Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-07-07
Tells Of Death of Lincoln


Tells Of Death of Lincoln.
One of the few men living to-day,
the only man in Indianapolis and per
hapS in the Hoosier State. who can re
call the assassination of Abraham Lin
coin. the martyr President. April Is,
1863. as an eye witness of the tragedy
is Professor William II. he Note an
inspector in the science department Of
the Indiana Institute for the Dear and
Dumb.
Professor De Motto is now Is years
old, and is one Of the pioneer residents
of the city. He was seated I'm the Ford
Theater when the historic event took
place. 1t was expressly to see Presi-
dent Lincoln and General Grant. who
was to have accompanied him 10 the
theatcr, that he with two friends. had
decided To attend He and his friends
were among the closest spectators of
the deed Of John Wilkes Booth the
assassin. and as the body of Lincoln
was horne from the theater they could
have dipped their hands in the mar
tyr's blood" as Professor De Motto ex-
presses it,
Professor DE Motto can relate much
of interest about the stirring tunes
which followed the surrender of Gen
era! Lee of the Confederate Army 10
General Grant And particularly
graphic is his account of the uSsassi
nation. Il was serving at the time"
states Professor De Motto. in Wash
ington rs military and sanitary agent
for Indiana, an Office created 10y Gov
ernor Morton, to look after the In
diana soldicry which was disabled or
in need of attention for other reasons.
My attendance nj the theater resulted
from the presence of two friends who
wished to see Lincoln and Grant Pres
ident Lincoln was seated partially be
hind flag which draped the box.
Grant had not yet arrived Mrs. Lin
coin was in plain view, and we were
waiting for the President to move that
we might have better view of his
face, when we noticed n tall, slender
man. dressed neatly in black. pass
along the balcony and into the presi
dents box. We heard pistol shot
and then saw the man step to the front
railing Of the box, and with light,
graceful motion spring toward the
stage, 4 spur on his heel caught the
flag and he fell with one leg crushed
under him. We saw him rise and stag
ger to his feet Then raising aloft a
dagger his words. Sic semper tyran-
mis-, Kissed IN a stage whisper. fell
clearly on our ears. He walked In
a deliberate manner diagonally across
the stage and disappeared in the wings.
Not until actors Of the company had
come before us and exclaimed. The
President is shot" did the audience
realize the tragedy they had witnessed
Booth had escaped. Some histories
have it he said. The South Is avcrg
ed. If he said these words ! did not
hear them
Professor De Motto describes In an
interesting manner the scenes that fol
lowed. He states that feeling of awe
at the boldness and the awfulncss of
the deed seemed to Cypress the crowds
50 that there were no demonstrations
Of a riotous nature uutil after the body
was removed He was one of the few
who were permitted 10 see the body Of
the President ct the White House fol
lowing his death.
Professor Dc Mote rarely speaks Of
the experience which was his IN being
It witness OF one Of the most notable
events Of history He has been per
suaded only once or twice to address
audiences Of students at the institute
where he is au Instructor, and never
outside He states that the rcmiui~
ccucc has a depressing and saddeHing
effect He has frequently noted the
deaths Of Witnesses Of the tragedy IN
newspapers. and believes hc is ono Of
the very few survivors Of that historic
audience American Tribune