1. William Henry Hawk was an American actor and comedian, remembered as the only performer on stage at Ford's Theatre at the moment Abraham Lincoln was shot on April 14,1865.
17 Facts About Harry Hawk
1. 2.
Harry Hawk began theater work as a call boy, or stagehand, at McVicker's Theatre in Chicago.
3.
Harry Hawk made his way back north with the onset of the American Civil War, and by the early 1860s he was appearing in billed roles including, for example, the role of Mark Meddle in London Assurance, and Davy in The Phantom.
4.
At about 10:14 pm, Harry Hawk was alone on stage in Washington, DC, on April 14,1865, delivering what was considered one of the funniest lines of the play.
5.
Harry Hawk was detained by the police and held on $1,000 bond, which Doctor Brown furnished for him.
6.
Harry Hawk was then brought to the Petersen House across the street from the theatre, and confirmed to the police that Booth had been the assailant.
7.
Harry Hawk had the appearance of being sober at the time.
8.
Harry Hawk had no hat on when I saw him on the stage.
9.
Harry Hawk made some expression when he came on the stage but I did not understand what.
10.
Harry Hawk ran toward me, and I, seeing the knife, thought I was the one he was after, ran off the stage and up a flight of stairs.
11.
Harry Hawk made his escape out of a door, directly in the rear of the theatre, mounted a horse and rode off.
12.
Harry Hawk was laughing at my speech when the shot was fired.
13.
Harry Hawk used an assumed name for a time afterward.
14.
Harry Hawk was a friend of Booth's brother actor Edwin Booth, and generally declined out of respect to talk about the events of that night while Edwin was still living.
15.
Harry Hawk was acting in and managing Laura Keene's company when she died in 1873.
16.
Harry Hawk moved to the island of Jersey in 1911, and died there in 1916.
17.
Harry Hawk was buried at the La Croix old cemetery in Grouville.