The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1902-02-27
JOHN WILKES BOOTH.
Thrilling Adventure of the Assassin of
President Lincoln.

President Lincoln.
The fact that John Wilkes Booth was
playing in Richmond at the time of the
John Brown insurrection, and that ho
went to Harper's Ferry with one of our
city military companies which were Or
dered on duty there, has been recalled
in several publications made of late,
but it has not been clearly stated to
which company he was attached.
We have information now which
leaves no doubt in our mind that Booth
went into that service as private in
the Richmond Grays. He was not a
member Of that organization at that
time, but having an adventurous spirit,
and being personally acquainted with
many Grays, he joined their ranks
when they were ordered to Harper's
Ferry. In the haste of leaving here he
was unable to provide himself with
uniform other tLan a military overcoat
and cap. Later on, however, either at
Harper's Ferry or at Charlestown, he
secured full uniform from a member
of the company who was compelled to
quit the field and return to Richmond.
Our information, which we believe to
lie exact, is that Booth was with the
Grays on duty at the hanging of John
Brown at Charlestown, Dec. 2, 1859.
Furthermore, we are assured that after
the execution, when the hangman's
rope was seized upon and divided
among soldiers and citizens as souven-
irs Of that occasion, Booth was among
those who possessed themselves of a
piece. Strange taste But Booth was
a young man and, at times, was pret
ty wild one, and that was o period of
great popular excitement. We who
live in these piping days of peace and,
with the eyes of the present, seek to
peer into the past, are almost sure to
be misled in our conclusions. At any
rate, no one of Booths companions saw
in his act of carrying piece of hang
mans rope in his pocket presage that
he was to become an assassin and that
of'a president; that he was to do deed
that would excite universal execration;
that he was to bring down upon the
head of the south fresh calamities, and
that, after riding twelve days with
broken leg, he was at last to be driven
by fire from the barn in which he had
taken refuge and be shot down like a
rat
The fact is that much brooding had
made Booth mad. There had been
four years of war during which he new
er raised his hand to help the south; !;
during all that time he was within the
Union lines. 1t was not until Rich
mond had been evacuated not until
Lee had surrendered, that Booths in
dignation became uncomfortable. Pres
ident Lincoln had been here in Rich
mond; had walked the streets of the
"rebel" capital without harm, and has
returned to Washington, when Booth,
on April IA, 1865, found his opportuni-
| ty and fired his fatal shot,
| For twelve days Booth was fugitive
"a hunted, hungry man, riding horse
back with broken leg, beset on every
side, pursued by cavalry. the object of
an offer Of 800, 900 reward. In land
distinguished for its hospitality all
doors were closed to him. There was
none to betray him for reward, but the
only bed offered him was pile of straw
in barn. And from that refuge fed
eral cavalry drove him with fire and
smoke and gave him no more chance
for his life than he had given Lincoln.
Tragedy was Booths role, and ht
played it to the end. His body wat
taken from the Garrett farm in Carolina
Va, where he was killed, to Washing
ton; there fully identified; then conceal
ed for long time, and at last turned
over to his brother, who caused it to b.
buried ir- . Baltimore cemetery. Ora
matte consequences still followed
: Booth, for the brave clergyman witt
dared to read the burial service owe
= him became the victim of persecution
because Of that humane act.-Rich
mond Dispatch.