The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1915-04-09
APRIL rs. 1868
BY G. LUTHER LANGDON.

The Shootis
By G. LUTHER LANCDON.
copyright. 1915. by American Press Asso-
ciation.l
TT was benefit night at Ford's the
: alter on April II, 1865. The large
audience had been led to expect
that President Lincoln and Cen
eral Grant would occupy the presi-
dents box.
Civilian Washington barely knew
Grant by sight, and as the Appomat-
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
that the Hamlet or Hamlets Of the oc'
casion had not arrived.
About $50 there was an interruption
to receive the president. He was &C
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 II
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 thu
role Of Asa Trenchard, was on thu
stage alone, holding the attention o.
the audience while awaiting the mex
entrance"
Although absorbed in his difacul1
part, Hawke was probably the bes'
witness present to note the vital scene
in the tragedy which was now rudelJ
superimposed upon the thread of q
drama anything but somber or grew
some. He faced the audience and wal
engaged in a m%onologue when he hear(
a shot behind the box which more tina,
any other was in everybody's mind
that night. Eager watchers Of the en-
trance of that box for q glimpse Of
Grant had eel late in the evening
a pale, thin. actor type Of man. fol
those days, pass In the usual way be-
hind the dress circle seats and ap
proach the lox. This was not the hero
Of Appomattox. so no 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 IL passage
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 q
blood stained knife In his hand, to the
ballstrade, pause and cxclaim dramat.
ically, "Sic semper tyrannis!"' Letting
himself down to the stage by a dag
trailed around the box, he fell. but
noon regained his feet, took the cen.
ter Of the stage and, brandishlng the
knife. shouted. Liberty for the south"
OF 'sThe south ia avenged Hawke
said that the intruder strobe straight
at him, that he supposed he was q
mailman and meant to do him harm.
that he did not know the president was
the target for the mysterious shot, that
It all occurred in a few seconds and
he (Hawke) instantly fed to the wings.
Minor details have been added II
Hawkes. study-for instance. that the
pistol was held over Mrs. Lincolh's
shoulder, that her sharp cry followed
the shot, that Major Rathbone strug.
gled with the intruder aud was cut 10y
the dagger. and 50 on. But Hawkes.
story remains as that of the only one
who could be called a looker-on from
the front, and he saw and was a part
Of what the t~ransfixed audience saw
as the climax of that horrible nights
work.
Some in the audience said to them.
selves, as breath and consciousness re.
turned after the stupefying scene.
John. Wilkes Booth. John Wilkes
Boothv' s%upineness ruled everywhere
except In the box and behind the
scenes. Miss Harris called out over
the rail for water and stimulants. add
ing. = .''The president has been. shot"
The stage people were in a panic. No.
body did the right thing except Misa
Harris and Major Rathbone. Rath.
bone rushed through a door that the
assassin had barred behind him, press
ed back the crowd which moved spas.
medically in that direction and sent
TOR surgeons.
Unfortunately the bulet had made {
wound which bafned surgical SKIN.