The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-12-10
SAW BOOTH KILL
LINCOLN IN '65
Veteran Who Witnessed
Assassination Joins
Army Beyond
ON BUTLER'S MARCH
Brother Of II. b. Wilson Was
First Physician TO Side
of Dying President

Egeefai 60 The world
OIITUN, Dec 0.--The bugler OF
tho great army that has gone on
before sounded "taps' for Richard
d. Wilson OF this city here Noveih-
bcr ~, and another old veteran uf
the Civii war uasncd ovrr 10 pe mus
tered into that great silcnt army
over there. wh.ro he and his com-
radios viii recount tho many thrills
experienced whilo here and assist IN
forming the great post OF tho Grand
Army OF the Republic IN that other
world.
There Is an historical event in the
life Of Richard B. Wilson that IL
worthy OF mention, and is, or should
be, Of unique interest 20 everyone.
tie was born In New York state and
received his education there. soon
after quitting school no omigratod
TO Maine and at the beginning OF
the Civl war enlisted in tho Fif-
teenth Maine volunteers, Company
G, and was under the command OF
Major General benjamin +. Butler,
serving under hm during the entire
time OF the war. Iie was with Cen
eral Butler when Butler made his
celebrated march up tho streets of
New Orleans aud took charge OF
the city han in that city. He liked
to tell of that march, because the
party only consisted OF General hut
Ter and some 3 men. while the
streets were lined with mob of
southern sympathizors who threw
bricks and clubs at them and threat
oned them with all kinds OF punish
nent II they did not got out OF the
city, but General Butler had been
sent there to take over the city and
ne never faltered; but Mr.. Wilson
said II was one OF the most danger
Gus marches no had TO make during
his entire service OF four years.
In Army Eour Years.
During tho later months OF the
war he served as provost guard
under Captain Boyd along the Rapa-
hammock ana nj Newport News. and
his discharge papers show that he
was mustered out In tho state of
Virginia. after serving over four
years In the United States army.
From the army no went 10 Wash
jngton. ID. c., where he secured en-
ploymont In tho government print
ing offlce as an engineer. and while
serving In this capacity came the
great event of his life.
He had a brother, DIR. Charles
Wilson, who had been a surgeon In
the Union army. and who was also
n resident at the national capital.
The two ofton spent their evenings
together and on numerous COCA sions
attended the theaters together, and
tho event which In concerned with
one of tho aaddest historical facts
In the history of the United States.
On the night OF April ~, 1865.
DIR. Charles Wilson called at the
rooms of his brother. Richard, the
sub1ect OF the story, and asked him
how he would like TO attend the
theater that night and see Tho
Country Cousin" which was being
played at Ford's theater by the then
leading actress OF this country,
Laura Keene. and her leading man,
John Wilkes Booth The brothers
went to Fords' theatcr and had DIFF
ficulty In securing seats, having TO
take them way down in what was
known rs tho pit" right down next
10 the stage, and they had secured
seats almost directly under the box
in which President Lincoln ana his
party occupied - they not knowing
then that tho president was a guest
at the theater.
Thought Shooting Part of Play.
The play was Il five-act comedy
drama and as history statas 49, and
Mr.. Wilson corroborates It -- the
play had gone To the end OF the
fourth act when "A pistol shot rang
out and many OF the people in the
theater thought II was Just a part
OF the show, until Booth Jumped
from the rail OF one OF the lower
boxes at the far end OF the stage
from which the presidential party
occupied. and shouted tho words
sic Semper Tyrannus," waving his
smoking pistol over his head. and
thon the people knew that n national
tragedy had been committed, and
pandemonium broke loose In the
theater. Mr.. Wilson and his brother
Went TO the box whore the presi-
Dental party were and Doctor Wil-
son was the first physician at the
sdde OF the martyrcd president and
assisted In lowering him 10 the
floor or ths box and carrying him
across the street, where he later died
In the early morning hours OF Aprn
rs, 1865. Richard Wilson was one
OF the men who formed a Gordon
OF guards through which the body OF
Lincoln was carried. and mourned
with the entire nation when PreE-
dent Lincoln passed away.
Mr.. Wilson has Travelled much,
having visited nearly every state in
the union, and has followed the lie
ot a farmer most OF the time lie