Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1917-02-15
SHOOTING OF LINCOLN
TOLD BY EYE WITNESS
William Withers, Leader of Orchestra
In Ford's Theatre When Presi-
dent Was Shot

tn1S VOsclltI with INC tOdt
worn by Mr.. Withers on the night of
the assassination. has been presented
to the United States government.
A short time before his death, on
December Mr. Withers gave to his
sister, Mrs. Louisa Withers Beck of
RIVE Beach, n. Y, copy of the manu-
script prepared for the government.
With it. he gave her permission to
have il published over his own name
for the first time.
few weeks before that fatal 14th
of April 1865, | had composed music
to the words of poem entitled
Honor to Our Soldiers" and the song
had been sung in public on several
occasions very successfully.
This song was directly responsible
for my meeting with John Wilkes
Booth a moment after his attack on
the president, and l might say it al
most cost me my life.
When it was announced in the
newspapers of Washington that Presi-
dent Lincoln intended to attend per-
Torrance of "Our American Cousin,
I decided it would be particularly fit
ting to have my song rendered be-
tween the act, and, after talking the
scheme over with the manager, Ihired
a quartet and when Miss Laura
Keene. who was appearing in the
leading part in the play, heard them
in one of their rehearsals, she volen-
teered to assist in the chorus with her
entir company. 1t was finally de-
cided that the song be given between
the first and second acts.
Friday the 14th of April 1865 was
a muggy warm day. Men had been
at work all day in the theatre decorat-
ing it with flags and bunting for the
presidents visit. The presidential
box which under ordinary circum-
stances was divided in two was thrown
open into one large compartment and
smothered in the national colors.
On the night of the performance
crowds began to gather in Tenth
street long before theater time. l
stood outside the stage entrance
watching the people collecting and,
shortly before going TO the music
room, stepped next door to saloon,
frequented by actors and employees OF
the theatre. When / entered, the
first person l met was John Wilkes
Booth. He was standing at the bar
over one arm and his hat in his hand.
There were several men with him,
and they were laughing and joking.
When Both saw me, he cried; Hello
When Booth saw me, he cried; Hello
Billy, come have a drink with me-"
We drank together and during the
conversation which think was about
different members of the theatrical
profession laughingly remarked that
Booth would never be as great as his
father. An inscrutable smile fitted
across the actors face as he replied.
when l leave the stage l will be
the most talked of man in America"
At that time the statement had no
significance for me, but, afterwards
remembered it with shock. l left
the little party in the saloon and hur-
ried to the music room, as it was al
most time for the overture to start.
When / took my place in the or
chestra, people were crowding down
the ailses, and when the bell rang for
us to start playing the house was
packed. After the overture and before
the curtain went up on the first act,
in looking over the audience, / noticed
Booth in the rear of the building lean
ing against the last row of orchestra
chairs.
The first act had not progressed
very far when / heard cheering-I
knew what that meant and quickly
gave the sign to the members of my
orchestra to play: Hail to the Chief"
OF course, there was lots of excite
ment, and men and women stood up
and cheered the president.
AS Lincoln climed the stairs to the
first balcony the enthusiasm in