ABRAHAM LINCOLN -- CHAPTER 20

                                            ASSASSINATION

 

   on the morning of April 14,1865, the President's son, Captain Robert T. Lincoln,

returned from the army and told his father about Lee's surrender in detail. April 14

was the anniversary of the evacuation of Fort Sumter, just four years before.

A special program for the evening of that day was announced at Ford's Theatre, Washingtion; and Lincoln, General Grant and other public men in the city were invited.

 

   It was twenty two nine when he entered the theatre with Mrs. Lincoln, Miss Harris

and Major Rathbone. General Grant was to have been there, but had left Washington suddenly. The theatre was crowded. Many officers, returned from the war, were there,   eager to see the President. The play was "our American cousin", a play in which the

part of Lord Dundreary was afterward developed and made famous.

 

   Some time after 10 o'clock, at a point in the play which no person could afterward remember, a shot was heard. Then the President was seen falling forward upon the

front of the box, and a wild-looking man striking with a knife at Major Rathbone, who

tried to seize him. The man jumped from the box to the stage, caughta spur in the

flagor the drapery and fell, injuring his leg.

 

   He rose, ( accordingto some people )shouted " Sic semper tyrannis " ( Thus let it

ever bewith tyrants.), the motto of Virginia dasappeared behind the scene, mounted

a horse waiting at the door, and rode away. The whole place was thrown into a

greater confusion when the tidings were brought that Seward, Secretary of States,

and Johnson, Vice President, had been assassinated, too.

 

   The reports proved to be true as far as Secretary Seward was concerned. This distinguished stateman was in bed on account of a serious injury caused by an

accident to his carriage. While he was driving one afternoon, his horse bolted.

He was thrown to the ground and had his right arm and jaw broken. one of the    conspirators, Lewis payne, entered his room and inflicted severe wounds in his

face and neck with a knife. His son was also badly wounded, together with four other

in the room, before the villain escaped from the house.

 

   Secretary Seward is a far-sighted stateman who accomplished the purchase of

Alaska from Russia in 1876 at the sum of $ 72,000,000 ( Less than two cents an acre ).

It was called for a long time " Seward's Ice_box ". The unconscious form of the        president was borne to a house across the street. It was soon known that he was

beyond any medical care. He had been shot through the back of the head; the ball

entered the left side behind the ear, passing through the brain and lodging just behind

the right eye. He remained unconscious. A look of unspeakable peace was now over

his worn features.