The Spur Question

[RJNorton]

On April 15, 1865, eyewitness James S. Knox said that, "Just after the third act, and before the scenes were shifted, a muffled pistol shot was heard, and a man sprang wildly from the national box, partially tearing down the flag, then shouting 'sic semper tyrannus, the south is avenged,' with brandished dagger rushed across the stage and disappeared."

I am not entirely sure what he meant by "partially tearing down the flag." Possibly the flag became disarranged, but did not come all the way down to the stage floor?