How did Booth escape Ford's Theatre after shooting Lincoln?

How did Booth escape Ford's Theatre after shooting Lincoln?

• A. He fled through the back door on foot.
• B. He jumped from the box to the stage, broke his leg, and fled on horseback with Herold.
• C. He remained in the theatre and surrendered.
• D. He jumped to the orchestra pit and fled.

Answer: (B)

The key idea is the dramatic escape method and the injury that shaped Booth’s exit. After firing at Lincoln, Booth vaulted from the presidential box onto the stage, a bold move that left him with a broken leg. Despite that wound, he pressed on by mounting a horse and fleeing with his ally, David Herold. This sequence—stage jump, leg injury, then a horseback escape—is why the described answer fits history best. The other scenarios don’t match what happened: Booth did not slip out a back door on foot, he did not stay to surrender, and he did not jump into the orchestra pit to flee.

The key idea is the dramatic escape method and the injury that shaped Booth’s exit. After firing at Lincoln, Booth vaulted from the presidential box onto the stage, a bold move that left him with a broken leg. Despite that wound, he pressed on by mounting a horse and fleeing with his ally, David Herold. This sequence—stage jump, leg injury, then a horseback escape—is why the described answer fits history best. The other scenarios don’t match what happened: Booth did not slip out a back door on foot, he did not stay to surrender, and he did not jump into the orchestra pit to flee.