The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1897-05-01
SAW LINCOLN KILLED
WILLIAM WRITER'S, LEADER or FORD'S
ORCHESTRA, TELLS HIS EXPERIENCE.

Had Written . Song For Particular
Pcrfornsnce-W-as on the Stage and
Eooth struck Hin, W.i;h . Dagger-iIe
Was First to identify the Assassin.
AT the Professional Wcman's league,
while the members worked diligently
oyer the novelties being made for the
coming bazaar, the question came mp,
'sIs thcra asvhcGr living vko a2w Lin
coin assas.i:.ateG:'
Immediately everybody had r
thing 10 say about somebody else who
had q friend who Was at the theatcr that
night. The nest interesting story was
told of William Withcrs, Jr., nov. or
chcstra leader fer Mr.. Daly, hut nt the
time Of the assassination leader OF the
orchestra Of Ford's theater.
Mr.. Withers enjoys the distinction of
having ECt only been 1t tho theater the
night Lincoln was ass3ssinatcd, Eut Ct
having been pierced by the dagger Of
the assassin just q few moments after
bOOtL llAO iA1tu tLIC eDOb tltIt lIUttt Llu-
coin a martyr. Every time lie gees to
Washington lie is requested TO tell this
story, and, although many ard varied
are the r~ecita;s Of this thrilling event
Mr.. Withers' is somewhat different from
the others. Here is Tie story as be tells
it i'll the Washington Pest:
II was leader of the orchestra at the
time, and as the president was to wit
ness the performance Of Our American
Cousin | thought that, as beittod tie
occasion, / would compose u song. So I
did. 1t was entitled Homer to Our Sol
diers' and dedicated to the president.
This was to lie sung between two CT the
acts by a quartet / had engaged ard tho
entire company, who were to be attired
III the American colors.
"As I was on my way to the theater
! met John Wilkes Booth just in front
OF George Harry's saloon, which ad-
Joined the theater. 1t was a sultry
night, and Booth had his overcoat over
his arm. Good evening, Billy, he said.
Come and have something's
GAS ! was leaving to enter the thea
ter Booth remarked, IN witness the
performance tonight Noticed nothing
strange about his demeanor and SUISSE
quently saw him as I was coming out
for the overture.
Soon the president, his wife, Major
Rathbone and Robert and Tad entered
their box. / signalod fer Hail to tie
Chief and the audience cheered, and
the president turned smilingly and
bowed. Then be seated himself, and
with his accustomed modesty drew the
curtains half across the box.
After the first act J. P. Wright, the
stage manager, sent me werd he would
be unable to have tho special song sung
at that time, but he would try to have
1T rendered between the second and third
acts. a similar message was sent to me
at the close of the second act, and I be-
came somewhat exercised. I started to
go upon the stage when | saw Booth on
the balcony walking down the aisle in
the direction Of the presidents box. He
was seemingly attentive toward the act
ing, fer the curtain had again gone I'D.
L encountered a scene shifter, Spanrler.
whose office | afterward learned was to
turn cut the lights i'll the theater as soon
as the shot was fred. He distracted Lly
passage.
What do you want here?' he de-
manded. In reply | told him ID was
none of sis business. Mr.. Wright an
pearing, Spanglcr left his position on
the stage alongside the box in which
was the apparatus for illuminating tho
theater. | closed the lid of the Lex ard
sat upon it to talk to the manager, m
conscious that ! was spelling the plan.
"Mr. Wright told NE the song would
be sung at the close of tho performance.
and Miss keene had sent word to the
president requesting him to stay 10
hear it.
II was just about to return to the or
chostra when the crack If a revolver
startled me All was quiet instantly. /
saw q ira jump from the Presidents
box On to the stage. 1t was Booth. He
ran directly toward the door leading
into the alley. This course brought Inn
right III my path. lie had Il dagger ID
his hand, and he waved it threatening
iy. lie evidently did not recognize ne,
Tor he appeared like q maniac. His eyes
seemed starting from their sockets, and
his hair was disheveled.
Win lead down, he ran toward me
and cred, Let me Iassn he sl.s had at
ne. and the knife cut through my coar,
vest and Undertaking. He struck
again, the pointof the weapon pcnetrat-
ing the back Of MY neck, ard The blow
brought me TO the tioor. | watched hun
maize MS exit into tie alley and caught
sight oil the horse, held by Peanut