The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-04-12
Was Ar THE LINCOLN AUTOPSY
sTORY OF TIE ONLY SURVIVOR
or THE SIX PHYSICIANS.

Ii. EAWBTu DOYCIlDc8 VuC CCe1sv
at the White Hsuse-IAncoin's Brain
and Phyu1eue-Flndtng q NE Bullet
An Account Not BEFORE PRINTED.
As the stirring days OF generation ago
settle quietly into thsir place In history
the roster OF the only authentic chroniclers
OF their scenes-the actors or eyewitnesses
therein-rows shorter and shorter. II 10
well then for all surviving participants
In the historic events Of those times to tell
while yet opportunity permits, such Of
their experiences as possibly may be OF
interest.
This thought was brought homo to me
recently by the chance perusal OF an old
letter Of my own, written thirty-nve years
ago. I realized suddenly that OF the star
OF surgeons who had to do with the post
norton examination In the case OF Presi-
dent Lincoln was the sole survivor. and,
that apart from the ofiicial report Of the
findings. the yellowed manuscript now
before me was probably the only narrative
extant, written at the time. OF tho Incidents
of that solemn scene In the drama OF the
assassination.
The evening Of Coed Friday. the i%th
Of April, In the year iseS. was In Washing
ton warm and balmy. Twas then an assist
ant surgeon In the medical corps OF the
Regular army and stationed In Washington.
on duty In the Office Of the Surgeon General.
At 10 O'Clock in the evening OF that his
toric day ! was sitting with my young
wife on the stoop OF our boarding house,
one OF two fine old mansions situate on the
first block Of Vermont avenue, just on
from lafayette Square, to the north.
Facing the square on the east, one block
away. was the residence OF Secretary
Seward and beyond, on the south. was the
White House.
We were proposing q stroll down Penn
sylvania avenue. when from the direction
OF the Seward mansion came a sudden
Gathering OF q horses hoQfs. and. in an
instant. a horse bearing tall rider. hatless
and bending low over the bride. dashed
by US at gallop. A runner afoot followed
at a short distance behind but soon stopped.
turned and disappeared whence he came.
Little did we suspect the horseman to
be foiled assassin. fleeing for his life after
a desperate attempt TO stab to death the
Secretary OF State In his house nearby;
and still less did we dream that at the same
moment, at a theatre half a mile away,
a fellow conspirator in q comprehensive
murder plot. only too successful In his
assigned part. was shouting his bombast
Of sic semper fyrdnnis' As he, TOO. made
a dash for escape from the scene OF his
awful crime.
We set forth calmly on our stroll, passing
the Seward house on our way with no
thought OF the oommotion within. But
when after a short walk we boarded a
horse car TO return, We found ourselves
among pale-faced passengers who, coming
from Ford's Theatre, bore the shocking
and on reaching home We were met by
tidings that Secretary Stewards throat had
Aehast at this revelation Of q plot for
multiple murder, set forth again by myself
to meet any possible official summons
for professional service. But the place
was closed and dark.
Then went to the White House. but only
to find already Gordon Of sentries guard
learn from a bystander that the President
was not there, but was lying In some private
house near the theatre where he had been
shot. Under these circumstances the only
meeting call for duty was my own quarters
90 turned my steps homeward again.
And even nov. though but a short time
had elapsed since the public alarm. the
very atmosphere OF the streets seemed
changed. Where, half an hour before, the
faces Of wayfarers had reflected joy over
thoughts OF Appomattox. the fall OF Rich
mond and the surrender OF Johnston, now
ali was blanohed horror while in the road
wan horses hoofs rang and sabres clanked,
streets In the sudden stern assumption OF
martial law against plot OF murder whose
scope WAS unknown
No summons came to me through that
feverish night. but morning brought the
news OF the President dead and the Secretary
OF State With his con and others of his
household previously wounded.
I went early to my post OF duty, and
soon after arrival received instructions TO
accompany a colleague to the White House
at II o'clock for service in making. under
the direction OF the SUPERINTENDENT, such
post-mortem examination Of the remains,
in the Presidents case, as might be neces-
sary to establish officially the fact Of death
by homicide.
The incidents OF the autopsy this under
taken, together with the thoughts en-
rendered BY the ZANE, are hst told in
tho words OF my home letter, ALREADY re-
ferred to, written one week after the event.
sWAsHIHuroN, d. c. April "a, 1895.
DEAR MorHBn: A week ago to-day DR..
Woodward and myself were ordered by the
Surg on General TO make a Tost-mo rtem
examination. IN he pr senos, on the body
O'Clock, we assembled at tn" White House
In tho room where tho body lay.
The room has been described. II con-
tanned but little furniture; a large. heavily
curtained bed. a sofa or two. bun au. ward
robo and chairs comprised oil there was.
SEATED around the room were several
general officers and some civilians, silent
or conversing in whispers, and to one side,
stretched upon q rough framework Of
boards and covered only with sheets and
towels. lay. cold and immovable, what but
q few houn before was the soul OF great
nation.
THE Surgeon General was walking up
and down the room when I arrived and
detailed to mo the history Of the case. He
said that the Pr sident showed most wonder
full tenacity OF life, and. had not his wound
been neo ssarily mortal. might have sur
Vivid an injury TO which most men would
suocumb.
Upon the arrival OF Drs. Crane. Stone
[private physician to the Prcsidentl, Wood.
ward and Notson, Dr. Woodward and
proceeded to open the head and remove
the brain down to the track OF the ball.
The latter had entered little 10 the left
OF the median line at the back OF the head.
had passed almost directly forward through
the centre OF the brain and lodged.
sNot finding II readily Wa proceqded 70