.
What is it?' asked Mr.. Seward, in a
low tone.
DIR. Verdis sent me with this medicine
for Secretary Seward was the mans re-
ply 1T must be taken Immediately, l
am the doctors student, and must tell
Mr.. Seward how and when to take the
medicine
Frederick answered that he would see
If his father was awake. Then he opened
the door of the secretary's room and tip
toed over to the bed where his father
lay. He went back and remarked that he
would not disturb the patient at that
hour. AS he spoke he closed the door be-
hind him. In a trice there came the
sound of blows as if one had been struck
by rattan. Not word was spoken. l
spranS from my chair, threw open the
hall door in time to see a very TALL pow
himself, and back of him Frederick Sew
ard. covered with blood from wounds on
his head.
THE stranger jumped through the door
at me. l saw a knife flash in the feeble
gaslight. He dealt me an awful blow on
the scalp and forehead. l fell backward,
while blood started down my face and
beard. The stranger, wearing a long
Hght-cOlored Overcoat. a SLOUGH hat, and
cavalry boots, gave Miss Seward (who
mad taken alarm and started to call for
help) thrust that threw her aside. He
bounced upon the bedside. The assassin
mad his now broken navy pistol in his
left hand and long, heavy knife in his
right. He leaned over and across the
bed, and. placing his pistol on Secretary
seward's chest struck madly and fran
tlcally at the head and neck. l saw, a
thousand times quicker that it takes to
tell 1t, the assassin strike at the secre-
tarys head, and lay open a cash i'll his
right cheek and in the side of his neck
leaped upon the bed beside the stranger
from the rear. caught his arm as his
right hand gripped the knife for surer
ana more powerful stroke, and thus di-
verified the blade. The knife went into the
secretary's neck on the side nearest to US
as l pulled him from the bed.
Ihen began terrific hand-tO-hand
srapple. The assassin gave me deep
cut in the right shoulder as pulled him
backward from the bed second later
ne gave me another cut. In a twinkling
ne turned on me with the ferocity of an
enraged tiger, while Secretary Seward
rolled off the further side of the bed
me assassin struck at me several times
once giving me slash in the left Shout
der. l clinched my arms about him with
my utmost strength. while he was trying
TO force me away so that he could use
his arms either to thrust his bloody knife
INTO me or to beat me into insensibility
by blows with his big pistol. Meanwhile
MISS Seward had pushed up the window
in the sick room and had screamed .Mur-
der! Murder!' Although weak from my
hospital experience and my use of crutch-
es for six months previous, / was natur-
ally strong young man at the time. !.
MY antagonist vainly tried to raise his
nahdS 10 beat or stab me- He suddenly
dropped his pistol and tried to push ME
from MN or to throw me. Il chung to the
man with even greater intensity. All l
saw was my desperate biz, antagonist and
that knife blade. I grasped the assassin's
right wrist. He ceased for a brief sec
ond his stabbins tactics and tried to
.nrow me. Then. sumfnoning all. my
strength. l. tried to throw him. NV
wounded leg gave way and partially
staggered The assassin made "a vain
snatch at my throat.
Inc despair of the moment brought
PACK my full strength, and 1 .tripped the
villain somewhat off his feet. While /
mad him in that position surged,shim a
Few teet across the room toward. the hall
a acrn.s W ,h we We're! about half: way
across the room and in fierce grappie
let someone taking hold Of me from be-
hind. Then it flashed into my mind shaf
mere was an accomfiice OF the mur,i arer.
Then saw in the Dim light ,khat II was
Major a.. il. Seward. He had heard his
sisters shrieks. had, sprung out OF he'd
ana mad come into his fathers room r.
md, as he first thought. Two DRUNKEN SOL ~
ulers scuffling in the darkness 90 -
called to- him: Hold that man,
nana; get that knife: but the major
reached AROUND me from behind and 90,
ms hands on the assassin's shoulders 81
rs 70 push him along through the hall
aoor; Tbs assassin canfe against the
WOODWORK ut the door, and thereby re-
sainod stirm footing. AS quick as iipht-
n nang ne freed himself from my, grasp. and
gave gave Major Seward severaL slabs about
the head ard shaIiders.. !. He honpded
wntthe Stairs Mr.. HanseE a messen-
ser y ne state debartment.lw was cunning
uown the Stairs 10 get help: The fellow
oyprtook MI. Hapsel and gave him .
siash down. the hack. Then the ASSASSIN
wen, went ont o. the front door like a rocket
Ieaped into ms Saddle. and striking his
spurs INTO bis horses TANKS, was OF in
the darkness. ,sr4s -"
The whsfe affair occupied probable
liot over thrEe minutes When the as.
sassin wasn.g0ne turned to find score
newark t1aa