Waterbury Democrat., 1901-10-16
WHEN JACKSON WAS SHOT AT.

Mrs Harriet Maxwell Converse of this city has a letter describing the at- tempt to assassinate President Jack son, written by Representative Howell of Steuben county to her aunt, Mrs Frances Cameron. Mrs Converse'S father. Thomas Maxwell of Chemung county. was also member of congress at that time.
 Representative Howell was wit ness of the attempt to kill President Jackson. His letter is dated at Wash ington, January 30, 1885, on the even ing of the day of the event. This Is the letter:
 'I have been under high degree or excitement all the afternoon at most daring attempt to assaSsinate the pres ident at the Capitol today. We had been attending the funeral of a de- ceased member, Congressman Davis of South Carolina, and the president, as is usual on such occasions, was pres ent. After the religious services in rlle hall were concluded the corpse was re- moved from the hall through the TO- tunda by the grand piazza at the east to the hearse, followed by the repre- sentatives, senators, president, heads of departments and judiciary in pro- cession.
 "As the president came out of the rotunda a man advanced toward him from the front and when he lp- preached within two yards presented a pistol and attempted to discharge it at his breast. It was what is called percussion lock, which is primed with a little copper cap containing pereus- sion or detonating powder, a material the most combustible and and consti- tuting a means of firing any weapon l1.z ai,,%r aic cap exploded without discharging the pistol, which was instantly dropped by the miscreant and another drawn from his bosom and snapped at the presi- dent with a celerity that prevented all possible interference from the by islanders and resistance by him. Bnt he observed the attack and the lion was aroused at once. He raised his cane Ghe only weapon in his reach) and aimed a blow at the assassin. AT the same time Captain Gedney seized him and threw. him down. MT Wood bury, who had hold of the presidents arm. immediately assisted and he was disarmed and secured.
 "The passions of the president were up, and for a few minutes his frown was appalling. He is certainly the most extraordinary man of his age. No blanching, no timid misgivi1gs even for moment affected him. He saw tile attempt upon his life was calculating, determined purpose, and he only thought of resistance. na- ked and unarmed as he was. Every trace of age had fed-he stood giant in his youth and lowered above all his attendants, as the falcon towers above cartridges in her stoop upon .hc quarry.
 But, my dear madam, what an as. tonishing instance of the superintend- ing care of Providence over a life SO long devoted to and so important to our country. The pistols were care fully examined and proved to have been heavily charged with the greatest care and it was not perceivable why they did not go off. Such an instance of the failure of two such weapons so prepared never occurred in the knOwi- edge of any man. They were calcn- lated for the greatest certainty that snch weapons admit of and One would have been willing to rely on their fatal fidelity for his life. and yet they and that His arm is not shortened that he cannot save.'
 The monster was taken before the 1 judge and examined, but no light is | thrown upon this mysterious transac- ton. It has only transpired that the