News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1915-04-14
By G.LUTHER LANGDCN.

ny ~ ~ AAhN h<&ANSDoAS'
copyright, 1915, by American Press Asso-
ciation.l
~ was benefit night at Ford's the
alter on April H. 1865 The large
N audience had been led to expect
that President Lincoln and Gen
eral Grnnt would occupy the presi-
dents box.
Civilian Washington barely knew
Grant by sight, and as the Appnmat-
toX Juror had not subsidized the house
filed early. Although the gayly deck
ed box of the president was empty
when the hour arrived, the curtain
went up and the play began, its be-
witching humor making people forget
casion had not arrived.
About $50 there was an interruption
to receive the president. He was ac-
companied by Mrs. Lincoln, Major
Rathbone of the army and the daugh-
ter of Senator Ira Harris. Grants alb
sence from the party was not explain
ed to the audience, and many took it
for granted that he would appear lat
er. The best of feeling prevailed be-
fore and behind the footlights, and the
play, "Our American Cousin" proceed
ed happily well into the third act. A
young actor, Harry Hawke, having the
role of Asa Trenchard, was on the
stage alone, holding the attention Of
the audience while awaiting the next
entrance"
Although absorbed in his difficult
part, Hawke was probably the best
witness present to note the vital scene
in the tragedy which was now rudely
superimposed upon the thread of
some. He faced the audience and was
engaged in monologue when he heard
a shot behind the box which more than
any other was in everybody's mind
that night. Eager watchers of the en-
trance of that box for q glimpse of
Grant had seen late in the evening
a pale, thin, actor type of man, for
those days, pass in the usual way be-
hind the dress circle seats and APP
proach the box. This was not the hero
of Appomattox, so no one gave him at
tention better bestowed, they thought,
upon the fictitious personages on the
boards.
Pistol and Dagger and Blood.
The stranger passed through and
closed the door leading to u passage I!
behind the presidents box and was !
lost to all conscious sight until Hawke +
turned at the sound of the shot and /
saw a man push through the group !
with Lincoln, make his way, with a
blood stained knife in his hand, to the |
pause and exclaim dramat-
ically, "Sic semper tyrannisv' Letting
himself down to the stage by a flag
trailed around the box, he fell, but
soon regained his feet, took the CEN
ter of the stage and, brandishing the
Knife, shouted, Liberty for the SOUTH"
Dr. "The south is avengedr' Hawke
said that the intruder strobe straight
1T him, that he supposed he was a
and meant to do him harm,
hat he did not know the president was
he target for the mysterious shot, that
t all occurred i'm a few seconds and
lie tHawke) instantly fled to the wings.
Minor details have been added to
Hawkes. study-for instance, that the
istol was held over Mrs. Lincoln's
boulder, that her sharp cry followed
he shot, that Major Rathbone strug-
led with the intruder and was cut by
he dagger, and so on. But Hawkes.
tory remains as that of the only one
Who could be called a looker-on from
be front, and he saw and was a part
what the transfixed audience saw
8 the climax of that horrible nights
york.
Some in the audience said to them |
elves, as breath and consciousness re- [
1rned after the Supplying scene,
John Wilkes Booth, John Wilkes ,
'oothw Supineness ruled everywhere
kept in the box and behind the
Genes. Miss Harris called out over
he rail for water and stimulants, add
lg, 'The president has been shot"
he stage people were in a panic. No
ody did the right thing except Miss ,,
Iarris and Major Rathbone. Rath-
one rushed through a door that the J
ssassin had barred behind him, press !,
! back the crowd which moved spas
in that direction and sent =
II surgeons, !,
Unfortunately the bullet had made n
ound which baf1led surgical skill. y