The age-herald., 1901-09-24

From the New York Sun
 Tn the village of Wakefield, N. T.. there is an old man to whom the shooting of President Mckinley comes home with es- pecial force He is William Withers, and he was once the leader of the orchestra in Ford's theater, Washington, and while there he was an eye witness of the shoot ing of President Lincoln on the night of April IA. 1885.
 ''In life of sixty-five years, almost fifty of which have been spent as an or chestra leader, have seen many strange things" he said to a Sun reporter on the night of the shooting of President MeKin- ley, and Ihave travelled all over this con- tinent and Europe; but of all the things that I recall none remains so indeIlbly stamped upon the tablets of my memory as the scenes of that terrible night. It seems but yesteday since Lincoln died.
 Laura Keene's company was at Ford s theater. and on that particular night-it was Good Frfday-the play was the American Cousin,' with Laura Keene as the star. was young and enthusias- tic then, and very mulch wrapped up in my work I had written and composed q song which I called Honor to Our Sol- diers.' I had engaged a quartette and we had practiced time and again. Miss Keene had promised me that it should be sung between the acts that night. The entrance of the presidential party, which was entirely unexpected, very ef- fectual1y put an end to our plan. The party consisted of MT. and Mrs. Lincoln, Major Rathbone and the two boys, Tad and Robert Lincoln. They proceeded to box to the right of the stage, and four teen feet above it's level As the party walked along the passage the vast audi ence cheered enthusiastically while the orchestra struck up Hail to the Chief I had heard that played often at the en- trance of a President to some public gathering. and had frequently noted that the chief executive ignored it and failed to acknowledge that he understood it's im- port. ot so with Lincoln He smiled and bowed politely to orchestra and audience; then with characteristic modesty, he with drew to a far corner of the box. so that his face was shaded by the curtain. He did not sit in front as has been erroneous ly stated.
 "How great and good and amiable,'
 
 thought l.
 Before the overture Wilkes Booth and I had a drink together, and now that moving down the passageway leading to the box. He seemed to be intently watch ing the play.
 |" What has come over Booth tonight, I wonder, that he follows the play so closely?' I remarked to a member of the orchestra.
 'This was near the conclusion of the first act. Just as the curtain was about to be rung down, J. B. Wright, the pro- moter, sent word to me that it would be impossible to produce my song that night, because Miss Keene was nervous over the unexpected arrival of the President, and was fearful lest something would occur to mar the play. was angry at this, as Miss Keene had given me a pos itive promise and had said. moreover, that she would aid me as much as she could. I was naturally eager to see how the song would take as I was some what proud of it. I made up my mind therefore. to go to the rear of the stage and remonstrate with Wright
 Just inside the door leading to the point I wished to reach, the box cont ain ing the governor which controlled the gas jets of the entire building was placed. Leanig over this box was Spangler, a scene shifter apparently watching the play.
 Get out of my way I exclaimed.
 What business have you hereT he demanded.