The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1917-03-02
SAW LINCOLN SHOT.

lished a letter written by James Suy-
dan Knox, a young medical student at
the time President Lincoln was shot. |
md who was sitting just beneath the
Presidents box on that fateful night
when one of the worlds greatest
tragedies was enacted. The letter
was written by Mr.. Knox to his faith
or. but was not published until re-
Gently or since his death and upon
presentation to Princeton by his
wife, where he took his degree and
where he was matriculated at the
tune Of the Presidents assassination
Washington, d. c., April 16, 1865.
Dear Father:-It is with sad feel
inas that | take up my pen to address
you. Last Friday night at 10 O'Clock
| witnessed the saddest tragedy even
enacted in this country. Notwith-
standing my promise to you not to
visit the theatre. ! could not resist
the temptation to see General Grant
and the President, and when the cur
tain at Ford's arose on the play of
Our American Cousin" my room
mate and ! were seated in the second
row of orchestra seats Just beneath
the Presidents box. The President
entered the theatre at $50 o'clock
amid deafening cheers and the rising
of all. Everything was cheerful,
and never was our magistrate more
enthusiastically welcomed or more
happy. Many pleasant illusions were
made to him in the play, to which
the audience gave d%eafening respon-
SEES, while Mr.. Lincoln laughed hear
tily and bowed frequently to the graf
flied people. Just after the third
act, and before the scenes were
shifted. a mufled pistol shot was
| heard, and a mar sprang wildly from
! the national box, partially tearing
down the flag, then. then shouting
( q Sic semper %tyrannis,' the South /
; avenged" with brandished dagge
e rushed across the stage and disap
peared. The whole theatre was mar
glvzed.
But two men sprane for the stage
Il Mr.. Stewart and myself. Both o
e us were familiar with the play. an
y suspected the fearful tragedy. "
rushed after the murderer. and Nj
y Stewart. being familiar with the pas
>ages, reached the ear door in tim
to see him spring on his horse an
ride off. | became lost amid tn
; scenery and was obliged to return
Nv roommate had followed me ar
- secured the murderer's hat. TT
l. shrill cry of murder from Mrs. Lii
le coin first reused the terrified a
10 dience. and in an instant the upro;
et was terrible. The silence of deal
" was broken by shouts of Kill him
u Hang him" and strong men we
IL and cursed and tore the seats in I
III impotence of their anger, while Nj
IL Lincoln. on her knees, uttered shri
p after shrek at the feet of the dyi
i'c President.
81 Finally the theatre was cleared Il
'es the President removed. Still grei
or was the excitement in the eli
~ Rumors of the murder of Secreta
IT'S Seward and his son reached us as
ne Gained the street. Mounted patr'
1r- dashed everywhere. bells tolled :
1r- alarm, and excited crowds rush
oil ahout the avenues. Despair was
'o' every countenance, and black horn
brooded over the city. Until 10
en- after midnight | was detained at
~ lice headquarters. giving my t
Dol dence, and when ! sought my roc
ne in 4 distant part of the city. ia
Ter clouds had gathered in the heave
1N- and soldiers sternly paced their
an troll.
Ter May | never see another 81
ell night. | could not sleep. couid
nc thin.;. ill thought was weary and
are morning the president died. A. :
err o'clock tn. kindest, nobleSt. tru
heart ceased to beat. and Abrah
OF Lincoln was dead.
'n- Andrew Johnson has been >wo
Sc His speech was simple: The dur
are now mine: the results are God
be / trust he may perform his task ia
ma fully. but. oh. for the confidence
the hope that We had in Line,
Like a ship without a rudder Is
nation tossed. Outwardly are
"A. - l,. ~ Lo,,+ ,,b.. to,,