The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-08-04
Occult Dream of a
HideOus Assassination.

1t was on the second night. l think be-
fore Booths departure for the East. when
an incident occurred which did not impress
me very forcihly at the time. bu, in the
light of subsequent events seemed To he
quite remarkable. I have never been much
of a believer in Spirituslism. occultism. tbs
communion of souls or anything in that
line. and l have no theory to advance now
regarding the singular occurrence but
deem the circumstances worthy of relating.
We had retired that night about l. o'clock
after having spent a delightful evening IN
reading, music and conversation upon Diff
ferent subjects. Along about . o'clock I
invoke to find myself struggling like a mad
I man in the arms Of Booth. who was doing
his utmost to hold me still and awaken
me. After becoming thoroughly awakened
It required several minutes for me TO re-
cover from the experiences I mad passed
| through in a hideous nightmare. when I re-
J lated the substance of my dream to Booth.
1t appeared to me that l was walking
along the streets of a large city that wero
shrouded in darkness to such an extent
that l had to feel my way along the build
fngs. Suddenly a pistol shot disturbed the
deathlike stiffness and a large building
doomed up before me with light flashing
from its hundred windows.
was standing at the entrance OF an alley
and became all at once panic stricken and
started to run through the alley. As. in
my dream. l dashed alorS. the scene seemed
to be lit up with meteorlike brightness and
I beheld a man emerge from the rear of the
building and rush towards me. An impulse
seized upon ms to bar his way. and as We
met he drew a dagger. az if to strike mo
down. When our eyes met ! recognized
Booth.
That was all I remembered until I found
myself struggling in his arms.
Dream Was Recalled by the Fate
of President Lincoln.
The following spring I entered the army.
and thought nothing more of the matter.
until In 1865. when the country was e~lectri-
Ned by the announcement that President
Lincoln had been assassfnated by John
Wilkes Booth. I was stationed at Fayette-
VILE. Ark. at the time. and upon reading
the story Of the assassination a vivid rec
objection Of my dream in the little depot
at Cameron flashed upon me.
A week passed away. and. although the
railroad company had a small army of men
employed clearing the track. traffic was still
wholly Interrupted. The telegraph lines had
been repaired and a day or two afterwards
word came that the road was clear as far
west n Chillicothe. which was forty miles
east Of Cameron. The time was drawing
near for Booth to an his engagement in st.
Louis. and n the railroad authorities an
nounced II would require some days long
er to clear the track between Chinicothe
and Cameron. Il became necessary for
Booth to invent some means. II possible,
Of getting to Chillicothe.
Booth Travelled From Cameron
to Chillicothe in . Sleigh.
The weather had been extremely cold ana
the snow was hard enoAgh to bear . sleigh
and team. % Booth hit upon the idea OF
hiring q man to At up two large sleds with
double runners and . huge wagon O
upon each one In which the company could
traverse the necessary forty miles.
The morning Of their departure they filled
the wagon bodies with straw and with
their numerous wraps and . few BUFFALO
robes were enabled to proceed quite COM
fortably. Just before getting in the sleigh
Booth shook me- heartily by the hand and
said in his usual captivating manner:
"Good-by: the next time I see you I hops
II will be in Washington. where I can re-
ciprocate your hospitality"
Such was John Wilkes Booth as I beheld
him in my younger days and I repeat that
I have never had occasion for hanging
my estimate Of his character. even after
reviewing 1t from a ripper experience of life
When I remember Booth At this remote
day. I find myself comparing him to Byron
and Poe. mysterious. inscrutable and gifted
with something in his nature that reminds
me of the soaring eagle or q flashing star.
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