The Washington herald., 1915-04-23

Booth and his companion in his
flight. David +. IIeroId. had lain five
nights and six days in their Maryland
hiding place. a pine thicket near the
farm of Col. Samuel Cox. in Charles
County. before their friend and guide.
Thomas A. Jones. found an opportu-
nifty to take them to the Potomac
thouCh il was but little more than
three miles away and embark them
on its dark bosom for n passage into
| Virginia.
Booth had gone into hiding in the
| thicket on Easter Sunday morning,
April Ii. Jones. taking him food daily
and newspapers when he could get
ithem-for Booth was eager to know
what the world said of him-had re-
strained the assassin from attempting
further flight while cavalry beat the
swamps and searched the settlements
about his hiding place.
! With the Sagacity of an old Poto-
mac ''blockadc runner" and mail car
| rcr for the confrdcracy. Jones knew
how to read small signs as to tn"
movements of his former enemies. tho
cavalry.
ON Friday. April 81, Jones went to
the hamlet of Aliens Fresh. three miles
from his home, to CLEAN information
| He was in the general store Their" when
an officer whom he knew came in and,
addressing som" soldiers, told them
| that he had received a report that
| Booth was III St Marys County. several
miles farther south. The whole party at
once mounted and rode OF.
Jones now believed his opportunity
had come. Leaving the store without
an appearance of haste. he started
homeward out Of sight of the place.
he moved quickly. All his plans had
been laid. and he had only to seek
Booth. in the approaching darkness.
and make the long-awaited dash to the
river.
The start for the River.
The enterprise was a. desperate one
for Jones. detection meant hanging.
But he did not hesitate to take the
risk. He had given his word to see
Booth started across the river. and he
went calmly about the keeping of il.
Nature favored the enterprise. Night
came on very dark. with a mist lying
dense over swamps and woods.
Riding straight to BOOTHS hiding
place. Jones gave their accustomed
signal whistle. He had never before
visited the assassin at night, and as
he waited a reply he wondered if Booth
would trust him now. Presently the
appearance of Herold. standing before
him like wrath in the fog, proved
his answer. The guide was led to
Booth. who. feverish and suffering. was
ca ger to be off.
In brief whispers Jones explained his
Ian for getting to the meadow creek
on thu river where his boat was con-
ceaied. The horses Booth and fierold had
ridden from Washington having itcen
killed in the swamp for fear they might
neigh and betrar the fugitives. Jones
placed his own horse at BOOTHS dis
posaI. The assassin was lifted on the
horse and with Hcrold leading the ami
NAL, the journey began in accordance
With the guides plan.
Jones. knowing the way. walked ahead
a few yards. and finding the coast clear
whistlcd. Herod then led the horse
cautiously forward TO tho spot where
Jones stood. Jones then advanced again,
siSnaIed. and again the horse was
brought up.
Booth Pleads for Warmth.
In the stiffness Of night. as he stood
after giving the signal. the guide felt
that even his own breathing was audible
Every night sound, like the distant bay
ing OF a dog, the croakinG of frogs in
the swamp, or the whirring of a night
birds wings, was magnified tenfold to
him.
Thus they kept slowly on. One mile Of
their route was public highway. where
two houses had to be passed. A light in
the kitchen window of each Elowed dim |
ly through the mist. but no dog came J
out to raise an alarm and the little cav
alcade passed unnoticed.
Three miles from their starting place
they halted, on Jones' farm. under al
pear tree. not fifty yards from his house, |