The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1913-02-15
His Invitation to Ford's Theater
Was Part of Assassin's Schem-
Ing-Hunt For Murderer and
His Fellow conspirators-Mur-
derous Attack on Secretary
Seward.

at Ford's theater, washing
ION. Soon after the shooting the the
alter passed into possession OF the gov
eminent and for a long period has been
used as a repository for public papers.
A short while ago 1t was
that the building would be RACED TO
make room for one more modern
thus will pass one Of the most historic
landmarks of the national capital.
1t was on the suggestion or the as
sassin. John Wilkes Booth, a Wen
known actor of the time, that Lincoln
was invited by the management OF the
theater to see the play ON the night ne
was murdered.
When Booth found that Lincoln had
accepted the invitation he slipped
around to Mrs. Surratt's house and de-
sired her to ride ten miles into tne
country for him with a message. she
returned Just in time to have fall upon
her every suspicion. Booth then pre-
pared himself for his atrocious crime.
Mr.. Lincoln has been blamed for go
ting frequently to the theater But
when worn out with cares OF state, the
superytsion of the army, solicitude Tor
the results of movements OF the mel
In the field, quarrels and t~ealousies OF
commanding officers and solicitations
of Office seekers it was a RELIEF TO MIN
TO throw off all these for an hour and
have a good laugh over the scenes OF
the play. 1t restored his mind to Its
wonted freshness and vigor and en-
abled him to take up his burden with
. new zest.
81 saw him often at Ford's theater
mr. at Growers during the year 1884,
says one Of his biographers. Benjamin
Wells. who was a government en-
ployee at the time and who came In
contact with the president In the
course Of his duties. 81 had arranged
to attend Ford's theater on the night
of Good Friday, April IA, 1855. when
Lincoln was attacked by John Wilkes
Booth, but was Unexpectedly detained.
Laura Keene was playing In Our
American Cousin Mr.. Lincoln was
accompanied on that night by Mrs.
lincoln. Miss Harris. daughter OF Sen
ator Harris of New York, and Major
Rathbone.
Firing the Shot.
81 remember well Booths personal
appearance. He was an actor OF fair
ability. but quite wild and erratic. His
mind was unsettled by morbid sympa-
thy for the south. He conceived the
idea that the death of Mr.. Lincoln and
Mr.. Seward might paralyze the gov
eminent and help the south. Being an
actor. he had the entree of the thea
ter.
ct remember the door by which he
entered the box. No n suspected
anything, and no attention was paid to
his presence. He came In the rear OF
the president, who was occupied with
what was going on on the stage, placed
his pistol close behind the presidents
right ear and fired. In the moment Of
stunned surprise which seized every
one the assassin pushed his way
through the party In the box and
Jumped from the box down some ten
feet TO the stage. In doing so the spur
on his boot caught In the folds of the
American dag displayed at the window
Of the box, and he tripped and fell
heavily, breakin. one of the bones In
his leg. But he sprang to his feet,
rushed behind the scenes. out a side
door, mounted n horse which he had
placed there previously and was OF in
a second. He rode on a run through
the eastern part OF town, over the
bridge across the Eastern branch of the
Potomac. then down the river shore
IN the Maryland side"
In the theater there was the widest