The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-07-05
Personal Renaissance of
the Death and Capture of
John Wilkes Booth

away the trimming and Insignia, thus
turning the military to civil dress.
These young men with the rest Of tn
villagers read the warnings in the
circulars, discussed lhe fOO!hardiness
OF the act and it's probable effect o.
the south, admired the handsome face
Of the picture of the assassin, but
little dreamed thai they would SO soon
be called upon the scene as accused
accomDlices.
A few days after tie visit Of Jet
and his companions. We were startled
by seeing about midday a party Of fed
eral cavalry, or Yankee cavalry, as we
were wont in these DAYS II call then,
appeal on the King George side of the
river.
his. Of course, set thc "illa@ers ID
cCngecturing, and every iu,ilisitivs ne
eAerting his natural propensity.
About dark these cavalry men were
conveyed across the ri.r" ny the old
fcrIyman, UnCIe Billy |5a2Yto5, who
bore the teasing s~OubriCuet OF "Uucje
Billy Bowlegs,' from a decided Curry
allure of these limbs with which nature
had endowed him.
Silently these soldiers passed
through our village. They asked a
few questions but answered o n in
return. Uncle Billy was surrounded
by the village; but he was as nOn-cOm-
initial as the soldiers. He, however.
had nothing to tell. His legs lost .
little of their curvature as he straight
ened himself and declared. I dunno
nothin'. They done ak me lots O.
questions; but fore Gawd, l ain he'erd
nor seen nothin'. | tell 'em bout some
sen1mans I kyard (carried) cross de
riber 'tOther day; but | dunno nothin'.
Dey is arter some debiitry.'
The sun sunk. and Uncle Billy also
sank to rest. The village excitement
subsidized somewhat and slumber soon
Rugged all in close embrace.
About sunrise curiosity was again On
tiptoe, when a trooper came riding
into the village, leading a saddle
horse. He inquired FOR a physician.
and was directed to the only one in
the village. Doctor Charles Urquhalt.
Ace had kept him with us when all
the rest had gOne to the war Dr. were
IL charge of hospitals in Richmond.
D.. UrQuhart was summoned by the
trooper TO go with him. The doctor
had little love for the Yankees. as a
shell from a gunboat had exploded IL
his dwelling, and a blown out the
entire end; hence he looked with sus-
picious aversion upon any summons
! even for his professional service. After
many unavailin2 excuses, he was at
, last mounted on the war horse, By no
means accustomed to an easy gait,
and was on his way with the soldier.
He could get nothing from the silent
trooper, but the information that he
had been ordered to bring a surgeon to
a wounded man. sTSTl
After riding a short time, the doctor,
according to his account as related in
my presence many times, arrived at
Mr.. CARROTS. AS he rode up he found
a body of soldiers and, lying On the
ground, a man,
The commanding officer addressed
him, asking if he were a physician. To
this he replied in the affirmative. He
then asked him to examine the man
who lay before them, and to do wha5-
ever medical skill could afford to saw
his life.
A short examination showed that
he was beyond human aid. With a few
mutterings, in which the doctor said
he caught the word mother, he Law
a lifelss corpse
During the transaction of all this
the innocent participants stood unable
! to imagine what manner of man had
! come among them, or to divine what
next to expect. To their CONSERVATION
/ the officers announced that the dead
captive was JOHN WILKES BOOTH
! the assassin of President Lincoln.
Words cannot describe the feelings
and fears which filled all connected
with the murderer. Doctor Urquhart
asked permission and cut a lock of
hair. a rich black curl. from Booths
head. This. I think, still remains with
the descendants Of the doctor.
w nile THESE events "SlS ldhIuS PloNS
the villagers were still nursing their
curiosity, ignorant of what was in
store for them.
About nine by the clock a silent
cavalcade entered the village. In a
dilapidated fish cart lay the body Of
Booth. It was covered with an army
blanket and the feet protruded from
the rear end.
On one foot was :. boot on the 9TH
er was a shoe which was upon the
sprained ankle, made by the leap upon
the stage from the theatre box when
the fatal shot was fired killing the pres
ident
Mounted behind troopers and strap
ped to the saddle, were Willie and