The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-09-10
ATTACKS ON PRESIDENTS.
The Fourth Time in the History Of
This Nation.
AND LINCOLN ASsASSINATED.
The Failure Of Pistols to Disoharoe
Saved Andrew jackson from Death.
ReoolIeotions.

PRESIDENT Lincoln was shot while sitting
IN box at Ford's thcatcr in Washington
on the night of April H. 1865 nv Iobn
wilkes Booth, an actor. who was surround
cd after chase and Killed by troops In
burning barn. The president died on tho
morning of the next day.
rms assassination was one of tho most
sensational in history. 1t was lust nj tho
close OF a war which had disruntod ana
irenSied great nation II ended tho ufc
OF president who stands at least SECOND
In the line. and OF man whom tho whole
North loved and many in the Sonth resnect.
cd. lts scene was the theatrical setting Of
crazed genius and its effects far rooch.
ing.
MT Lincoln went to the theater with
Mrs. Lincoln, Miss Mary Harris daughter
OF senator Harris, and Major Rathbun. Of
Albany, son-inlaw Of Senator Harris +o
see Laura Keene in Our American
cousin" The party occupied the front box
IN the second tier of the crowded theotnr
Inc fact that the president was TO he
present was known and thousands had
ciamored for admission.
me orchestra had played "America" tho
auulencc cheered and the president bowed
anu smiled MS he took his seat The war
pr"ctcaHS was over and every one cheerful
anu happy MS the play went on. Interest
was divided between the stage and rho
presidential box. ''''
Near the close of the third oct n,sto,
S Snu was heard; rhe next Instant. ana he.
i ,, any, save Major Rathhun had realized
spurred and hrandlshipr n iong enu
sprahg over the rail of the box and mon
the stage. "u upon
As he leaped one of his spurs caught +,
tn, nag which druped the box md he 5o ~
ieI; one OF the bones of his leg WINS
broken, put he limped pace forward and
o,dInh MS knife before tho dazed
sic semper tyranns." Then he ran "croS,
one stage to door, jumped on a horse
and rode away.
major Major Rathbun had attempted to prevent
booth entry TO the box and also tried TO
h "ld NM but as the assassin eaped out he
stabbed backward with his knife. wounding
Major Rathbun in the arm.
Miss Harris the pistol DISCHARGED rs
Booth pressed forward and placed his
weapon against the back of the presidents
mead mead, Mrs. Lincoln saw nothing until
| Booth leaped from the box, and MS she
turned toward her husband saw that his
mead had sunk forward on his breast. An
instant before he had been leaning his head
up I ms hand In characteristic attitude
ana laughing heartily.
The bullet entered the back of the head
and came out above the temple. Ii is
that he had been shot
Mrs. Lincoln's screams and Major Rath-
! Duns shouts aroused the audience from It's
stupor and told all too plainly what had
! happened A guard of soldiers rushed I'm
from the street and surrounded the box in
| which Mrs. Lincoln held the unconscious
form OF her husband. The whole theater
was was an panic, Women became historical
ana men rushed almlessly about. Then tho
audience pushed Its way into the street TO
hrd the whole city In an uproar
Almost at the same hour that the presi-
uent was shot Secretary of State Seward
was stabbed several times by man who
had fought his way to the seeretary's sick
bed. The would be assassin fractured the
| tskull Of the secretarys son. Frederick
Seward, with the butt OF n revolver. The
bed clothes and the struggles of the secrp-
tary prevented him from being Injured
The face and neck. Major Seward. nnoth-
! err son, and n soldier who attempted to
! stop tho man were stabbed and n servant
In the house was knocked down The man
ran out jumped upon horse and rode
| away. also shouting the State motto of
| Virginia Sic sempcr tyrannis."
| Officers who rushed TO Secretary of War
! stanton with the news of the attack upon
| the president, surprise cloaked figure
| lurking in front OF his house. who hurried
| away. The messenger sent to Vice PreSi-
once turned out the light 1t was found
| there was a general plot to kill the entire
/ cabinet, in which about twenty-five per-
! sons were concerned
| Booth had carefully planned his crime.
| lie had bored hole through the door 10
the box by which he could watch for his
opportunity. The chairs were arranged to
suit his purpose by an accomplish In the
theater. The actor was well known in the
| place and easily reached the corridor out
side of the box, where he awaited his
| chance. A board was placed against the
door as he entered. making him secure
against Interference from outside
| While the street outside was In turmo,
and galloplng cavalry were carrying the
| news and adding to the excitement in
their rush. surgeons and officials had reach
ed the presidents side.
mattress was brought and he was car
| ried to the Peterson house across the
street while the soldiers cleared n passage
! way. Surgeon General Barnes was attend
! ing Secretary Seward when n courier ar
rived to order him to the presidents bed
! side.
All that night physicians, members of the
| family and cabinet officers watched by the
bedside The president had lost conscious
ness Immediately and his pulse failed
steadily, Nothing could be done hut wait
for the end. AT Z o'clock On the morning
Mrs Lincoln took her leave Of her husband,
and at twenty-five minutes past the presl-
| dent died
Great excitement all over the North fol
| lowed the receipt of the news. The join,
cations over the ending of the war stopped
abruptly. and in place of the feeling of re-
lief n new and intense bitterness against
| the South sprang up,
Soldiers and civilians were searching
everywhere for the assassin. reward OF
$4,000 was offered for his capture. This
| was increased next day to $4,000 and later
to $4,000 Patrols of cavalry left Wash
| ington along all the roads, Virginia, Mary
| land and Pennsylvania, near the boundar-
les, were filed with soldiers beating the
They found Booth and his companion,
| Herold eleven days after the murder hid
! ing in a barn on CARROTS farm, near
Port ROYAL, Md. Hcrold surrendered, but
Booth. armed with carbine, refused 10
come out The barn was set on fire. Col.
onel Conger, who commanded the troop of
cavalry, gave orders that he was 10 be
! taken alive
As the flames ignlted the structure the
soldiers kept close watch upon Booth
through cracks In the walls. Finally one
Of them, Sergeant Corbett nred. The bul'
| let struck Booth In the neck. He was
brought out and laid upon the grass and
died four hours later.
"Tell mother | died for my country
thought It was for the best were his last
/ words.
The BODY was Officially received on board
the monitor Montauk and then taken away
| spcrptlv There Is no authoritative state