The box was draped with the American flag, and, in jumping, Booth’s
spurs caught in the folds, tearing down the flag, the assassin falling
heavily to the stage and spraining his ankle. He arose, however, and
walked theatrically across the stage, brandished his knife and shouted,
“Sic semper tyrannis!” and then added, “The South is avenged.”
For the moment the audience was horrified and incapable of action. One
man only, a lawyer named Stuart, had sufficient presence of mind to leap
upon the stage and attempt to capture the assassin. Booth went to the
rear door of the stage, where his horse was held in readiness for
him, and, leaping into the saddle, dashed through the streets toward
Virginia. Miss Keane rushed to the President’s box with water and
stimulants, and medical aid was summoned.
By this time the audience realized the tragedy that had been enacted,
and then followed a scene such as has never been witnessed in any public
gathering in this country. Women wept, shrieked and fainted; men raved
and swore, and horror was depicted on every face. Before the audience
could be gotten out of the theatre, horsemen were dashing through the
streets and the telegraph was carrying the terrible details of the
tragedy throughout the nation.