Evening star., 1936-04-12

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FLETCHER then rode back to
Washington, learned Of Lincoln's
assassination. and was advised not to
be seen cantering about the city. An
hour later he reported the facts re-
garding Herold, and the information
he had received at the Navy Yard
Bridge, to member Of Gen. Augur's
staff at headquarters, but his state
ments were disregarded and no effort
was made to follow his clues until
about o'clock that evening. This
enabled the fugitives to get far beyond
the reach Of their pursuers, and re-
suited in much confusion among the
officials whose duty it was to capture
them. The old Navy Yard Bridge,
over which Booth and Herold passed,
has now been replaced by a modern
structure, but its easements still may
be seen from the approach to the
river.
While Fletcher was being ignored
at the provost marshal's Office, Booth
and Herold were continuing their es-
cape. They had sped on from the
Navy Yard Bridge to Surrattsville,
where they picked up carbine. some
ammunition, compass, pair OF field
glasses and a quantity Of whisky, left
there in care Of John Lloyd, who op-
Grated a hotel known as the Sur
raft House. This building has been
changed very little, and in an up
stairs bed room can be seen the hole
in the floor, covered by a movable
board, where were secreted the articles
carried away by the fugitives.
From Surrattsville the two men
took the road through T. B. Booth
was suffering a great deal Of pain
and realized he must have immediate
medical attention If he were to survive
the long journey southwark. Leaving
the main highway at Mattawoman
Swamp, they Travelled over a dismal
lane bordering the lowland and arrived
at the home Of DR.. Samuel Mudd about
4 o'clock on the morning of April Is.
There Booth received medical atten-
ton and was carried to bed room
on the upper floor, where he re-
manned until afternoon. While Her
old was at the farm Of DR.. Mudd's
father trying to rent a buggy, news
Of Lincoln's murder reached the COM
munity and the name Of John Wilkes
Booth was given as that Of the as
sassin. This alarmed Herold and he
rushed back to DR.. Mudd's house.
The horses were saddled and the
fight continued.
THE fugitives rode down Q muddy
lane back Of Dr. Mudd's and into
Zachiah Swamp. They had not been
long in the swamp until they were
lost and in trying to find their way
out met a colored man named Oswald,
who took them to Samuel Cox's farm,
where they were told to hide in
thicket and wait for Tom Jones. the
man operating the Confederate secret
mail route across the Potomac River.
On the following day. Sunday,
large military force. consisting of a
brigade Of Infantry and over 200 Cav
alrymen, together with 200 detectives
and citizens, well supplied with pho
tographs and circulars, went down into
Lower Maryland from Washington.
BY this time Jones had contacted
the men and had them well hidden.
He supplied food for them and agreed
to furnish a boat for the dangerous
trip across the Potomac River. Her
old was advised to dispose Of the
horses, as troops were arriving In the
neighborhood. Jones then rode to
Port Tobacco and watched the activi-
ties of the men searching for the
fugitives and while there disregarded
the 100000 reward offered by the
Federal Government for the capture of
Lincolns assassin.
Five days later the troops departed
for st. Marys and that night Jones
slipped the two men through the
darkness to Dents meadow and down
the embankment to the river shore,
where his boat was hidden. Booth,
who was groaning with pain, was
placed in the stern Of the boat, with
one oar to steer, and Herold got into
the bow to row. During the night
the boat was swept up the river by
strong current to what was then
known as Maugemoy Stores. Booth
and Herold thought they were In Vir-
ginia, but at daybreak discovered their
mistake. Today Maugemoy Stores Is
called Riverside. 1t Is q lonely spot
along the Maryland shore. The house
occupied by Samuel Cox is still stand
ing and the Thomas Jones cabin
shelters q large family Of colored
people.
On the morning of April % Booth
and Herold reached Virginia near the
entrance to GAMBIA Greek, where the
Government proving grounds are now
located. Their small boat glided up
the narrow stream and they stepped
ashore, Booth waiting while Herold
went to the nearby farm Of Mrs.
Quesenberry for food and help. From
GAMBIA Greek the fugitives took what
is now known as "the road through
Union" to DR.. Stuart's home. where
Booth hoped to obtain further med
ical attention.
IN AN unpublished affidavit DR.. Stu
art tells Of having admitted the
fugitives to his house, giving them
food and aid, but refusing to shelter
them during the night, all Of which
Is likely true, regardless Of what Booth
wrote In his diary. Dr.. Stuart sent
the two men on to the cabin of VIII
liam Lucas, a colored man, where they
spent the night. Early the following
morning they were conveyed in an old
wagon to Port Conway.
It Is difficult to recognize the
Quesenberry house as it is today from
photographs taken soon after the Civil
War, as large additions have been
made to that portion of the small
cottage, which never has been moved
from its original site, but the Stuart
house has been changed very little,
kitchen having been joined to the end
Of the house once used as an entrance
to the doctors waiting room and
Office The old cabin of William Lucas
has disappeared, but the dirt road