Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-04-15
MARTYRED PRESIDENTS.

The ~ tn of April was the anniver-
sary of the death OF Abraham Lincoln
which occurred on that date. 1855. In
an article in Leslie's Weekly, W. II.
Taylor describes this tragedy. as fol-
lows:
About the middle of the third act
shot was heard and Immediately
thereupCn rang out John Wilkes
Booths cry, sic semper Iyrannis!"
not after he reached the stage, as has
been stated in some accounts; neither
did he jump from the box fun height,
with arms outspread and upstretched,
as we often see him in Illustrations.
on the contrary, he placed both hands
upon the rail of the box and swung
himself over In that manner. thereby
lesscning the fall by n distance of his
own height. One of his spurs caught
in the American colors with which the
box was draped, and he probably land
ed his whole weight on one foot. on
striking the stage he pitched forward
on all fours. and l then saw the blade
Of long stiletto or dagger glisteu
in the footlights, as his hand lay on
the floor. He quickly rose To his
feet and took one or two uncertain
steps. then, turning to face the audi
cnce, drew himself up in theatrical at
titude, and. swinging his arm In
half circle, made ~ grand flourish with
the dagger, and was off the stage in
. flash. Next came the piercing and
horrlfying shrieks Of Mrs. Lincoln, and
then arose a fearful commotlon. Dr.
rectly efforts We're made by some par
ties 70 get into the box from the out
side, but the door was barred from the
inside. I next noticed a military Of
iicer standing on the shoulders of an
hF n I.s. ,.is 1.
III To the box from the stage.
Meantime, the President had re-
manned sitting In his chair with his
head bent forward. but distinctly
saw him rise once to his feet and I'm n
dazcd sort of way attempt To take a
step or two. He was not upright but
half erect. just then Mai Rathbone
came to his assistance and supported
hv the latter he sank back into the
chair. About this time | noticed Miss
Laura keeno. who had reached the
box from the private way back Of tho
stage who was said TO have brought
q glass OF water which might refresh
the President, The bar against the
door having been removed from the
inside, several people went into tho
box from the dress circle and little
more could be distinguished there
after"
Lincoln. Garfield and Mckinley,
three Of the nohlest men that ever
occupied the presidential chair, mot
their death at the hands OF assasslns.
Lincoln was president during the Civ
II War, In which Garfield took a prom
inent part Mckinley was president
during the war with Spain Washing
ton, the first In war. As well as IN
peace, escaped the tragic fate Of Lin
coin and Mckinley but he was not
suffered 10 die natural death. He
was bled 10 death, II science then
had known what It knows now, his
valuable lie would have been spared
| for many more years
/ The following statement concerning
| the last illness and departure of Wash
/ ington Is from an address by DR..
Joseph @. Guernsey quoted in tho
Princeton Alumni Woeklyi
"On December -. 1899, General
Washington mounted his horse and
rode around his plantation from 10
o'clock IN the morning until o'clock
| ~ -. afternoon, in the most incement
weather-lt rained, hailed and showed.