The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-09-18
OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN B!
JOHN WILKES BOOTH.

ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN BY
JOHN WILKES BOOTH.
TAT Ford's theater, Washington, April H. 1861
resounded with the music Of bands:
The inhabitants were hoarse with
cheering.
At about 8 o'clock Mr.. and Mrs. Lin
coin started for the carriage. AS soon
as they were seated in the carriage the
president gave orders to the coachman
to drive around to the home Of Senator
Harris for Miss Harris. A few min
utes later the presidential party of four
persons-the president and Mrs. Lin
coin, Miss Harris and Mr.. Rathbone Of
Albany, stepson Of Senator Harris-ar-
rived at the theater and entered the
front and left hand upper private box.
The play, 1.-THE American Cousin"
was being presented by Laura Keene,
the famous actress. From the story Of
that great crime as told in the life Of
Lincoln by John Hay and John G. Nico-
Lay the following Is taken:
The president had been detained by visitors,
and the play had made some progress when he
arrived. When he appeared in his box, the band
struck up Hail to the Chief" the actors ceased
playing and the audience rose, cheering tumultu-
ously. The president bowed in acknowledgment
OF this greeting, and the play went on.
The moon rose that night at 10 O'clock. A few
minutes before that hour Booth called one Of the
underlings OF the theater to the back door and
left him there holding his horse. He then went
to saloon near by, took drink Of brandy and,
| A tyh
crowd in rear Of the dress circle and made his
way to the passage leading to the presidents box
He showed a card to servant in attendance
and was allowed to pass in. He entered noiseess-
ly and, turning fastened the door with the bar
he had previously made ready without disturbing
any Of the occupants OF the box, between whom
and himself there yet remained the slight parti-
ton OF the door, through which he had bored the
hole.
The murderer seemed to himself, it was after
ward thought, to be taking part in play. Par
tisan hate and the fumes Of brandy had for weeks
kept his brain in morbid state. He paused as
II expecting applause.
Holding pistol in one hand and knife in the
other, he opened the box door, put the pistol to
the presidents head and fred. Dropping the
weapon, lie took the knife in his right hand, and
when Major Rathbone sprang to seize him he
struck savagely at him. Major Rathbone received
| the blow on his left arm, suffering wide and
deep wound.
Booth, rushing forward, then placed his left
hand on the railing Of the box and vauted lightly
over to the stage. 1t was high leap but nothing
| to such trained athlete. He was in the habit
Of introducing what actors call sensational leaps
| in his plays.
He would have got safely away but for his
spur catching in the folds Of the Union flag with
which the front OF the box was draped He fell
| on the stage, the torn flag trailing on his spur,
but instantly arose as il he had received no hurt,
| though in fact the fall had broken his leg.
He turned to the audience, brandishing his drip
| ping knife and shouting the state motto OF Vir'
\ ginia, "Slc Semper Tyrannis" and fed rapidly
across the stage. and out Of sight.
The wounded president was borne to
the house of Mr.. Petersen. across the
street from the theater, where every
thing within the powers OF surgery and
medicine was done to save his life.
It was at 7:22 Saturday morning,
April Is, that President Lincoln breath
ed his last, closing his eyes as if falling
asleep, his features bearing the repose
of perfect serenity. There was no indl-
| cation Of pain and only the gradual