The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-15

ssSzser Washington. and OF the eleven IN
xwsa,,aIg who were connected, directly or
t.dsrscsIy with that tragic and unhappy
s-sat but two are yet living One OK
ssssr IL Lewis J. Weichmann. now resi-
x.rs ~ Philadelphia, whose testimony was
80 foundation stone on which the govern
80, rested It's hopes of eonvicting Mrs.
u.yy r Surrats and her son. John II.
asrratt. and On which history and the
Mr. of subsequent events have since cast
.r.re nnadow. The other living actor in
sssl fsu.ous tragedy is John Harrison Sur
~ a resident of Baltimore. trusted
- honored Official In the Old Bay line OF
rfesspake steamers. whose life story from
- time ne ran away from school as
- lad OF Is, and Joined the secret serv-
- harsau OF the Confederacy. until the
- dsy OF his long and highly sensational
ssnl reads like fairy tale and Is but
ssaftsy evidence OF the oft-proved adage
q. truth is stranger than fiction"
~ third Of q century prominent writ
= far newspapers ana magazines have
,sslsred that could John Fl. Surratt be In
1ae<1 to tell his story, freely, unreservediy
"a fully, II would rival in romantic inter-
81 and dramatic detail anything hitherto
psbisshed concerning the landmarks OF the
enr between the states. Countless Efforts
-sver thousand, In fact--haye been made
8 get him to tell his story and make
sss,ement OF his true relations with Wilkes
nnoth. Wcichmann. DIR. Mudd and the
ether actors who figured In that long train
q sfirring events which eliminated in the
aesass.natfon OF Abraham Lincoln and the
execution OF his mother. but prior to the
shr<s interviews granted me. In which he
toN every detail OF his life. he has re-
turned but one answer to all. The wound
vas too deep and ranking TO tear open at
this late day and expose TO the eriticai
sase OF an unsympathe;ie pubic.
He fees now. however. that. after a
,apse OF a third OF a century, the bitterness
OF feeling. rancor and hate engendersd by
fsur long years OF internecine strife has
n<ssed away and given place to moro
lstr and liberal feeling concerning his re-
pused connection with an event which
shecked the world and thrust nation in
10 mourning II feel that owe 1t to those
WHO have passed away, AS we'll as to my
aelf 10 make a statement concerning what
know Of that event. he said. His state
mant places him In very different light
Ssloss the people OF the country. Capt.
euiratt In very different from the ignorant
ana blcodthirsty Southerner pictured by
an angry press during his trial. On the
consrary. he Is refined. highly educated
end polished. His manners are stately ard
6igtsifet,. He IL brilliant talker and ev-
cry word he utters conveys the exact
meaning he Intended He is above the
rnsatum h4ight. straight and slender and
has iron gray hair and mustache and two
piendrg gray eyes set deep In his head be-
eeaih heavy eyebrows. He talks IN low
isns sf voice. never hesitates for a word
aad eny twice during my talks with him
"a 10 become excited. although dwelling
Ter lhs FIRST time in over thirty years on
<xyYs. kzx vssr p al
tag 10 thelr core. Once was when he
t2oke Of Wilkes Booth anS the other time
vas during his terrible arraignment OF
Wtsehmann. He Is only IS years old. al
though he looks 20. He tod me no lived
years from the time he entered the
fcaihs.n army until he was liberated on
BAL after his two months trial. As the
Substance OF this Interview Is OF consider
able historical Importance, In that 1t is
tss hrst purely voluntary statement OF
any one who had aught TO do with Wilkes
8eoih ] Will give his statement, word FOR
wosl. as they left his mouth. merely pre-
srrins historical sequence;
when the war broke out was a small
esr Oh is studying ar st. Charles college
N Carroll county. Md. and like all South
en- boys ut that time was redhot rebel
md dearly loved my native state. At the
sadfge II WAS strictly against the rules
70 csscHss even IN the most casual manner
sW or the political questions then agita.-
sfx the country. I remember one after
heoa We were all on tho campus, which d.
feesly faced Charles Carroll, OF Carrollton's
BEAUTIFUL estate. Dourhegan manor.
shen there issued from the main drive
way opposite troop OF Confederate cavai-
g On their way 20 toin .he army OF North
va virginia The troop had been recruit
fSf f,...
iaey were magnificent set of young
1es, III. OF fire. dash and vim, and ure-
seased splendid appearance. I was fred
saa martial ardor az tho sight. and tossed
a.f cap IN the air. ! cheered and cheered
rs ssain. In fact, ! chesred myself hoarss.
"nVa sas troop had disappeared behind a
sess os DUST, my comrades assured me
.asl | would certainly be expelled. ana
sssAs the bull by the horns. az II were.
ssas dreet TO the principal and told him
aa1 ! had done. He WAS very angry az
-. -. ea' hnaily soflenlpg. said Il might
ssse a coed thing after all. adding: we
-, aaSe use fer those young men YETI
sss a. tHis college that / first NET
.ss3s ]. wsschmsnn. nav nemesis mar
g., Gas anne rnoys than anyone living OF
- bring disgrace OF ms ana my
After staying a. che college a
4@tas became convinced that nv
8 was n tho ranks Of the Southern
e.. @.E ana sliJing me action 10 the
.s.sa ! weat direct 20 Richmond and
c. she secret service bureau under
49, @otT, oae OF the finest Americans
p-s~ - hFsd, j. would take every COL
es.sn SPACE IN The paper YOU represg.l. 20
So 80 ~ NV experiences white travelling
"a. s1aergTounA rou;e' between Rich
e., washington. Baltimore and Mon
sae@. saa inaume -2hls haivbreadth es-
saeA icok back On the risks
49, kae desperate chances took.
fansa - see haw cou.a have been 3,
sss. naked IN and cut e the
N,.As,i.Ae '"o armies entered ana lert
Ys.s s.a' went feon Richmond "a NV
sss 20 20 loader, reformed 20 washlnrr,,
va s'easSd 'Ae l'sloa generals MI re-
e. kAthtFiag vasllah.e tn+orr,,..g,s-, -
rs.s krew every crosSrcas. hv-
r.. SEQ h@ag place In Northera vir-
seetheTa Maryland"
&C 49, '7att < has been state. in n~s
49, 0FiaeiIsal magazines ,ha, Roofs ~.
,.-.s = sTt ypur ro~,Yavast., ~ .hm.
;ras.,~.,' ~a'. ard INat when Won we~e gr,.
M 10 him lo wssh.7gtor fv n
rsss. ga 'Aaashs AZ fr-f that IA Va
VIA Wy NY Il = stated taat Won wsrs
- Nesehnsnn. WV
s.,~. vac HTSt place wrkes re,o.> 49,
The g.. 1e'e3 % ss,e by ~. M,sda or
IA "a =. p anywhere else Booth cans