The Red Cloud chief., 1897-07-30

THIS Evening
the performance will be
honored by the presence Of
President Lincoln"
O.............. ..........''''O
The play was the one the elder Soth-
ern did 50 much to popularize. Tom
Taylor's celebrated eccentric comedy.
as originally produced in America by
Miss Keene and performed by her up
ward of 1000 nights. entitled Our
American Cousin" The prices OF nd-
mission were 81 to tho orchestra, 75
cents to the dress circle and parQuet
and 25 cents to the family circle. The
boxes were 50 and $40 each. The pres
ident occupied one on the northern
side OF the theater. just above and
upon the stage. The house was crowd
ed.
Laura Keene was standing behind
the scenes on the side OF the theater
fsrthest from the presidential box.
near what Ia called the "tormentor."
awaiting her cue. or right she should
not have been so near the prompter's
desk. but he had gone to call some OF
the actors, so she placed herself at
hand, hoping to be OF service. Her
part was that OF Florence Trenchard.
The time had come for the entrance
Of Mr.. G.. q. Spear rs Binney. He had
drunken scene to go through, and
Miss Keene was expecting to give him
Push as he went by her. to aid in the
| ncf he x.,ttl Ia .yta SSf tim
audience. Instead she felt herself
pushed in the other direction--from
the stage, toward which she was not
Just ut that moment looking As she
felt herself struck on the hand by the
hand OF another she glanced up and
recognized John Wilkes Booth and
saw, too, the dagger he was clutching.
Al that very moment the appalling cry
rang out through the house:
"The president Is shot"
II was echoed spontaneously from
among the audience. and. as Miss
D Keene came forward she could see
' many men on their feet. some OF them
, evidently making for the stage. from
h which they had seen the assassin dis
s appear. Women were crying aloud.
b men cursing and children weeping. all
/. In IN indeterminate panic, much a. II
!. the alarm OF FIRE had been raised. Miss
n Keene came down to the footlighta
= forthwith and said: For Gods sake
q have presence Of mind and keep your
,, places. and all will be WELL"
Meanwhile Booth had made his es
J. cape through the stage door. fleeing or
Q the horse which had been provided fol
Q him. He had been followed by Mr.
o Stewart, one OF the audience, down OF
t the stage after his leap from the pres
q ident's box, but had avoided him b,
d dodging about the scenery, and haf
IS gotten away from the stage carpenter
who had attempted to detain him, b,
striking Mt him with tho dagger. NJ
one except Mr.. Stewart tried to pur
sue the fugitive, though everybod,
. seemed willing to aid. Amid the CON
fusion Miss Keene heard cry for wa
d ter from the presidential box. Pro
" curing glass she made her way from
70 the stage to the box by way OF tn,
y dress circle. Mrs. lincoln was cryinl
q piteously. Miss Keene at once di'
le everything In her power to aid. thougl
" she felt Srom the beginning that he'll
was useless.
10 Seating herself ON the floor. to whiol
O. the body OF the president had faller
the acti ess raised his head and place
n, It In her lap. 1t was at first suppose
A. that the shot had penetrated his lung,
r When the chest and shoulders ha
T. been barred without discovering an
I'd sign of injury the poor head was rails
I'd ed. Then the pool Of blood which ha
er gathered in the hollow of Miss Keene'
" gown told the story. She remained 1
I that position until the removal OF MI
I'd Lincoln from the theater. then stag
gered down TO her dressing room. nc
"a. only her garments but her hands an
face dabbled with blood.
he From the effect OF the shock an
ed horror OF this Miss Keene never full
recovered, and, though she lived NOR
n than eight years thereafter, she wa
M never strong. her nervous system bs
IA ing especially liable to attack.
ne