The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-15
HE saw LINCOLN SHOT.
Mr. Mills Appraised the Guards ana Helped
Snrs. Lincoln from the Theatre.

NTr. Mll1n hpprtaeu ~ eunFun ana htetntu
Mrs. Lincoln from the Theatre.
The letters recently published In THE Sun
asking II there were not many people still
living who saw Abraham Lincoln assasslnatod
have revealed the whereabouts OF several.
Among them is James \. Mills Of Brooklyn.
"I was born In Brooklyn In 1885, said Mr..
Mills yesterday, 80 that at the outbreak Of
tho war I was under 10 years Of age. l wanted
to 20 to the front as q drummer boy, but when l
applied to the officers Of n regiment called the
brooklyn Phalanx.' nftorward known as tho
First Long Island Regiment, they told me 1 was
too young. / afterward made my way to Wash.
ington without my mothers consent and en-.
listed "a a drummer boy In 1862. I served in
the Army OF the Potomac for three years, and
during the closing days OF the war was n clerk
in the War Department.
"On tho night OF tho assassination OF Prcsi.
dent Lincoln l attended hctheatre to sec Laura
Keene In Our America Cousin The theatre
was packed. There must have been 1000 poo
pie in tho house. every one dcsirous.of seeing the
President and Con. Grant. who was expected to
be present. Aftor the President took his scat In
the box and the cheering ceased, the crowd was
absolutely still. can only account for their 81.
lencc by the fact that 1t was n cosmopolitan
crowd, representing about every regiment To-
Gated near Washington, and including travel
"Gen. Grant did not attend, and Mr.. Lincoln,
accompanied by Mrs. Lincoln and Col. itathbonc
OF the United States Army. made up tho Presi
Dental party. They occupied the right-hand
THE third act Of the play had begun and Harry
Hawk. an actor In the company, had just np
peared on tho stage. from the left. when there
was the report OF u pistol shot. Looking over at
gesticulating at the .occupants. An instant
later the man jumped from the box to the stage
turned. looked ut the audience, and then disap
peared. lie muttercd something Us he looked
toward the audience, but ! have never been abb,
to recall just what he said. .
Instantly the audience arose as II spellbound
the whisperings OF q moment before became
roar OF voices, and when II dawned upon tn,
audience that the President had, been assassi
mated the confusion was indescrlbablc. l mad,
my way to the head OF the stairs as quickly n
the crowded condition Of the house would per
init nIn rm and a. i P"ss srnyo ont i Enar dsn' hs stsso su EaSs tn ,,
the way, were stationed at all theatres to exam
inc the passes OF soldiers In uniform who Mer,
| ran around to the alley entrance Of tho theatr,
on F street and entered the back door.
" returned to the front OF the theatre ano
private box ofthe Presidential party just as Mr.
Lincoln was being carried out on the shoulder
a saloon adjoining the theatre. He was In hi
shirt sleeves. the head OF Mr.. Lincoln resting oil
sis shoulder Sna 1 Ind back sas 0l % his sFi shirta tho aST Pre ssi
dent was carried downstairs. and. across tn,
street into Mrs. ,Peterson's boarding house
| directly opposite the theatre. AS Mrs. Lincoll
was for tho moment without an escort. / gentl.
grasped her arm and led her from the box. Sh,
was nearly hysterical. crying and sobbing bit
terly. We followed the men as they carried Nj
| Lincoln across the street. lie was placed on
bod in a room on the ground floor. where he die
| the %followiny morning.
1.-The proprietor OF the saloon who carried MI
| Lincoln from the theatre subsequently informe'
me that John Wilkes Booth had spent a few me
ments in his place inst before the close OF tn
second act of the play. While there he dram
nearly q glass full OF brandy"