Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1904-02-08

by Booth, the president was found by
those who had rushed TO the box still
sitting in the large armchair, with his
hands IN its arms and his head fallen
forward on his breast as if asleep.
Ensign William Flood OF the navy,
first TO enter the box, lifted the silent
figure from the chair and laid il on The
floor. Surgeon Charles A Leale, also
OF the navy, followed just behind
Flood. and his hurried search dls-
closed that the ball had entered the
head back of the left ear, and was
lodged in the brain. Soon army Of
fcers brought in a stretcher. The
president was gently lifted on 70 it
and, with the blood dripping faster
and faster from the wound. he was
carried from the theater 10 room in
a lOdging-house across the way.
News of the tragedy spread with
the swiftness of the wind. and as it
spread met other news which doubled
the horror of that awful night. At
the same hour that Booth had shot
Lincoln, one Lewis Payne, an ex-cOn-
federate and an associate of Booths
in the kidnapping conspiracy, had ap-
pered at the door of the Seward home
with the statement that he had been
sent by the doctor TO administer an
important prescription TO the secre-
tary. who was then confined to his
bed, suffering from injuries the result
CT a runaway accident. Payne forced
his way into the sick-room, striking
Frederick W. Seward a terrible blow
with his heavy pistol Left free to
work his will, Payne rushed into the
sick chamber, slashing right and left
with his large knife After wounding
Col. Augustus II. Seward and two
male nurses, he fell upon the defense
less secretary in bed, and inflicted
three stabs upon his neck, as a result
of which his life hung for week as by
a thread. Payne escaped. Such was
the terrible story brought to or by
those who had gathered in the house
on Tenth street where the president
lay. These included, besides his wife
and his son Robert, Secretary Stan
ton, Welles and Usher, Attorney Gen
eral Speed, Senator Sumner Private
Secretary John Hay, DR.. Gurley, Lin
coins pastor, and several physicians
and friends. Stanton alone was mas
ter of himself. For hours he die
tated orders one after another. direct
ing here an arrest and there some pre-
caution that needed to be taken until
the crisis was over. Grant, now re-
turning to Washington, was warp 30
exercise care on the journey and to
send an engine in front Of his train
The president at midnight was still
alive, but unconscious and breathing
heavily, and the surgeons, after more
careful examination CT the wound,
said that there was no hope. A man Of
less vitality, they declared, would
have been dead within the hour The
night waned into morning with no
change in the presidents
condition. Those about the bed
anxiously watched each feeble respi-
ration, and as the unbroken quiet
would seem to prove that life had fed,
they would force another fiuttering
signs of relief and once more fix their
gaze upon the face of the dying man.
Soon after daylight the breathing be-
came easier, and the features took on
a more peaceful expression. "Symp-
tens of immediate dissolution" ran
the bulletin issued at o'clock, and
% minutes later Lincoln died