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Accounts of the Assassination of Abraham Lincoln Stories of eyewitnesses, first-hand or passed down Surnames beginning with A-E From the files of the Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection 1\.ZOO% OQS. 02Zo°) 1 ' been carried after having been shot UMOWS by ASSASSINATION the assassin. This message merely justice and wrong tie never anowea assured us of the present safety force of logic or beauty of of diction i (Note Stanton, while in choice —This series comprises eight confirming our worst arrangement of words to fears concerning obscure his accounts of the great tragedy the President. one great purpose—to I as Two of my lead men always written by eye-witnesses who were comrades were in the to hate tyranny and still audience at the theater, love freedom. hying when the following in- Thomas A Laird, now of The following teresting articles were assembled Buffalo, and George extract from my war by U Maynard, now diary under date David Homer Bates, of New curator of the Na- of April 15, 1865, York tional museum at the day of Lincoln's City, in April 1914. Mr Washington. Laird death, is the Bates ran first to the house best .expression in is known in literature as of Major Ec- a few words of kert, in Thirteenth my opinion of author of the book "Lincoln street, near F that character in its in the to Telegraph Office.") give him the news, while Maynard dominating features: The first came direct to the "First pure, then time I saw Apraham Lin- War Department, peacable, gentle coln followed a little and easy to be was on April 27, 1861, two weeks later by Laird. Both entreated, full of mer- after the fall men remained on duty cy and good fruits, without of with me all i partiality Sumter, having been I night with Albert and without called to Washington with three Chandler and sev- hyprocracy." oth- eral er ! others, including telegraph operators by a message John H. Dwight DavidJBomer Bates |and Frank Stewart, from Andrew Carnagie, Assistant both deceased. general George A. Low manager of Military railroads came in about dawn. and telegraphs. A relay of mounted The last time I saw messengers, in the charge of John martyr president was on the day C. Hatter, Secretary of Stanton's telegraph his death, four years later. messenger (de- ceased 1913), Between these two dates, was immediately es- while tablished by serving as an operator, cipher Major Eckert, and all opera- night long tor and manager of the they carried bulletins in War Depart- btantons ment telegraph office, handwriting addressed to I saw Lincoln General nearly every day, Dix, New York City, which sometimes several were times a day, and on at once given to the Associated rare occasions £ress all night long, while and flashed over the wires battles were im- throughout pending and the President the country. As these and mem- bulletins bers of his cabinet were spelled out in the waited in the ci- Morse pher room for news from characters, our hearts were the front. stunned During the Civil and yet they seemed to be war, the Execu- on tive mansion fire. The awfulness of the trag- (or White House as it is called edy hushed us to silence. ) was not, as now, connect- As the ed hours slowly passed hope by telegraph, and all the Presi- revived fit- dent fully as some sentence s telegrams were handled at the in the dis- War Department. patches offered faint encouragement that perhaps the Indeed, the President spent more precious life might of be spared to complete his waking hours in the War De- its chosen work but at last, at partment office than in any other twenty-two minutes lo- past seven A. cation except the White House. M. April 15, the dread- ed end came, the tension Of Lincoln's family only one sur- gave way vives, and we knew that our and of the leading generals beloved Presi- there dent had gone from us remains only one—my old busi- forever. ness Youth is ever and Personal friend, General hopeful and while Granville M. Dodge. mourning the now certain loss of Of the President and our the War Department staff on personal friend as indeed he was, duty the night of the assassination, and with the wick- there edness of treason brought are eight survivors, whose sev vividly to eral our senses and with accounts of the tragic incidents its culminating oi crime rankling in that fateful time are here record- our breasts, we ed. still Were able to console each other Fifty by the suggestion that Andrew John- years have gone by, but I still son, our new leader (if indeed remember, with more or less dis- he tinctness, were not also slain), would that long night of Good not allow Friday, mistaken mercy to stay the April 14, 1865, that blackest hand of punishment. We reasoned night in our country's history, when also that the our stricken President during terrible feeling, fired by four | his life- years time had been so patient of war, culminated in a stroke and lenient of I with his enemies that if he had madness aimed at the life of one been who spared perhaps he would have adopt- had only "charity for all, with malice toward none." ed a policy of condonation that would deprive us of the real fruits Although on duty in the cipher of war room and lead to the return to that evening, I have no partic- political ular power of those who had helped remembrance of anything that to cause it. occurred prior to the moment when someone Although I was in Lincoln's rushed into the office with com- blanched pany almost every day for four years, face saying, "There is a even until the night of rumor below that President Lincoln his assassina- tion, and has been shot in the Ford's Theater" often heard him discuss Before the vital questions of the civil we could fully take in the war, and on many occasions awful import other rumors reached took from his us—the hands telegrams in his unique savage attack upon Mr Se- hand- ward, writing with never a blot or erasure, secretary of state and the frustrated yet 1 was too young to form then efforts to reach and kill a matured, intelligent opinion vice-president Johnson, Mr. Stanton, of his many sided Secretary of War, and other mem- character. The crystlliz- bers ed opinion of the generation of the government. As the suc- since Lincoln's death is that his cessive accounts crystallized a fear- official ful dread filled papers, 'as well as his letters and our hearts lest it should speeches, are models of clear, be found that the entire cabi- unde- net had been murdered. filed English. But beyond After an hour of this awful all beauty of form, co- sus- gent words, and pense we received word from Major irristible logic, in- Eckert, herent in the body of all his utter- who had gone quickly to the ances, whether oral Stanton home in K street, and or written, there from was something more there to Seward's house in Fifteenth —there was the spirit of the simple, Street and then to the Peterson great man, the throb of a human heart house, in Tenth street, opposite the that loving Wxil theater, to which the President had all sought to protect them from in- GUT EDMUND P. YERKES N O R T H V I L L. E . MICHIGAN 6^i<1 January 5, 1959 Dr.R. Gerald McMurty, Director, Lincoln National Life Foundation Fort Wayne, Indiana. Dear Dr. McMurty; I stopped to see you a year ago last summer with my son. You were so very kind and considerate that I felt if I ever had the opportunity that I would like to reciprocate. This may not be it in your eyes hut at least I am trying. Here goes: A friend of mine here in Northville had a great uncle in the Civil War. He came from Ohio hut after the War settled in Charlotte, Michigan, and became a very wealthy merchant. During the War he was stationed in Washington and kept a diary of events that he saw. After his death the diary was in the possession of the mother of my friend. Then in the possession of her daughter. It was apparently packed away and not read. A few days ago my friend acquired the diary for a time until it is passed on to a younger member of the family. He read the diary and came upon this man's eyewitness account of his visit to the Ford Theater and the shooting of Lincoln. We had it photographed along with the following pages that describe a visit to a warship, also the inside covers and the exterior of the diary. I am sending along a set of the photographs in hope that you might like them. Yours very truly, aMHWBjMMnm WHIHHHBHinMSHHKMBHHnBftHi^^^^^tiiwinHaHM^ABai J1 = a. /^(y /, + ? x_ UAisyfr A £) 'crast-wo^ sAjl^ //U- oAjl. GC Us0 j?*^ ^ ^>ra/T. t^ /l^-^\ kcxJzy? ~&?oL. A^i^L &2t&^- 2rf r& ^tr-cH^^CZ2zi £cP& t I 'to./ ^^ & U/A&vc) /A.ju /(jcJL^rS/-- cr/ C^ ij Pia/atI £^/- cl/£*/<*.&77cO o*F c£ ccrzzszy /iCU^ cr/tfC CUydJ — /^u^t oLLqUa^ JUatCjfc*c- ^%T (® 6kX<^ ^ "^Hp r*** cr^xj^ k<^ a^\ y * •—» y* 7hOtyTLes**— Q-JU^ A- * CjU-i fcjijy &- c/<*« // A^- &C <^6^- /^ ^c£^lt^~ G-^jr^t ^- c^ /^^^c ^'<^A ^/^^ ] s //^Z ^^z^^l*^ ^-Or* *%4rA* (L&mXj-&L Crc**^ czejLcL. ^^^^^ ' / Qyiis^L^s!/^eT>-~ r>j L7J m x a. -UsZOU. 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He wab seated in the tain Bedee sprang from his second row on the left side of chair, climbed over some rows, the theatre in back of the bolted past the orchestra and orchestra. A command view footlights and across the stage could be had of President in the direction Booth had Abraham Lincoln watching disappeared. -the. piny. The sound of a Bhot A scream shattered the rang out above the actor's mounting noise. "They've got voice on stage. Captain Ed- him!" Bedee presumed the win Bedee stared as a man assassin was caught. Another vaulted from the President's scream. It was Mrs. Lincoln. box onto the stage. "My husband is shot!" A doc- Little did Edwin Bedee, tor was called for. Captain Captain, 12th Regiment, New Bedee reeled around and Hampshire Volunteers, know bounded across the stage to- when he enlisted, August 18, ward the box. As he waB scal- 1862, in Meredith, New Hamp- ing the box, a man appeared shire, that he would witness and stated he was a physi- the tragic death of one of cian. Captain Bedee stepped America'sgreatest Presidents, aside, pushed the doctor up Abraham Lincoln, on the to the railing and followed fateful day of April 14, 1865. directly behind. Had the Cap- When Captain Bedee saw tain not given assistance to the man drop onto the stage the surgeon, he would have from the President's box, his been the first to reach Lin- first reaction was to pursue coln. The only entrance to the the fleeing murderer. Instead, box was believed locked by Bedee, like the rest, listened Booth when he slipped in to as Booth boldly uttered the do his foul act, which appar- incredible words, "Revenge ently kept anyone from hast- for the South!" ily entering from the outside Sensing a catastrophe, Cap- passageway. " . & 122 to President Lincoln lay re- meaaap*, and secondly, officer in com- clined in his chair, his head contact the Chain Bnatre on tilted back as though he were mand at with the e>- asleep Tin doctor searched matters dealinp the wound Seeking Home capinp assassin lor were evidence of blood or torn When the missions Captain Bedtj re clothing, the surpeon suirted completed. to Stanton. The Secre to remove Lincoln 'a coat and turned him for his dili- unbutton his vest Meanwhile, tary thanked duties Captain Bedee was holdinp gence in handlinp the and alsx. for the President's head Sud- aasipned him President's pa- denly he felt a warm wetness carinp for the then tuld to re- tncklinp into hit hand. "Here pers He was turn to his post of duty is the wound, doctor," Cap- following day Captain tain Bedee said, as one of The with his repi- his finders slid inu the hole Kedet was eveninp ai, offn er in the back of Lincoln* head ment That the where the ball had only mo- broupht an order for ments before forced an entry Captain's arrest Apparent Dunn* the removal of aome misunderstanding of the con- between. Bedee Lin of the Presidents clothing.. nectiom and the assassi- papers fell from his pocket. coin's papers, Mrs Lincoln, apparently ra- nation had made him a sus- Depart tional in spite of the shock pect within the War Bedee was of the calamity handed the ment Captain M packet to Captain Bedee re distraupht that he tele marking "You are an officer. praphed the department ex- and won't you take charpt of plaininp the situation these papers'" Captain Bedee For two days Captain Be- look the papers while she re- dee was kept unde arrest H»oved other* from her hus- Finall> his release came, with band's inner pocket and placed an explanation of the con them in Bedee's hand fusion Immediately the Cap By now others had pained tain wrote Secretary Stanton that entrance te the box throup'r. a persona! letter stating the door One was a surpeon. his horiorabit record dunnp Topether the two doctors the war years would now worked over the President, have a very serious blemish and when Lincoln was re- if ti»t details were not clan back moved to the house across the bed The Secretary wrote street from the theatrt. Cap explaining the error caused tan. Bedee helped carry the by the lower echelon in his dvinp man He waited at the department and pave proper house where Secretary of ackiiowledprnent to Captain War Stanton was soon to ar- Bedet for the commendable the rive Lpon the Secretary's aru performed by him in arrival. Captain bedee de handling of Lincoln's papers livered the papers to him Thus the pood captan. was writing bis own name and complete!) exonerated from repiment upon the wrapper anj suspicious assoc.ation which Stanton placed around with the murder of President the documents. Secretary Lincoln. Stanton pave the Captain two How did Captain Bedee to this sorrowrful asaiKTiments : first, to ge happen upon the War Department with a moment of American history? '*3. "The audience wot laughing at the antics on stage few Edwin Bedee was born in on stage at the time, that felled Sandwich, New Hampshire, heard the shot President and grew up in the area. He the month after this tragic wat a printer by trade prior A involved affair. Captain to the war. At 24 he enlisted and promoted U> the and spent three months in a Bedee was Soon he was New York regiment but hast- rank of major. mustered out of the army ily returned to Meredith upon with his regiment. release to join the 12th alont hib war was over. Volunteers, wanting to be When the Bedee caught the spec- with fellow New Hampshire- Major ulating craxt and was lured men diamond as a sergeant to the South African Mustered in years fields.. But within a fe» major of the regiment, Bedee returned to Bos- wu »o©n promoted to the he sold out, and established himself as rank of fcrst lieutenant At ton, successful diamond trader the battle of ChanoelWsvtlle a During his latter years he was wounded and yet as- now a man of command of his regi- Major Bedee, sumed gave gen when those higher in moderate wealth ment churches and command were either killed eroush to the institutions in the town unable to lead othei or He purchased a At Chancellor*ville, Bedee's of Meredith statut in honor of th< 12n, ability to make decisions un- Volunteer* and der the pressure of battle Regimental or. the lawn of was recognized, and he was had it nlaced Meredith Public Library promoted to captain. A year the Harbor. Vir- Major Bedee died at the fa- later at Cold House Bedee was se- mous Pemigewassett ginia Captain New Ramp vered wounded Recovering in Plymouth. on January 13 190c from hit wounds. Bedee went shire five days after his 71st back inU action. This time he just He never married was captured at Bermuda birthday in the Meredith Front, Virginia Ht was pa His bod> lies cemetery beneatr a suno'ic roled in February of *6o Shortly thereafter, Captain monument if any recognition Bedee was selected to nerve on Little, has even been given Major the Btaff of General Potter and Bedee in the many accounts went tu Washington on spe- written on Lincoln's death b*- cial dutw On Friday evening, cauiw hib rob was that <*f a April 14. 18Gb. he decided to acting in a en attend Ford's Theatre dutiful officer the circumstances The pla> was Our A men- sis. Had surrounding Lincoln's per ear Couswi It was being per- papers not formed for the last time. sona' and official minor in the wake of Captain Bedee was fortunate been so tragic event. Major UxjDtair, a seat for the house such a Bedee might have become na was sold out In fact his seat exposed as a suspect gave him full view of the tionally assass.ir.att President's bo> and its occu- in the plot to Lincoln Ru> inno- paiLs Because the audience President oblivion Kn was laughing at the antics cence brought — STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, APKIL 16, 193 Tb&s-Sck Qj^ri Lincoln's Last Night ASSASSINATION OF GREAT EMANCIPATOR RECALLED. By LEWIS GARDNER REYNOLDS Custodian. Lincoln House. versions of THE EVENING STAR. SEVERAL conflicting a Abraham Lincoln's last hours w. v. iriLum, Bjiurma ttntltuu the time elapsing between the OlTTi shooting in Ford's Theater at a WJUNUMQTQM ATVRDAT M ATttlL li, IM*.' little after 10 o'clock Friday in the Petersen night, and his death •WkKAPINO HITTER ON EVERY ?\Qt on Satur- House at 22 minutes after 7 II OUTBIDS I0R IKTEBEtTlfcO taX*V day morning. •*unuo and other turret. These versions differ in essential de- tails, hence cannot all be right. The excitement of the tragic moments doubtless accounts, in large measure, for the conflicting stories of the events too, EXTRA. of the night. Men, and women who were present at the time saw the same thing differently, and what they saw became impressed upon their sev- eral minds and were related subse- quently. THE DEATH A noted jurist once said that he con- O IP sidered logical and clearcut circumstan- tial evidence far more reliable than the THE PRESIDENT. individual testimony of eyewitnesses. of so He said, further, "I have known A»W BUIUtpuf HTti o'clot* (ft* PrwlJ two, three or even many cases where 4»ui kreaibed nit Imi, cloalaf lilt ere* a* if more witnesses had actually s^en a TilllDf to >lHJ>, >0d ftll COO BteOtUCt uiuniif crime committed, but when they came • npnmita •( perfect Mnarry. Tkor* to the witness stand their several *ere stories differed in many essential de- a* indlcatloa* ot pais, «o4 It tu lot tails." kaowa thai he w*i ana until Ik* rraduail*/' With that Judicial thought in mind tficmiisf itiplratloa ctued *ltof*tk*r. article, after a care- the writer of this Rev. Dr Oarley, (ot me Now York A tenia ful study of the circumstances, and In- FmfeytrluCbarcb,) Ipimtdlataly oalUb*li( timate association with the house In •acoruuta ton life «u aitiact, knelt at Ik* which the President died and the de- fceOila* lad tails of the whole story, attempts to offered aa Itnpreielr* pr»yer analyze the matter and produce, as vkiok »** roepoadod to by all prataaL nearly as may be, a logical version of to Oarley 4MB "proceeded to ik« from pat/ tragic night, voiding as far as pos- that tor. TTbera Mm. Llacola. Capt. Robert ua-' sible any grave contradictions of other cola. Mr Joba Hay. tfte Private Sterol**/,' stories that have been told in good •ad otfcert, artr* wher* faith. waltlaf, ke again offered piay»r (or K* coa*olalloa of too Assassin's Entre Perfect. tally, John Wilkes Booth, the assassin, be- ing a stock actor at Ford's, had perfect entre to the theater, to come and go as he pleased. It was not an unusual the theater were crowded with ex- occurrence—in fact, almost his daily cited people. Police and soldiers held and nightly habit—to step in and look them back from and around the Presi- over the audience. That is just what dent and those who were bearing him he did the night of the tragedy, which on an improvised stretcher, probably he had well planned during the after- a door which had been torn from one noon. of the boxes. After several drinks of brandy to Halting a few moments at the curb nerve him for the deed, he entered one to determine what was best to be done of the front doors, sauntered around to get the President some place where the back of the parquet, then ascended he could be given attention, lights were the stairway to the balcony, walking observed in a house directly across the carelessly around the rear of the bal- street, and a young man standing in cony seats. Ushers and attaches paid the doorway was beckoning to those no particular attention to him because in charge to bring the injured man he had done that same thing before. "right in here." The President and his party were in Of course that invitation was prompt- the upper tier of bcxes, and no en- ly accepted. Several different versions trance to them except from the level have been given as to the circumstances of the balcony floor Booth sauntered of the bringing of the President into around until he was close to the box; the Petersen house and who invited the leaned nonchalantly against the wall surgeons to do so. The writer leans and awaited a favorable opportunity to strongly to the story related by Carl enter. That moment came when Lin- Bersch, who painted that remarkable coln's sole guard stepped out into the picture of the scene, now on exhibition balcony to better observe what was be- in the Lincoln Museum in the Ford ing enacted on the stage. Booth quiet- Theater Building. The painting is the ly stepped in, adjusted a stick so that property of Mrs. Carrie L. Fischer of the door cculd not be quickly or easily Annapolis, who is the daughter of opened from- the outside—the work of Carl Bersch. Mrs. Fischer has gener- an instant1—fired the bullet into the ously loaned the picture to the Lincoln back of the President's head, and then Museum as she felt that was the proper leaped, over the rail of the box onto setting for it. It is a most remarkable the stage. In doing this, a spur that picture because of the circumstances he wore on his boot (he planned to that surrounded the making of it. mount a horse which was awaiting Letter by Bersch. him in the alley at the rear of the theater, and make his escape, hence Mr. Bersch's story can best be told in was booted and spurred) entangled in his own words, from a letter written a fold of one of the flags that draped to his family at the time. Mr. Bersch the President's box and tripped him, occupied quarters on the second floor so that when landing on the stage he of the house adjoining the Petersen did so in such a manner that he broke home, on the north. This house, a small bone of his left ankle. although now used for business pur- / A rather dramatic incident that the poses, is much as it was at that time ,^>-v -? flag of the nation should have leaped so far as the front is concerned. There forward in a mute attempt at capture, was a small balcony just outside of thus making the final capture, twelve Mr. Bersch's front window and stepping unobstructed out on to this he had an later, much easier. could look days view of the surging crowd— scene. Maj. Rathbone Slashed. right down upon the Mr. Carl Bgrschjs. story: Henry B. Bathbone, who was de- Maj ""All Washington was celebrating, in the box, made an unsuc- lighted present with joy. Houses were attempt to grapple with Booth lirious Parades cessful up and hung with bunting. and prevent his escape, but the as- waving dagger, marched through the streets, sassin, armed as he was with a transparencies. ana flags and carrying many slashed the major in the arm and wearing to stop Women with wide skirts, bcdy—not fatally, but enough as nu- large poke bonnets, were about any further interference. Lincoln was of the merous as men. President William Withers, jr., leader so to be at Ford's Theater, orchestra, leaped upon the stage and known street was on the line of march. undertook to intercept Booth as he Tenth observed no rowdyism, just a crowd limped across to the left of the set I jubilant people, crazed with joy. The scenery to back-stage, but Booth Of same dagger scene was so unusual and inspiring, slashed him with the balcony in disarmed Maj. that I stepped out upon the with which he had eafcel - front of my windows, with my Bathbone. . ' j.^' . papers, determined to make to this point all of the several and sketch Up the whole scene and seem to agree, substantially. a picture of versions The yery wierd- When Mrs. Lincoln leaned over the transfer it to canvas. scene—aside from the his- the box, and cried frantically ness of the rail of appealed to my ar- surgeon or doctor, a man in toric nature of it— for a but very accur- uniform, who had occupied a near- tistic sense. Quickly, detailed drawings. I had front seat in the orchestra, leaped ately, I made "boosted to than an hour in which to do upon the stage and was ' more 10 o'clock a silence the upper box. From the rail of the this; Shortly after crowd of revelers. lower box to the floor extension of the fell upon the surging loud cry upper box, could not have been more The marching line halted. A of the theater, than six or seven feet, so it was not came from a window officer has been shot; clear a difficult matter to push the 'President Lincoln the police attended up to where he could clamber into the street,' soldiers and or President's box. This man was, un- to that. In the course of 10 15 of the doubtedly, Surg. Gen. Charles S. Taft. minutes, out of the north door carry- Whether or not the first surgeon or theater appeared a group of men, injured doctor or layman to reach the Presi- ing the prostrate form of an stretcher. They dent's side was Charles S. Taft, or man on an improvised some one who had entered through the stopped a few moments at the curb, in- dcor from the balcony, is one of the hastily debating where to take the mooted questions that may never be jured man to give him the best atten- answered. At best it was merely a tion most quickly. They observed lights matter of a few seconds. As the time in the house, of William Petersen, my required to remove the bar which next door neighbor, and a young mant Booth had fixed securely on the door, Willie Clark, whom I know very well, and no man in the box except the in- standing on the topmost step of the jured Maj. Bathbone, some few pre- winding stairs, leading to the Petersen cious moments must have been lost. house. Therefore, the logical and "circum- Beckoning of Clark. stantial evidence" seems to this writer to those who to be in favor of Surg. Taft, who "Clark was beckoning Injured man took charge of the case, and ordered had charge, to bring the as quickly as that the injured President be ca/rled right in. This was done make a pathway out into the air. It is a small mat- the soldiers could ter anyhow, and scarcely worthy of through the crowd. or 14 feet contention, as to who reached the "My balcony being 12 and street, I had a President first. above the sidewalk clear view of the scene, above the heads Removal From Box. of the crowd. I recognized the lengthy the flickering The task of carrying the injured form of the President by and one large gas Lincoln out of the theater and into the light of the torches, as the sidewalk. The tarry- air was accomplished as quickly lamp post on curb and the slow, careful possible. One account has it that the ing at the he was carried across rear row of balony seats had to be manner in which gave me ample time to removed to provide room, but the ac- the street, accurate sketch of that par- curacy of this account has been ques- make an to ticular scene; make it the center and tioned. It was doubtless necessary part of the large painting remove several of the seats—those near- outstanding gave I shall make, using the sketches I made est the door of the box, and that earlier in the evening, as an appro- to the story that the entire rear rise background. A fitting title for row was removed. It would have re- priate picture would, I think, be 'Lin- quired considerable time to tear out 25 the coln Borne by Loving Hands on the or 30 chairs—and time was the supreme Fatal Night of April 14, 1865.' Alto- element at that moment. im- gether It was the most tragic and rate the unconscious man was At any scene I have ever witnessed. carried out as speedily as pressive successfully already busy with palette and the elapsed time until he I am possible and and hope to transfer to canvas upon a bed in the Petersen brush was laid what may be one of the strangest pic- indicated that no unnecessary house tures of all time." were wasted in the theater moments The painting is admirably displayed in Ford's Thea- front of in the Lincoln Museum street and sidewalks In Interesting \he ter and is one of the many and historic things shown there. Lincoln lingered in the modest little room in the Petersen house, for more than nine hours—unconscious all of the time—passing peacefully away at 22 minutes after 7 on Saturday morn- intensely interesting is the whole Sa an story that the only way I can find Before end is by abruptly stopping. pertinent doing so, however, just a few thoughts. «_«j The assassination occured on Good Friday—which recurs this year on P state on He was first laid out in ago Easter Sunday morning—68 years this very day. , .-. The rest you can read in the histories. ' I - : — •* Saw Booth "B^s, A-iV*^ Shoot Lincoln Sergt. Boggs, Civil War Veteran, Tells of Night in Ford's Theater Chicago claims the only survivor of the audience which, in Ford's theater, Wash- ington, witnessed the a-ssa.sfilna.tion of Abraham Lincoln by John Wilkes Booth, thereby writing into American history one of its darkest pages. That survivor is Albert W. Boggs. civil war veteran, who is passing his declining /ears at the James C. King Home for Old Men, at 360 Garfield boulevard. Will Tell of Tragedy Sergt. Boggs, as he is known, is to be a guest of honor at the Executives' club at their meeting at the Hotel Sherman Friday noon, when he will address the club members on the stirring incidents of the civil war, and more particularly on the details of the tragedy which cost the nation one of its greatest men. In addition to seeing the assassination of Lincoln, the then young soldier at- tended the execution of three of those who conspired with Booth. Enlisted in Ohio Sergt. Boggs is 83, but looks younger. Courtly of manner, and still maintaining his military bearing in spite of his ad- vanced age, he appears every inch the soldier. "I enlisted at the beginning of the wur in Columbus, Ohio," he related to a Journal reporter, *'and shortly after was sent to the sign corps camp of instruc- tion i for training. This was in George- town, and at this time, while in Wash- ing one day, I visited the white house under the wing of Kdwin M. Sianton, by whom I was presented to President Lin- coln and his family—Mrs. Lincoln and the two boys. "I again found myself in Washington toward the close of the war, after hav- ing been knocked from my horse by a piece of a shell which exploded near me and hit me in the head. This was three or four days before the assassination. Attended Ford's Theater "I was taken to the capital by Thomas M. Vincent, assistant adjutant general of the army, who was a relative of mine, and whose guest I was during my con- valescence. "On the eventful night my host had tickets to Ford's theater, and I accom- panied him. We were seated about two- thirds of the way down the theater, in the parquet. My head was still btindaged iere the shell had wounded me. 'It was a gala night, with the president in his box. which was draped in dags. , '.denly a shot rang out. Immediately all was confusion. Everybody leaned to his feet, but for the moment no one dreamed of the seriousness of what had happened. Only those immediately about him knew that the president had been shot. Gripped by Tragedy "I shall never forget my sensation as the truth broke upon me. It was one ot stifling, as though someone had gripped my throat. "The assassin as he fled drew a knife and escaped by way of the stage." Sergt. Boggs held a position tor many years following the war- in the postof- flce of the house of representatives. While there he became well acquainted with the nation's two other martyred presidents, William McKinley and Jarnes A. Garfield. "tbo^S., Arlfcx^-V VETERAN, WHO SAW LINCOLN SHOT, IS DEAD (Picture on back page.) Sergt. Albert W. Boggs, civil war veteran who saw Abraham Lincoln assassinated at Ford's theater in Washington in 1865, died yesterday, arter a prolonged illness, at the James C. King home for aged men, 360 East Garfield boulevard. Mr. Boggs, who was 84, retired from his work ass a traveling salesman six years ago, then explaining that wounds he received while fighting as one of Gen. Sherman's soldiers made it impossible for him " to stand the grind of the road." It was as the guest of his cousin Maj. Gen. Thomas M. Vincent that Mr. Boggs, then 19, attended Ford's theater the night J. Wilkes Booth shot President Lincoln. Mr. Boggs at- tended the trial of the conspirators and saw the execution. He also at- tended Lincoln's funeral. After being discharged from the union army, Mr. Boggs was employed in the postoffiee of the house of repre- sentatives. He later became a glass salesman and remained in that occu- pation until his retirement in 1922. Sergt. Boggs was born in Cadiz, O., and there he enlisted. He is survived by a sister, Miss Anna M. Boggs, who lives in Chicago. Funeral services will be held at the Daylight church, 47th street and St. Lawrence! avenue tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock. In- terment will be in Mount Hope ceme- tery. Saw Lincoln Shot AJLBUfiX W. BOGGS — ^nO^.^,?^ A New Donation of Lincolniana THE SMITH COLLECTION Recently an extensive and unusual buoying vessels, a piece of wallpaper from collection of Lincolniana and Civil War the room in which he died, Civil War books and mementoes amassed over a life- uniforms, a Lincoln letter, and several fine time by Dr. Charles H. Smith of Sarasota, Currier and Ives lithographs of Lincoln Florida, was donated to Lincoln Memorial and his generals. University. A retired dentist from West There arc also ninety-two books in the Virginia, Dr. Smith decided to place his Smith Collection, running the gamut from collection here when he read of the gener- such early editions as John Abbott's History osity of Colonel Harland Sanders and his of the Civil War in America (1863, Joseph giving half a million dol- wife Claudia in Barrett's Life of Abraham Lincoln (1865), of the lars toward the construction Abra- and Frank Moore's Women of the War ham Lincoln Library and Museum to be (1866), to Willard Webb's Crucial Mo- erected on this campus. ments of the Civil War (1961), and Robert While it is virtually impossible to assess Paul Jordan's The Civil War (1969). With the worth of a labor of love, it is estimated the completion of the Lincoln Library these that the Smith Collection has a current books and the roughly one hundred me- market value of about $11,000. Among the mentoes of Lincoln's life and times will be items which made it such a fine compli- both attractively displayed and available to ment to the existing collection are: a series anyone who might wish to examine them of letters and documents of Civil War for pleasure or scholarly purpose. soldiers, a copy of Lincoln's patent for greate excitement in the city today Washington, D.C.— April 15, 1865 Pe lec Bradford , a private in the 1st dent was shot last night while he was Maine Artillery, was in a Washington, at a thearter on F street greate excite- D. C. hospital, alter having his leg ampu- ment in the city to day Secretary Seward tated from an injury received in battle, at had his throat cut and his son — stabed the time of President Lincoln's assassi- but it is thought that they will recover nation and death, Two pages of his three- but the President died this morning at page letter addressed to a friend provides a half past 8 oclock he was shot about 10 vivid account of the public feeling in oclock last night the flags are all at half Washington during this tragic time. mast and all the public buildings are Closed they have arested the man that The original letter dated April 15, 1865 Shot honest abe but the man . . .that cut is the property of Norm Flaydcrman of theair throats they cant find yet but they New Milford, Connecticut. The letter are after him and probably will get him (without corrections as to spelling or the negroes feal very bad to think they punctuation) in part follows: have lost theair Father they are left to . . . there has been a greate excitment Scratch for them selves now I ask a here fore the past 8 or 10 days over the negro this morning if he new that his greate f i ting and surender of Lea's army Father was dead and he told me that he and the capture of Richmond and Peters- did and he said it was a greate loss to ' burgh and to cap the whole the Presi- him. 101] -'— "~T. 7" --—;;:• T^jjgi^: * "•" . I > ^ j Wa&y£z~ i£q $J£^y JLLfa4~ c^»vt &?S 2- z* /*ys - „ fife. ./> , a/, a**tf x-^/^jz 7 Js -~t «r.**S/ /^a- ***** t^JU. VV^ulA^ ^£ AjU& $>^~ /Ule**~ ,%& s*z^p++~Cf /istkJC /U<4^ Jfrdu>£ /UclJ dsCL(/ 4***/ /jtS tff-W s??zS /Wrasf~" sf^~ ol*!ol-> A4rc£* jLe^7 ^StJatr* A/~^ /Uffi^t qs~ Q^-fa/y * 7 a^v-rust" 4uu*^ '***-. /Cfc? A»} /U yft^ou^ ^6*f ,+f~ (P /tJu**-^ st/ /L^ / truest ff ~tf 0& Printed in U.S.A. ** 70W2-9 13<-Cu.:Z-i ^ tO Minneapoutan, 81, Recalls Assassination of Lincoln Sixty Years ^Aqo Tuesday Dr. H. W. Brazie, Veteran of G'eitys burg and Secret Service, Knew John Wilkes Booth and Men Who Aided Him Di\H. W. Brazie^ 81 year old Minneapolis physician, who as a Washing- ton secret service agent used to eat his meals in the same hotel with John Wilkes Booth, last night recalled the details of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, April 14, 18Q5, just 60 years ago Tuesday, remembering the tragedy that rocked a nation, "as if it were yesterday." f the time Lincoln was shot," Dr. Brazie recalled last night. "It \ was a warm night, and I was sitting: in my room before an open window when a commotion in the street J attracted my attention, looking- out, I saw men hurrying here and there, and heard cries that 'Lincoln is dead—Lin- coln has been killed!" Posted at Rail Station "Immediately reporting- for duly, I was stationed at the Baltimore & Ohio railroad terminal, ordered to see that nobody left the city without being iden- tified." Dr. Brazie, who has been a physician here for 40 years, was wounded in the battle of Gettysburg. He can recall the tavern, owned by Mrs. Surratt, where the plot to assassinate Lincoln was hatched. He knew every member of the Booth family, and was "professionally ac- quainted" with the Surratt tavern, "a nest of anarchy and sedition," whicn was 'rifled' when Booth's gang was rounded ' | up. , He knew Spanglar, the man who held Booth's horse outside the theater, and Dr. Mudd, who set the assassin's leg and secreted him after his flight. Assassin Shot as He Fled Barn "Booth met his death not more than 10 days after the assassination," Dr. Brazie said. "He was shot as he rushed from the barn that had been fired by officers surrounding him. Sergeant Boston Corbctt fired the shot that killed him, and he was Juried in a private bu- rial ground in northern New Vork, without mark or headstone. "Some have said the body was kept in the navy yards before burial, and it is reported now that he lived several years after the assassination. This is not true. I saw Booth in the arsenal, and I know it was he, because I used J to eat in the same hotel dining room with him in Washington. "The rumor that Booth lived for years after the assassination is similar to the recent fallacy about Harry Haywood not being hanged. I hap- pen to know Heywood was hanged, be cause I was within six feet of the gal lows when the trap was pulled fron under his feet. I was the physicii. who pronounced him dead." Dr. Brazie lives at 3416 Pillsbury aw nue. "B <~e-Ax- Mo., saw Lincoln and Booth. He Daniel A. Breard, Sr., Re- saw Booth, who was only 21 years calls Seeing Lincoln on old at the time, across the foot- lights, playing a minor role in a St. Stump, Booth on Stage Louis theater. Later, he crossed the Mississippi river into Illinois to hear 5 Years Before Killing Lincoln campaign for the presidency. A few months thereafter, "Uncle Dan" abandoned his studies to fight (Special ;o The Times-Picayune) for the Confederate cause in the Monroe, La., April 11.—The 14th War Between the States. Not par- of April is a memorable date in the ticularly fond of classroom routine, recollections of Daniel A. Breard, Sr., he thought he was quitting the pro- retired merchant and planter of Mon- saic for the romantic. He was to roe and the oldest living while na- find, however, that considerable real- tive Ouachita date is of parish. The ism is mixed with romance— insofar, indelibly imprinted in his memory, at least, as war is concerned. not only because it is the anniver- Shortly after Louisiana seceded sary of one of the greatest tragedies following Lincoln's election, he "ft in American history, but because, as college. Returning to Monroe, he a youth, he had seen both persona joined the local company of the Sec- involved in the fatal event. ond Louisiana Infantry and served When "Uncle Dan," as Mr. Breard continuously with that outfit until is familiarly known throughou the his capture during the latter part of parish, on separate occasions saw the conflict. Abraham Lincoln and John Wilkes Worth Remembering Booth, he little dreamed that the two Though Mr. Breard, now in his men's paths would cross, that within 93rd year and bedridden, served four a few years one would .~sassinate years with the Southern army on the former. the sanguinary fields of Northern inters the Army Virginia, he places his varied and col- It was five years before that night orful military experiences secondary of April .ii at Ford's theater in to the fact that he had the unique Washington in 1865 that Mr. Breard, privilege of seeing both Lincoln then a 17-year-old freshman at the and Booth. After all, he indicates by University of St. Louis in St. Louis, the tone of his voice in speaking of the matter, a bloody battle is merely a Lattle, but Lincoln and Booth— they are men worth remem- bering. Despite the fact that he was born, reared and schooled in the South and served in the Confederate army, "Uncle Dan," undoubtedly one of the few persons still alive who can claim to have seen both the martyred president and his assassin, has al- ways been a great admirer of Lin- coln. He sets him among the out- standing civil leaders of the world, in a position secondary only to Gen- eral Robert E. Lee and Lieutenant- General "Stonewall" Jackson, under whom he soldiered. Captured at Culpepper Courthouse, Va., by Union forces during the last phases of the interstate conflict that started in 1S61 and raged through part of 1865, "Uncle Dan" was Bent, as a prisoner of war, to Elmira, N. Y. There he remained until ex- changed shortly before the surren- der of Lee at Appomattoy Having contracted scurvy as a result of the unbalanced rations upon which the Confederates were forced to subsist toward the last, he was sent home on sick leave immediately after be- ing passed through the battle lines. Having been compelled, by the de- predations of the Union general, Wil- liam T. Sherman, in his "march to "To begin with," he now declares, the sea," to walk most of the dis- in the light of experience and ma- tance home, Mr. Breard had scarce- ture judgment, "if the militaristic ly reached Monroe when the news Southern leaders had ceased rattling of the assassination of Lincoln ar- their swords long enough to listen to rived. At that time, he said, this Lincoln's simple words of wisdom, was, for the prostrate South, the the Union would have never been worst thing that could have hap- disrupted." pened. - ! " I ~Bciv>W Kmi 7 wife of Edwin Brink, whom she had REMEMBERS \f band did. Kitty was relegated to the married at 15 shortly before the LINCOLN trag- dressing-rooms to help make up the TRAGEDY edy. Through her husband she was other actors. soon playing small parts with the Woman Tells of Assassination "I recall something my husband told troupe. She well remembers John of War President at me during rehearsal that morning that Wilkes Booth, Lincoln's assassin, as a Theatre. puzzled me," Mrs. Armstrong says. "He popular and light-hearted player. had been talking to Booth, and said, Huron, S. D., Feb. 12.—On this day "He was nothing like his terrible deed •Something will take place here tonight When millions of Americans are think- suggests," she recalls. "He was always that will make the name of Booth live ing of the humble birth 'ready for and towering gaiety when with the com- forever.' life of Abriham Lincoln, a little pany, and never struck old lady anyone as par- Burned Into Her Mind. of this town is thinking overpowering- ticularly serious." Here is the way the events of that Jy of his tragic death. Recalls Puzzling: Remark. night burned The themselves into the brain passing 70 years has not dimmed The play presented that fateful night of the child actress so that the little the picture of that horrible moment of April 14 was "Our American Cousin" old lady still remembers them: for Mrs. Nelson Armstrong. As a young —a fill-in while Shakespeare's "A Mid- "Everything backstage was going actress she was backstage in Ford's summer Night's Dream" was being re- along in routine fashion Theatre despite the the night Booth's murderous hearsed, for the Ford's Theatre com- fact that we were conscious of Presi- pistol shots cut through the light com- pany was at that time specializing dent Lincoln's presence. edy in The knowl- of the play to present a sudden and* Shakespeare. edge circulated backstage just as he ar- Stark tragedy. Kitty Brink did not have a role in rived, soon after the curtain Mrs. rose. We Armstrong was then the child "Our American Cousin," but her hus- weren't too excited over that, as he of- 1 ten came to Ford's Theatre during the war, for relaxation. "It was near the end of the second —or third—act, at about 10 o'clock when 'things happened.' In the dress- ing rooms we heard two indistinct noises. We thought nothing much about it until we heard shouts both from the stage and from the auditor- ium. Realizing that the shouts were I foreign to the lines of the play, we' stepped into a little hallway. Heard Booth Fleeing-. "Just as that moment we heard the clumping footsteps of someone running I through the stage scenery down to the rear entrance out the door, and into the alley. "That was Booth, though of course we didn't know it then. "We rushed onto the stage. All was wild chaos. The first thing I saw was a number of men being lifted up from the stage into the President's box. "And further back, I saw the picture that has never left me for a momentJ Sitting in his chair, his great shaggy head slumped on his chest, was Mr. Lincoln j "Mrs. ; Lincoln was screaming and cry- ing unintelligibly. I heard her cry once, 'Mr. Lincoln has been shot!' By this time two actors of our company, Miss Keene and Mr. | Ferguson, had worked their way through the panicky crowd and come up from the rear to the door of the box. Audience in Stampede. "I stood on the stage, glued to the spot, overwhelmed and terrified. I could see doctors working over Mr. Lin- coln. Finally a group of men carried the chair with the President on it out of j the theatre. \ "The performance was hopelessly dis were leaving; rupted, of course. Patrons excitement. the theatre in a frenzy of had hap- No one was quite sure what that Mr. pened, and many had no idea Lincoln had been shot. stage, "Miss Keene came back to the I learned that it and it was then that who had was Booth, our fellow-player, done the slaying." Brink, Mrs. Armstrong (she divorced now married Nelson Armstrong, and is believe a widow) is one of those who not the that John Wilkes Booth was man who was shot when cornered in troops. a burning barn by pursuing Doubts Booth Was Slain. "The man they got in that barn was avers. not Booth," Mrs. Armstrong "Of course I can't prove it definitely" great one way or another, but I, and a have number of others who knew him, got always been convinced that he name away and died under another many years later." played After the tragedy, Mrs. Brink over the in Shakespearean plays all United States and Canada for 15 years, mar folowing which she retired and ried Armstrong. chil- Today as a widow, two of whose and very dren live here, she is alert anniversary much alive at 85. And the observed today of Lincoln's birth as to this only serves to make more vivid remaining eye old lady, one ol the few the terrible tableau she saw] ; witnesses, "' 70 years ago. " Lot ft Page 71. Guide Price TEX INDEPENDENCE BKCADSIiy 1167. "UNANIMOUS DECLARATION DEPEf' NCE BY THE DELEGATE OR THE PEOPLE OP TEXAS. " in G*ier*L Condition atjthe Tow Washington, second day of VmrcW, 18 J.ppro:c ^12xl6 the rarect on the 3y i ~ : broadsides in existe) dk^0L n < ' ^^r ee back cover. Only other copy known T^Streeter copy (MIN. BID i6.000.00) EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT OF LINCOLN'S ASSASSIi.ATIC:: . 1168. A magnificent 4-page letter by a Wisconsin soldier to his sister with an ernotional recount of the tragic scene at Ford's Theater. "Judiciary Square Hospt., April 16. Dear Sisters The rejoicing over our victories has been turned into mourninr. President Lincoln has been struck down in the midst of his usefulness, the pride of the age, the benefactor of his race, the liberator of a nation and the friend of suffering humanity —was here murdered by a demon in human form and all because he was Chief Magistrate of the Nation. I was present and saw this scene enacted, and such an act — that has no parallel since the days of Roman greatness when Caesar was struck down in the Roman Senate by an idle mob. Eut I will tell a little of . what I saw. . He relates how he decided to go to Ford's Theater to see the President and Gen. Grant. "8:30 came and the private box where the greatest man of the age was to sit was still unoccupied. The play commenced. Mr, Lincoln and lady accompanied by a single couple entered the house being received by enthusiastic cheers as they took their seats. The play went on smoothly. Suddenly a pistol shot was heard. No one was alarmed because it was believed to be a part of the play. A change takes place -a dark form is seen to fall from the private box, his spurs catching in the flag as he descends. A second and he recovers, rising in a tragical attitude he draws a dagger and with his white face toward the crowd he repeated in Latin "So be it ever to tyrants". Moving description of the bedlum in the theater and of Miss Keene holding President's hand while examination was being made. He is sure murderer is John Wilkes Booth, as he has seen him before. Adds a P.S. that the city is mad with excitement and 3 men have been shot dead by soldiers for saying they were glad that the President was dead. Original envelope penned "Apr. 16 '65, postmarked Apr. 17. Signed by Spencer H. Bronson, who was Co. B, 7th fteg't. Wisconsin Volunteers. Very legible unpublished account. ,($400.00) H69. Group of 20 UNPUBLISHED LETTERS OFSGT. BRONSON WHO WROTE THE ABOVE LETTER ON LINCOLN. Battle accounts , "Our lines& the Hebs are 500 yards . apart "Mentions Lincoln &Grant , Shermans March, Indians Joining the Army, etc "all with considerable contents. Most by but a few to Sgt . Bronson. All but one has the cover, postmarked Wash.,D.C. or Wise, Scott 3 cent rose stamps. Neat &legible ($65.00) 1170. Gen. Grant CHROMOLITHOGRAPH IN CONTEMPORARY FRAME. Military bust portrait in oval frame 19 x22". Portrait is scuffed 4' frame needs repair. ($37.00) 1172. (PRINT J.WASHINGTON FAMILY. PAINTED by F.Schell, PUB. Dainty, ENGD. by A.B.Walter. Ca. 1840. In. 12 x 14" oval frame. Vg (A37.OO Lot £ Page 72 Guide Pr1 c.p The following leaflets were all fired by American Army mortars or shells to German front-line troops: 1173. CPH 30 Weitermachen bedeutet: With quote from Roosevelt's 21.X.44 speech f, lJ.OO 1174. CT 52 In letzter Stunde. Feb 1944. Shows crease marking by firing 15.00 1175. CT 55 Einlge deutsche Offiziere. Feb 44. Ditto 15.00 1176. CT 3 Deutsche Soldate im Westwall! With Surrender Pass in English, ditto. Rl 17.00 Dropped by OSAAF planes on behalf of US Government: 1177. ZG 45 Eine minute. Aug 44 5. 00 1178. ZG 61 Safe Conduct with English translation insert. Vy. colourful 5*00 1179. ZG 6lA Hiniautre edition of above for mortar-firing. V. rare 20.00 1180. ZG. 64 Das Ende. Quotes from speeches by Roosevelt & Churchill 6.00 1181. ZG 119 Schlussmachen bedeutet. Discoloured. Marc 45 4.00 1182. USG 9 Tag und Nacht. USAAF's day & night bombing of Germany. Illus. 5.00 II83. USG 26 Wenn friede Einkehrt 4.00 1184. USG 34 Wollt ihr den totalen Krieg ? Roosevelt's speech of 24.12.43 quoted, with signature. Rl 8.00 1185. WG 12 Military proclamation to Germany people by Dwight Eisenhower, with Roosevelt & Churchill speeches 10.00 1186. F 140 President Roosevelt's Message to French people re North African landings. US flag in colour with Roosevelt' t signature. 10.00 In French & Arabic as above but to North Africans. Flag in colour, President' a photo and signed by Eisenhower. Slightly ragged but v. rare 20.00 1187. USH 7 To Holland by USAAF. President Roosevelt' s speech of March 24 1944. Very rare leaflet 15.00 1188. USH 13 To Holland by USAAF. Illus and includes Dutch minister Gebrandy's telegram to MacArthur on invasion of Dutch New Guinea. 1944 10.00 •>>> *, ; •» v.v i*i " Iff K * S 1^ Sfrt^i 'JOtHtSUy /fajM f/jwfi/ Y ./ / / _ .... Oyp, '' j" % J&M (?f€Y~ X~^/~ ^y .ri* A '*<>//'/ „„ : <»j, ,**/{ *Kr£* /3,.,Y ~ Y> *s7'// f,//#Ji I. w JSktfe&fftr J y, rtS'S/cVS e ^" "V ?/ **!? ? J'JX- : 6t fcizaw jfcr>?9 7 'A <*' <&*r f*T~ /&# jinn //\ / : i#L fan,,.} _y T^it* <%/'"* ~3sL.*£j~ J4r&'9*fy£? & -rLs*-*^f' hjsbfajtr \*~*fy fyn^t-y '61*/ /fats 4Jik£*m»\ jfetf /&*" <£?''¥ ?nfit £lf?r*/ ?€&%5t* ^,X.v)^/"^/ 4le+;*u7y Wvxi fist" tefii*?' /s7lj/ J^Sr+T^t^s r~ tf "V far . It2j-i % d*^ J^*?*i /*.. *rft (107-rLs r/~ ^/xJt'y.VL*/ sfy & 7 ? 'J/,*. *j, £\Z) &? ft* /fc~~ A&y ,.47v,* I'd 't^£&jS' / f 0fn /U Please Reply To: R. Gerald McMurtry 910 Wast Rudisill Blvd. Fort Wayne, IN 46807 November 1^» 1973 J Mr. Norm Flayderman N. Flayderman & Co., Inc. Squash Hollow, R.F.D. 2 New Milford, Connecticut 06776 Dear Mr. Flayderman; Many thanks for your letter of November 6th giving me permission to take from the S. H. Bronson letter of April 16, 1865 a "significant statement 11 concerning Lincoln's assassination. I am particularly interested in the postscript which is as follows: *The city is mad with excitement at the act, three men have been shot deed by soldiers for saying they were glad the president was deed." I have not revealed your name as the owner of the original 1 ett er • I am enclosing with this letter Lincoln Lore No. 1478, April, 1961, which contains two letters written by Albert Daggett to his mother and sister on April 15th and April 16th, I865. In both letters he mentions that men have been killed who dared to say that they were glsd that president Lincoln had been assassinated. I will send you a copy of my short article once it is published. Yours sincerely* R; Gerald McMurtry RGM/jn Enc. published by 3 jW | LINCOLN MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY PRESS %JBk1 S EXECUTIVE OFFICES: LINCOLN MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY HARROGATE. TENNESSEE 37752 fiRES EDITORIAL STAFF: R. GERALD McMURTRY, Editor-in-Chief; ARNOLD GATES, Literary Editor; LLOYD OSTENDORF, Art Editor. STUART L. WATSON, Managing Editor. ASSOCIATE EDITORS: Kenneth A. Bernard, George L. Cashman, Bruce Catton, J. Winston Coleman, Jr., Carl Haverlin, James T. Rickey, Williams. King V. Hostick, Ralph G. Newman, James I. Robertson, Jr., Wayne C. Temple, T. Harry , S&2. N. F1AIDIIHMAN & CO,, XKC. MILITARY & NAUTICAL ANTIQUES . Firearms, Edged Weapons, Equipment, Arms Literature SQUASH HOLLOW NEW MILFORD. TBI. 354-5547 AREA CODE 203 R.F.D. 2 CONNECTICUT, 06776, U.S.A. November 6, 1973 Mr. R. G. McMurtry 910 W. Rudisill BL Fort Wayne, Indiana 46807 ~ Dear Mr. McMurtry: Your letter of October 11, 1973 to Mr. George' Rinsland Allentown, Pennsylvania regarding the Bronson letter with eye witness account of the assassination of Lincoln was forwarded to me as the purchaser, I felt the item was quite important especially as it is substantiated by numerous other letters of Bronson of .. the same era and I purchased for my personal collection of Lincoln assassi- nation items. I do not feel I would be interested in having the letter published or reprinted as I would like to reserve its originality of content for a later date. If however, _a few s i gn i f ican t s ta t erne n ts within the let ter , or the general content of the letter is worthy of discussing, I would be pleased to cooperate in that respect but 1, under no circumstances, wish to have* it reprinted 4 n its entirety. If I Can be of any help, please feel free to correspond about i,4. ^i^-i. ZJne Jrnternaliona l l^oilectord +5*etvice Indiciary Square Hospt April 16 Dear Sister Your last letter was received in due time was pleased to hear that Edward had been heard from even if it was almost one month ago . The rejoicing over our victories has been turned into mouring President Lincoln has been struck down in the midst of his usefulness, the pride of the age, the benefactor of his race, the liberater of a nation 5 the friend of suffering humanity everwhere has been murdered by a demon in human form 5 all becaus he was the Chief Magistrate of the nation I was present $ saw this scene enacted § such an act that has no parallel since the days of Roman greatness whe Caesar was struck down in the Roman senate by an idle mob. But I will tell a little of what I saw their although I presume you L K have read the full acount of this dasterdly murder. As I was reading the morning papers on the 14 inst I saw a statement that the President $ Gen Grant would visit Fords Theatre that evening. I had been gaining that week § resolved that I would make an attempt to be present not so much for the attraction of the play but for the sake of seeing Mr Lincoln £ most of all Gen Grant who I have never seene but onece At an early hour I was at the Theatre which is but three squares from this hospital. 8£2. came § the private box wher the two greatest men of the age was to set was still unoccupied The curtains arose 5 the play commenced entitled "Oour American Cousin" the starr performer being Miss Laura Keene About 8 1/222. Mr Lincoln § lady accompanied by a single couple entered the house being received by enthusiastic cheers as they took their seats The play went on § all went smoothly every one being interested in the play. Then suddenly a pistol shot is heard — No one is alarmed for it is believed to be a part of the play. A chang takes place a dark form is seen to fall from the private box his spurs catching in the flagg as he descends. A second $ he recov- eres § rising in a tragical attitude he draws a dagger 5 with his white face towards the crowd he repeated in latin "So be it ever to tyrants'* § rapid left the stage making his exit by a back door mounted a horse rapid rode away The intire crowd started in pursuit but were halted by an exclamation that he ha been caut £ loud cries resounded from all parts of the house "Hang him" "shoot him" £c But it was but a game of some encomplisher for to draw off the scent so that the murderer might escape In the mean time Mrs Lincoln came to the front of the box with loud cries § screems [?] know to the horror struck audience that Mr Lincoln had been assassinated Help was called for $ men was hoisted L up with water $ spirits Miss Keene [mostly ?] regain her presence of mind § went around into the box holding the President head while an exam- ination was being made Enclosed is one of the handbills of the Theatre that evening I will also send you a paper with the full acount of the affair G also a good portrait of the murderer who I am shure is J Wilkes Booth who I have seen before I will write again before long S H Bronson The city is mad with excitement at the act. three men has been shot dead by soldiers for saying they were glad the President was dead Thus far the murderer has not been caught. Save the hand bill [ENVELOPE] [Postmark:] Washington, D. C, Apr 17 Miss Amanda Bronson Fall River Columbia Co Wisconsin GEORGE felNSLANB 4015 Kilmer Avenue Allerrfown, Pa. 18104 C^^y, »1« LINCOLN'S ASSASSINATION. 1j>u_c^W-; v^Vvwrvj _!&, W €L. The Doorkeeper at Ford's Theater Tells Some Stories of the NightJc/C. y J [John E. Buckingham in Kato Field's Washington.]'. Forty- two years ago I was call-boy to thej elder Booth; so you see my theatrical expe-s rtence extends over a good Jong time. Fori .most of these years I have seen the theater? from the doorway, and for nearly thirty off them I have taken the tickets of the Wash-; ' lngton "theater-going public. I know the 5 faces, I think, of most of the people id town; who are fond of the play, and have had the* pleasure of admitting many ceiebrltlos'to an; evening of recreation from the cares of state. I At this season, however, the celebrities are ' very sparse Indeed. Among the prominent men In the last Con- gress who came often to the theater were Mr. Breckinridge of Kentucky, Mr. Carlisle and. Mr. Eustls. President Harrison likes an even- ing here, and is a greater theater-goer than 1 any President since Arthur. Harrison, Arthur and Lincoln make up the recent presidential patrons of the drama. Between Lincoln's" time and Arthur's no President showed very- much fondness for the theater. I was tending the door at Ford's Theater the night that Lincoln was shot. The lmpros- ' slon it made upon my mind Is still sp vivid ! that I don't like to talk about It. but for all that there was nothing of '.the horrible scene | j Soften described. The soldiers, who were al- I upon the .spot, did ; most immediately not charge upon the crowd with fixed bayonets,, as Is sometimes erroneously stated. There • : was very great dlrllculty in making the peo- the house. Hardly two ; pie leave minutes aft- the shot was fired the audience seemed to ;er ; ;fiow oyer into the orchestra and upon the [stage. Tills state of things lasted ior some '• Klme until, at the request of Mr. Harry Ford . ft went out to the sidewalk and spoke to Mr. /Wallach, for many years Mayor of the city. A 'Became in, and, going as far as be could' .down one'of the alSles, addressed the crowd \ *nd asJted. tlieiiuto leave., He, was vyeilnknown,* ana the people obeyed With tolerable prompt-'; ncss, and that Is the w-ay the throng was real- * !ly dispersed. When they were Anally gone 1 locked the doors and quitted the building. I All this, of course, is more or less widely Known to the public. What Is less familiar is ' the subsequent history of the old house. As provo3t guard was put in charge, ana ttie soldiers made sad havoc with the appearance ' Si the theater. We had, for instance, a pretty little waiting parlor for laciles; here the guard cooked and ate their rations, until floor and > lurnlture were covered with grease. They .damaged the boxes, too, a great deal, and j altogether left the place in a sorry condition. > Mr. Ford obtained permission to open again on the 10th of July. The pla.y was the Ooto- I roon, and was billed all over the city. The provost guard was not ordered out until the | last moment, ana after that we attempted to put things in order as best we could. The theater was cleaned, and 1 bought a roll of I crape and draped the box which Presl- ' dent Lincoln had occuoled. We were busy all day on the' 10th, and 1 hur- lied home late to dress ior the evening's business. A little before time for the per- formance I came back ana found a row of sol- diers on the steps. Mr. Ford came up and told me that he had been summoned to appear at the War Department, and that there could be no performance that evening. He went to see Secrctury Stanton. The building was bought by the Government for $100,000, for theatrical , and has not been used purposes ; since. 1 kept as mementoes good-sized scraps of i the curtains of the j wall paper and box old thea- ter, but these pieces have grown smaller and .'smaller until all I have lcit area few little bits which 1 have had photographed. I have jcut off a little for first one irleml and then anr other, until I have had to put the remaining J piece.-; under a glass .and frame them to pro- tect them from my own hand, i I Washington tue. iters are different think J from even the best houses in many other cities, in the quiet and decorum of the an- . idieuce, and the absence of auy large door | of people who come to see j crowd made up the s&udlence and not the play. Ladies come to j ttbe theater with each other, and without the- ]need of other escort; and nothing would'be ; •considered more unfortunate by the managers; (than to have this custom fall into disfavor. /Our audiences are very varied, lor what calls J lout one set of people will not attract another, and, of course, the winter audiences and the' suuuner ones are made up in the malu of dii- *ierent classes. Still, you would be astouif lshed to And how many society people like to:* drop In to summer opera, U they ure in town.'? For my own part, 1 have reached the point- where I care very little what Is going on in* the doors. I am often asked what U** is, and have to stop a moment before * houghts»nd answer—it hoi w £i *HT "Su^H-er, AcS^efhtre. Woman Telegrapher, 90, Tells Of Lincoln's Assassination ' " — l >/ , ' r >/ Lorain, Ohio, Feb. 12 (U.R)— could hardly work the key to re- Ninety-year-old Mrs. Josephine lay the message to Uniontown. Butle r rocked in a creaky chair "I had to stay on the job all 5" by small pot-bellied stove in that night to relay the story of her cottage today and told in an Lincoln's assassination in the Ohio twang of the night of April Ford Theater in Washington. The 14, 1865, when in a remote tele- out. I graph office in Connellsville, next day I was worn was Penn., the sounder clacked out only a young girl then—about 18, the flash: I think." Mrs. Butler in Louis- "President Lincoln shot. Not was born ." ville and went from there to expected to live . . Pittsburgh. "I was stunned," Mrs. Butler, who at that time was a Morse wire "operator" for the Pennsyl- vania Railroad, recollected. "Henry Blackstone—he was pres- ident of the road then— (and didn't they name a Chicago ho- tel after him?) —and a man named Frick—that "big mining man from Pittsburgh"—were in the office at the time. "It was strange, too, because I we'd just been talking about the President when that flash came through. I was so shocked I I ! : " : transit of full in its conciseness, so sublime in its Mars ; and the aspect of that LETTEE EEOM MRS. L. M. CHILD. simplicity. It was fitting that the heavens planet shows danger by pistol-shot, or some should open and crown him with sunlight infernal machine.' During these months> Springtime.—The Death of the Presi- more than ordinary caution when he uttered it. How would it have ! and watchful- dent. Singular Astrological ness will —A increased our reverence had we then known be highly necessary. After Feb- —Gen. Sherman's Con- ruary, Prediction that the glorious aureole typified a martyr's that evil transit will have passed duct. crown away. We could increase our remarks concerning the After the publication of his first Inaugu- personal danger of the Wayland, Mass., May 3th, 18G5. President, ral, I said I would never forgive Abraham but believe forbearance in this case Dear Friend Tilton :— Lincoln. But I could not keep the un- to be a virtue." People of poetic temperaments, " Again the miracle of Spring returns. christian vow. Tear by year he gained up- who de- lightedly believe in lays and talismans," Nothing but its familiar recurrence could on my respect and confidence. I gradually when they read -this prediction, will prevent every one of us from regarding it came to think that I had underrated ihe half believe in astrology, and call to mind Schil- as a miraculous manifestation of the Invisi- qualities both of his head and his heart. One rarely sees ler's beautiful lines ble Power. In view of its marvelous trans- such honest unselfishness of pur- " It is a gentle and affectionate thought foimations, no wonder that human imagi- pose combined with so much shrewdness That in immeasurable hi^hta abova ua, in dealing with men for the accomplish- nation early conceived of haggard old At our first birth, Hie Wreath of Love Wis w oven, With snarUing I crones changed by the touch of a ma nc ment of purposes. How completely he Stars for flowers. transferred the laboring wand into beautiful young princesses. Al- oar into the hands those refractory delicate green enamel of the of Border States, when he Even Gome of philosophic tendencies, ready the j meadows conceals the decayed stubble of gave them a chance to make a good bar- perceiving that nothing stands alone, that gain out of emancipation, if they last year's growth. Through the bright air would but everything is spirally linked with every- accept the generous terms! floats a snow-storm of cherry blossoms. Perhaps he thing, from base tc s»mmit of the universe, took it for granted that they would reject may query dubkjuriy whether, by some un- They cover the ground with beauty ; but them ; but, doubtless, he also foresaw that, if known laws of our being, the movements the breeze, as it wafts them, seems to sing, they did so, circumstances char- in sighing tones, would eventually of the stars can possibly indicate the compel them to give up slavery without acter and tor tunes of men. those who "Fair pljdtjoa of a fruitful tree, Put Why do } 6 All so last ?" pecuniary recompense, while at the same habitually lean on material and external To thoughtful minds there is always a time they would have silenced, by their testimony will promptly inquire whether minor cadence in the song of Spring. For own act, the sympathy of Democrats at Mr. Thomas Lister could have heard any always Memory mingles her plaintive re- home and aristocrats abroad. Observing whisperings about such a deadly conspi- frain with the bright warblings of Hope, these things, I felt more and more that it racy. continually reminding us that all this re- was not the least of the remarkable mani- From the first moment I heard of the juvenated loveliness will soon pass away, festations of Providence in our favor, that murder, I believed that the plan was known even as the generations of men glide the people, knowing so little of the man, ex- and approved at Richmond, if not con- through the sunshine of their brief day and cept his established character for honesty cocted there. Meanness and brute violence vanish into night. But Hope, with her and good sense, should have selected him are the natural outgrowth of slavery. Men sky-lark voice, again takes up the strain, at such an eventful crisis. It is not e.isy to educated under such a system become fa- and sings, that the night, is day elsewhere, think of another man who possessed such a miliar with assassination. In the first and that winter is only summer sleeping. combination of qualities as would enable years of the war, 1 often heard people ex- This Spring we look on the renovation him to hold steadily in leash so many re- press a wish that we had such an able and of Nature with sadder eyes than usual. fractory forces, and to guide them at last to gentlemanly President as Jeff. Davis. It Thoughts inspired by the fresh landscape the desired result. Where was another man seems to me that his ability has been chiefly | have somber drapery about them, as the to be found who could have souinited the manifested in bold, persistent falsehood, streets of our cities have been hung with North as to insure the continuance of the and the unscrupulous use of base and cruel crape. The suddenness with which a good Republican policy for another four years? means to accomplish his unprincipled de- and great man has been cut off by the hand Assuredly, Abraham Lincoln, notwithstand- signs. As for polished manners, I never of violence impresses the mind too deeply ing deficiencies which sorely tried the pa- mourned over the absence of them in to be rapidly succeeded by exhilarating tience of radicals, wa3 a great gift from " Honest Abe." To me, he seemed more ideas. Often a vision passes through my Providence at such a crisis. History will respectable seated on a table, forgetiul of mind of the shocking manner in which we inscribe his name on her cleanest tablet, himself, while discussing the difficult prob- have lost the friend and father of the peo- and already the more generous of his ene- lems ho was conscientiously, trying to ple, who were wont to express their trust in mies have fallen into the ranks of hi3 solve, than did his false, self-seeking, him by homely phrases of affectionate mourners. treacherous adversary, in the genteel atti- " " familiarity, such as honest Abe," good With regard to the violent manner of his tudes of the drawing-room. The fact is, 1 " " old Abe," and Father Abraham Con- death, have you noticed that it was singu- am somewhat deficient in the power of ad- servatives complained much of his want of larly hinted at by an astrological predic- miring polished villains. I remember an dignity ; but to me there was always a tion, months before it happened? A modern old aristocrat, who was often pointed out charm in his unsophisticated way of talk- believer in astrology, Mho signs himself to me in my youth as a model of urbane ing with the people, when they called Lister, calculated upon Thomas the horoscope of deportment ; and 1 never locked upon him him for a Speech. His " little stories," so Abraham Lincoln, and published it in a v ithout thinking of Milton's line much ridiculed by the malignant and the newspaper, Sept. 20, 1801. It was therein " Satan bowing jo".t his gray dissimulati n," etc. fastidious, were usually full of homely wit stated that the President was born under gentle- and praciicai good sense. There was de- Jupiter, a planet whose intlueu^e usually I wonder whether the admirers of manly Jeff, will find anything to eulogize in cidedly a smack of Franklin in them ; and made men fortunate in their undertakings. prompter in the tragedy they were pleasant sciutillations amid the It predicted that he would be re-elected in his performance of lowering clouds of war. More solemn November, because, astrologically speak- of assassination. How gr-mdly the charac- kind-hearted Abraham looms occasions inspired him with grander utter- ing, " His ruling planet will then be trans- ter of honest, ! was there such a ance. What a generous and tender spirit iting over his ascendant in his owu house." up in comparison Never " triumph of homely sincerity and unpre- of toleration and forbearance toward politi- He goes on to ray : The transit of the evil falsehood cal opponents was exhibited in his reply to planet Mars, in opposition with his ascend- tending good sense over polished those who serenaded him when his re- ant, plainly shows that the struggle will and boastful pride. election had become certain! Ho w heart- continue till April, 1805, when the foes of You will, perhaps, think it strange when touching was the eloquence of his Speech the Union will be compelled to lay down I tell you that the news of G en. Sherman's their arms. In December, 1864, and in excited me more than the at Gettysburg ! And, best of all, that last negotiations Inaugural address, so gentle and devout in January, 1GC5, some deep, base plot will be President's death. I have always feared its spirit, so strong in its manly sincerity, so got up against the President, shown by the that he had pro-slavery proclivities, and I ! nave noticed in liim a tendency to pass over ble slruggle up to the present time the boundary between military and civil As for the stylish aristocrats, who robbed power. 1 ^ever heard but one echo to my the poor of their earnings, and sold their secret misgivings, and that was from a small children to buil<* themselves palaces, I hope paper called " The Broken Fetter," pub- they will quit the country, never to return. the Fair at Chicago, in the lished during Their habits and opinions are more iu har- beginning March. It propounded this of mony with the despotisms of Europe. Per- " : The Seuth is call- significant question haps Louis Napoleon will invest them with ing for Dictator. Could not Gen. a military the Legion of Honor, or Maximilian will accept the office V Sherman be induced to make Dukes of them. If so, their descend- this vague feeling of But, notwithstanding ants cannot say, as Sir Walter Scott face- anxiety in my mind, I was utterly surprised " worse tiously did : My ancestors have no into with Gen. by the negotiations entered blots on their escutcheon than Border correspondent Johnston. The Richmond Theft i.ud nigh Treason; and these, I Times had, six or eight of the London trubt, arc gentlemanly crimes." The slow weeks before, predicted that Gen. Sherman murder of prisoners by starvation, and the figure was going to be the most conspicuous slaughter of disarmed prisoners arc fouler this continent; that he would assume en blots, which no imagination can convert dreamed of; or words an importance no one into "gentlemanly crimes" If we can to that effect. W bile the plot to assassinate have the country well-clean«ed of these the United States the whole government of haughty oligarchs, I trust something oi' the matured at Richmond, Jeff. Davis was being old respect for labor will return, an.I that, Sherman, as entered into negotiations with by becoming truly a republic, we shall learn the head of the gov- if he considered him to have faith in the capacity of the people terms he proposed secured ernment. The for self-government. the recognition of the rebel State govern- Tours truly, ments, and, instead of disarming them, left L. Makia Child. them in a condition to re-organize their military power ; and the victorious leader of our armies, who might have obtained surrender upon almost any terms, agreed to Jeff. Davis' propositions, when he kuew of %\t the assassination of President Lincoln ! It fnkpknt is dangerous to trust to circumstantial evi- it dence ; but in this case is too formidable to be otherwise than painful, in view of the NEW YOEK, MAY 11, 1865. great services heretofore rendered to the country by Gen. Sherman. But even this stunning blow did not overcome my faith that God does not in- tend to annihilate this nation. 1 still be- lieve that, through fierce trials, he is mold- ing us anew to become a worthy instru- ment ofgood to the human race. Even the death of Father Abraham, heavily as it fell upon our hearts, is perhaps another provi- dential event in the history of this remarka- ble epoch. He was sent to us to do a great and good work, and he carried it -through successfully. But perhaps his character was not so well adapted to the work that lies before us. He was too kind-hearted and confiding to deal strictly enough with those insidious and malignant desperadoes, who will never cease their efforts to ruin the country if they cannot rule it. An- drew Johnson has more of the grit of An- drew Jackson ; and he appears also to have the honesty and straightforwardness of Abraham Lincoln. His interview with the new British Minister was a refreshing speci- men of republican simplicity. I rejoice iu having such a plain man of the people to rule over us. 1 fully sympathize with his hearty aversion to aristocracy. His elo- quent utterances on that subject remind me of the old Roman Marius, in his best days. That he is Southern born is a fortunate cir- cumstance ; and the fact that he was a " poor white " will help to give him influ- ence with that much injured class. He probably could not have been elected Presi- dent by vodes of the people, yet, from all appearances, he is exactly the man for the hour. How wonderfully has ProviJence Monday, Vol 20, 1977 THE WASHINGTON POST 1 1 Letter on Lincoln's Death By Daniel Q. Honey and drew myself into the box and there on the floor lay Abraham Lin- BOSTON (AP)—A stack of letters coln dying, his wile shrieking and donated to the Massachusetts Histori- moaning." cal Society includes a letter that cue Clark said that he helped carry Lin- historian calls the most complete ac- coln io his rooming house. count of the assassination of Presi- Jiv was breathing very heavily, and dent Abraham Lincoln. his pulse fluctuated from 105 to 42 in The faint, yellowed letter was writ- about three hours," Clark wrote. "The ten two days alter Lincoln's death by blood soon began to settle under his a War Department employee who car- kit eye and blackened the whole side ried the mortally wounded President of his face." out of Ford's Theater. He said grief-stricken Senators and The envelope contained a fragment cabinet members came to see the un- of linen described as a towel soaked conscious President. with the blood of the dying President. "Mrs. Lincoln came into the room "It's a great thrill to go through a seven times during the night and felt group of letters and find something dreadfully. She fainted twice and fell like this among the mundane." said over onto the floor, f remained in the Louis L. Tucker, director of the his- room all night and did all 1 could to torical society. "It produces a quicken- help. ing of the heartbeat." The letter describes the pandemo- "The best surgeons were there, but nium in the theater after the shoot- no attempt was made to extricate the ing, the hysterics of Lincoln's wife ball as he was pronounced fatally and the grief of cabinet members who wounded' at first examination." stood by his bedside as Lincoln died. Clark concluded by telling his Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes uncle: "i got a lock of his hair and a Booth as he watched a performance of towel saturated with the blood of the "Our American Cousin" in Ford's The- best man that ever was President and ater in Washington on April 14, 1805. friend of the South." Tne newly discovered letter was Tucker said the letter, which he written by Augustus Cl ark to his un- termed a "stunning document." was cle. Stephen M. Allen, who lived in among a stack of documents sent to Woburn, Mass. the organization by a Florida woman In the letter, Clark said he heard a who had asked not to be identified. commotion and rushed across the The letter contained little new de- street to the theater from the rooming tail about Lincoln's last hours, lie house where he lived. There, he said. But lie added. "This is the most wrote, he "heard the awful words > comprehensive document recording 'Lincoln is shot,' " and a saw a woman the events of the evening. There are reaching out from a second tier box. lots of oits and pieces from other "I clambered over, seized her hand sources, but this is the best overview." D Search for 1IU. T. CLARK IM WHOSE BED LINCOLN DIED CJour\tt,> U>«vT. Search Started for Clark, In Whose Bed Lincoln Died L. G. Reynolds, in Change of Museum Collection of Emancipator, Employs Radio in Seeking News of Man, Then Soldier, Who Proffered Room. Where Is WJUiamT^Clark? into communication with us. Ad- Hearing a "cofnmdfion irTthe street dress Custodian, Lincoln Museum, 516 as he was reading his Bible In nis Tenth street northwest Washington, room at 516 Tenth street northv/e'st D. C. on the night of April 14, 1865, a "The only data we can give is this: young soldier dashed, half-dressed, William T. Clark, of Company D, down the hall and flung open the Thirteenth Massachusetts Infantry, front door to find out what was assigned to Quartermasters Depart- wrong. ment. His' sister was Mrs. H. Bates An injured man was being carried Wright, of Boston. Clark was mar- out of a theater across tne street. ried and may have left some family. Calling to those who carried the Want all the information we can get, man, he urged them to bring their to complete the story." patient to his room. Mr. Reynolds broadcast through a Not until the man had been laid microphone which had been installed on the boy's bed, which was too short in the very room in which Lincoln by several Inches, did the lad dis- died. In his talk he described the cover that he was ministering to various Lincolniana in the museum President Abraham Lincoln, in whose and gave brief histories of the vari- brain was a bullet fired with murder- ous pieces. Too, he told bits of fact ous Intent by John Wilkes Bodth. an about the life of the rail-splitting actor in the p|ay, "Our American President which are little known to Cousin," then being presented in the public. Ford's Theater. He told, for instance, he revealed Next morning, at 22 minutes past that Lincoln was an inventor, having 7 o'clock, the President died, and in perfected and patented a wagon in the excitement that followed his which the front wheels turn Instead passing, the young soldier was for- of the axle. This, incidentally, is the gotten. Perhaps he returned to his principle upon which all modern au- regiment, Company D, of the Thir- tomobile steering devices .are based. teenth Massachusetts Infantry, and, Another of Lincoln's Inventions was having, ^served, his time^ was^/mustered a contrivance for "Buoying Vessels out of service. Over snoais," which bears we low Perhaps even today the man who Patent Office serial number 6489. A gave up his bed and room to the copy of the patent is now to be seen wounded President may still be alive, in the Lincoln Museum. or possibly he, too, has gone on and Among the most interesting articles is now but a memory to those who in the museum, Mr. Reynolds pointed • knew him In life. out, .is the last piece of writing ever Lewis G. Reynolds, custodian of the dorie by the President, and which, Oldroyd Lincoln Museum, which is incidentally, proved the means now housed at 616 Tenth street, Is through which his assassin made anxious to learn of William T. Clark, good his escape into Virginia. It was or of his family. a note which Lincoln wrote, at the re- In a radio address broadcast over quest of two men who stopped him the coast-to-coast netw.ork of the as he was entering the theater and Columbia Broadcasting System asked for a pass, in which he said: through Station WMAL in Washing- "No pass is necessary now to go to ton laot night, Mr. Reynolds said: and return from Richmond and "If anybody In Boston, or nearby Petersburg. People can go and return there, knows anything of the family Just as they did before the war" and of William T. Clark, who gave up his signed, "A. Lincoln." The man to room and bed for the accommodation whom thla was given was John Wilkes j of the injured President, please get * Booth. TF — ; OesieX) -*.E. ONE WHO WAS THERE. Laura Keene, the Night President Lincoln Was Assassinated. Chicago, June 16. To the Editor. —Your interview with Captain R. S. Cullum, U. S. M. C, as to his experience as an eye-witness of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, as published in a recent Sunday; issue, I read with deep interest, but I fear that the captain has un- intentionally been made to criticize most unjustly the conduct of Miss Laura Keene upon that memorable night. The honorable position which Captain Cullum holds war- rants the belief that he would not intention- ally do injustice to any one, but in view of the horrors of that night one might well be pardoned for any mistaken ideas one might have relative to the occurrence. With this explanation I ask permission to briefly com- ment on that part of the interview that re- lates to the conduct of Miss Keene. Although more than twenty-eight years have elapsed since that dreaVlful tragedy was enacted, every detail stands out in my mind with startling distinctness. I, too, was a witness. With a friend I went to Ford's theater that April night, and we secured seats in the center of the house, in the third row in the orchestra, so were close to the stage and in good position to note what afterward occurred, and you will observe that, ac- cording to Captain Cullum's statement, I must have been some, thirty or forty feet nearer the place where Miss Keene stood when she addressed the audience than he was. Her precise language as she strode to the front of the stage, with outstretched hand and In a commanding voice, was, "Qcder, gentlemen: order, gentlemen." Sh^e afterward obtained a glass of water from some source, and, as I was near at hand, I helped her down from the stage, and she passed up to the box where the President was lying; the report at the time was that she took tne dying President's head into her lap, the graphic description of which event will be remembered by all those who read the account at the time. The captain does not say that he saw her try to climb up into the box from the stage, but heard so; I am sure that such was not the case. I saw a gentleman standing on the front rail at the lower box trying to pass up a pitcher of water, but with what success I do not know, as the flag used to drape the Presi- dential box was so disarranged by the pass- age of Booth that it hung so as to obstruct my view. There were other details of that I do not now remember to have seen in any of the published reports of the event, that seem to have escaped the paragrapher, some of which have served to fasten this portion of the event indelibly in my mind; but as they have no bearing on this, reported in- terview I will not longer trespass on your valuable space. I simply offer this brief : explanation of an event, that is part of our National history, in justice to a stranger, who behaved nobly at a trying time who if dead cannot answer for herself and* r if living must suffer unmerited pain- M^uh ^.. ,-- i ; | in yii|g jytiflirTmiT'ill — Pittsburgh Press 2-12-57 dro^J^ Old Diary Tells Tragedy Of Lincoln's Death Editor, The Pittsburgh Press: A few excerpts from "Cap,- taiauCraig^si Diary" might be interesting to your, readers. p ^^^ >,* A • copy of the diary is now in the Lincoln Me- mqr ial in S p «• ingfield. Captain C r a ig was my relative. The ex- c e r pts fol- low: Lincoln "When the news of the assassination of our beloved Lincoln flashed to us, a dark pall of gloom settled upon all the people. It seemed to impress the whole people with horror and indignation deeply. "Then those known to have been out of sympathy with Lincoln and his admin- istration, howt quiet, and sub- dued, je,yen ppwed; knowing it would, be extremely dan- gerous^' to give expression publicly at such a condition of indignation as was evident everywhere. "An unfriendly remark (counter to the prevailing feeling) could stir and boil into fury under the condi- tions existing that first day. Yes, for days there was cau- tion. . . "I heard in the rptunda of the Capitol at Washington, in the early 1862 days, some- one say, 'There's Lincoln.' And looking, as he and Sec. Stanton passed within a few feet, I saw his face. And how I dodged around through the crowd twice to head the tall gaunt figure off for another look, and again for the third study of his face. And now there dead, murdered! "Oh, the pity of it all! Knowing his burdens, anx- ieties, hopes, and patience with his generals, of our de- feated "Army of the Po- tomac"—and just when he got a fighter who had prac- tically his grip on the stag- gering, failing Confederacy, and end to*« sight, after all he had suffered!" H. AlSLISON PunxsutaTOjej^Pa, 3 through every ward, took every man CrzLfStj, E 3 lO&ufgi LINCOLNS ASSASSINATION of the thousands by the hand and spoke a kindly word, thanking him News Of Tragedy for the service he had done his coun- Crapsy Tells How try. The labor was great, the worn Was Received at Richmond. man was almost prostrated by recent illness, but he thought it his duty to thank those men, and the kindly hon- was spec- (Note—Edward jCrapsy est man did it. the Phil- ial war correspondent for And this man is dead! Murdered headquarters adelphia Inquirer, with in the capital of the republic he has rebel in Richmond, Va., capital of the served so well. Even Richmond, late states.) .„ M the Rebels against his au- Richmond, Sun., Apr. 16, »65 4 p. m capital of thority, filled with recusant citizens, The terrible tragedy at Washington with the officers of a great thrown a pall over even this crowded has hosts so long, portion of the Union. army that battled his lately reclaimed Sor- today that even is shocked, saddened, appalled. It was not until noon j row on every face, anguish trembling a whisper of the rumor got abroad, on every lip; the President's death but once started, it spread like fire has extorted a tribute from even his in stubble. "President Lincoln has bitterest 'foes. been assassinated in Ford's theatre," m. The truth, or something- was on every tongue. Officers and 10 p. — near the truth, is at last current in men of our army, officers and men the city; the newspapers of Saturday, of the Rebel army, citizens of Rich- seven p. m., have not ar- mond and strangers sojourning here. due here at rived and are said to have been sup- all talked subduedly of the sad event; pressed by General Ord. This can and here I must say, that as yet I hardly be the case, as the General's have seen no contenance wreathed in course is always marked by much smiles, have heard from no single larger degree of tact than such a lips a word of satisfaction; but on proceedings would indicate him as the contrary, everybody, even the Reb- is more probable that seem conscious that a great ca- possessing. It els, boats failed to connect at Fortress lamity has overtaken the land, whose the Monroe, as they have frequently baneful effects will be no less hurtful done before. But without the news- the South than to the North. to papers we have managed to get a The Secession element seem keenly dim idea of the tragedy enacted at to the fact that the chance can alive Washington, involving the Chief of be of no possible benefit to them, and the Republic and two of his highest they, consequently, deplore it heart- people officers. ily. Our army and the Union can do nothing here but medi- are staggering under the weight We here | tate in horror over the catastrophe. of the blow. This is not a figurative business can be done; life is all expression. Men go about as though No stagnation. No news here, therefore. in a horrible dream and find them- Inclosed are copies of general or- selves asking can this be true? Ev- ders which are valuable as officially ery man walks the streets, converses certifying various items of intelli- with a friend, and pursues his usual heretofore sent. as though the corpse of gence avocations The paragraph concerning General his nearest and dearest were lying Curtis needs a word of explanation. in his house awaiting burial. The General, who it will be remem- Nothing is positively known here bered, did gallant service and was beyond the fact that a great misfor- wounded at Fort Fisher, has not yet tune has overtaken the land. How fully recovered and is unfit to take the deed was done, who did it, and the field, but his energetic nature what the motive, are as unknown as compels him to ask for such service the secrets of the grave. Exactly the as he is physically able to perform injury sustained by the President is hence his assignment to the staff even subject for dispute; some as- and of Gen. Ord. serting that he was killed outright, wounded Lieutenant Henry E. Miller, who others saying that he was . has long ably filled the position of only, and is still alive. Headquarters staff quartermaster at Gen. Ord's are as silent as death on the matter; headquarters, has been assigned to not a reply will be given to a ques- as post quartermaster of Rich- not by even a sign or look, will duty tion; mond, and has entered upon his du- any of them disclose the extent of ties. No better selection could have their knowledge. as the past career of the evidently feared that the been made, It was prove. here might be in- Lieutenent will amply turbulent element Edward Crapsey. cited to some active violence by the event, and various precautions have been taken, but so far there is no sign that the Secessionists do not consider the event as great a calamity as we do, although entirely form different motives. President Lincoln dead and murder- ed! We of the army can hardly real- ize that the dark ages have returned. The army generally has no knowledge yet of the sad occurrence, but when it does, who can paint its feelings. The soldier loved the president; his kind- ness of heart, his honesty, his truth his fidelity to them and to his coun- try, his simplicity, his sterling sense, even his quaintness of speech, all of these had enshrined him in their heart. It was but a few short days ago that this man, President of a great J Wa: I GflT general hospitals I people, visited the army at City Point. He went | of the Crt>r\i<\ ~~&£t*)\(± ) E_ city. The office of the military tele- MAJOR CRONIN RECALLS graph, connecting Washington with Richmond, had been temporarily es- SHO OTING O F LINCOLN tablished at a wharf on the James, just below the city, and Sergenat Harrison was placed in charge of the In Letter to Widow of Sergeant guards there. Harrison He Tells of "Shortly before midnight on the Tragedy. night of the assassination of Presi- The following- is the copy of a let- dent Lincoln: the sergeant awakened ter dated Philadelphia, July 28, 1920, me in my tent and told me he had addressed to the widow of Sergt. W. just come from general headquarters, after delivering J. Harrison, a Civil War veteran and a very important dis- for more than 50 years engaged in patch from Washington to General business at 424 South Broadway, by Ord, and now, on his way back to his Major David K Cronin, a former post, had ridden by way of our camp captain" of the company to which to sec me and ask me a question; Sergeant Harrison was attached. It that he wanted to tell me what was in the dispatch, but was not was given to a representative of The sure whether had right American yesterday: he a to do so or not. said his instructions '•Yours of the 19th was received He were to deliver the dispatch to General Ord and I was gratified to know that in person, and to no one else, because, your husband, the late Sergt. W. T. it was explained to him, if the news Harrison, of my company, often from Washington were given general spoke so well of his old captain, for circulation before more particulars during the years we served together were received, our troops, occupying I certainly thought very highly of thfe city, might become so excited as him as an always ready and trust- to gather in disorderly mobs and worthy officer. One instance of his burn it. consciontious performance of duty I "Though I was startled when he have never forgotten. said this, I declared positively there "Our regiment, the First New York was no danger from that kind of a Mounted Rifles, marching in column mob, because I knew that all the by fours, entered and occupied Rich- troops in and about the oity were mond on the morning of April 12, disciplined veterans and such a thing 18 "After the sergeant's departure 1 awoke a few of our officers and com- municated the news to them. At first all seemed too dazed to comprehend the awful nature of the tragedy. But some of them, seasoned veterans as they were, actually shed tears, of rage as well as sorrow, when they realized the news must be true, ft Mas two or three days before full particulars of the assassination in Baltimore and Philadelphia newspa- pers were allowed free circulation in our cam" " C.<-&o\.<~i COrA, {-U NEW FACT ABOUT LINCOLN Did Guard Leave His Post the Night Lincoln Was Shot? Colonel William II. Crook, who was Lincoln's bodyguard, brings up a new point regarding the president's assas- sination in his recently published book of reminiscences, "Through Five Ad- ministrations," Colonel Crook writes: "1 have often wondered the ueg- why j ligence of the guard who accompanied J the president to the theater on the night of the 14th has never been di- vulged. So far as 1 know, it was not i even investigated by the police de- partment. Yet had he done his duty I believe President Lincoln would not have been murdered by Booth. The man was John Parker. It was the custom for the guard who accompa- nied the president to the theater to remain in the little passageway out- side the box—that passageway through which Booth entered. Mr. Bucking- ham, who was the doorkeeper at Ford's theater, remembers that a chair was placed there for the guard on that 1 evening of the 14th. Whether Parker occupied It at all I do not know. If he did he left it almost immediately, for be confessed to me the next day that he went to a seat at the front of the first gallery so that he could see the play. To me it is very probable that the fact that there was no one on guard may have determined the time of the attack." C N G E R Cct>cW. o^. 4 LINCOLN'S ASSASSINATION Was Due '*> tne Absence of His Guard, William H. Crook. Now that I have told the story of my three months' association with Abraham Lincoln, there are two things of which I feel that I must speak. The first question relates to the circumstances of the assas- sination of President Lincoln. It has never been made public before. I have often wondered why^ the negli- gence of the guard who accompanied the President to the theater on the night of the 14th has never been divulged. So far as I know, it was never even investigated by the Police Department. Yet, had he done his duty, I believe President Lincoln might not have been murdered by Booth. The i man was J ohn Parker. He was a na- ; live of the district, and had volunteered, as. I believe each of the other guards had done, in response to the President's flrsL call for troops from the district. He is dead now and, as far as I have been able to discover, all of his family. So it is no unkindness to speak of the costly mistako he made. It was the custom of the guard who ac- companied the President to the theater to have managed to make .some outcry—would remain in the little passageway outside the have given the alarm. Major Itathbone box—that passageway through which was a brave man, and the President was a Booth entered. Mr. Buckingham, who was brave man and of enormous muscular the doorkeeper at Ford's Theater, remem- strength. It would have been an easy thing bers that a chair was placed there for the for the two men to have disarmed Booth, guard on the evening of the 14th. "Whether who was not a man of great physical I strength. It was the suddenness of his at- Parker occupied it at all I do not know-. I tack °» tlle President that made, it so Mr. Buckingham is of the impression that j devilishly successful. It makes me feel he did. If he did, he left it almost imme- j dialely; for he confessed to me the next rather bitter when I remember that the day that he went to a seat at the front of' President had said, just a few hours be- Iore > tllat knew he could trust all his the first gallery so that he could see the ! "« play. The door of the President's box was guards. And then to think that in that one shut; probably Mr. Lincoln never knew {moment of test one of us should have ut- that the guard had left his post. ter'y railed him! Parker knew that he had , ,' faiIed Mr. Buckingham tells that Booth was in in duty - H e looked like a convicted and out of the house five times before hej criminal the next day. He was never the finally shot the President. Bach time heLSfilft^rnan afterward.—Harper's Magazine looked about the theater in a restless, ex- cited manner. I think there can be rio doubt that he was studying the scene of his intended crime, and that he observed that Parker, whom he must have been watch- ing, was not at his post. To me it is very probable that the fact that there was no one on guard may have determined the time of his attack. Booth had found il necessary to stimulate himself with whisky in order to reach the proper pitch of fana- ticism. Hud he found a man at the door of the President's box armed with a. Colt's revolver, his alcohol courage might have evaporated. However that may be, Parker's absence had much to do with the success of Booth's purpose. The assassin was armed with a dagger and a pistol. The story used to he that the dagger was intended for General Grant when the President had been dis- patched. That is absurd. While it had been announced Hint General and Mrs Grant would be in the box, Booth, during one of his five visits of inspection, had cer- tainly had an opportunity to observe that the General was absent. The dagger, which was noiseless was intended for any one who migh intercept him before he could fire. The pistol, which was noisy and would arouse pursuit, was for the Presi- dent. As it happened, since the attack waa a complete surprise. Major Rathbono, who. the President having been shot, attempted to prevent Booth's escape, received the dagger in his arm. Had Parker been at his post at the back of the box— Booth still being determined to make the attempt that night—he would have been stabbed, probably killed. The HEED noise of the struggle—Parker could surely ia«*\ D^e-4, A-\W4 DONALD E. DICKASON Philatelic Auctions 5605 AVENIDA DEL MARE SARASOTA, FLORIDA 33581 PHONE - AREA CODE 813 - 924-2347 MEMBER - A.P.S. - S.P.A. - A. A. M.S. - A.S.D.A. November km 1$ 61; Dr. R. Gerald Mc Murtry Lincoln Lore The Lincoln Life Foundation Fort Wayne, Indiana Dear Dr. McMurtry: From my long-time friend and Lincoln expert, Mr. W. A. Steiger of Springfield, Illinois, I have heard of a letter from Mr. Albert Dagget written to his mother on April 15>, 1865 concerning the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. He tells me that you showed a picture of this letter in the April 1961 issue of your publication, "Lincoln Lore". The enclosed auction catalog will explain my interest in this letter. I have received on consign- ment what is presumed to be a similar letter written at the same time by Mr. Dagget to his fiancee. The coincidence of these two letters is more than interesting. The one in my hands had been in the possession of the family for some time, was recently given fee a nurse in appreciation for the care that she had provided for one family member and she in turn had presented it to the local citizen who is much interested in Civil War affairs. If you are free to tell me the source of yours, I would be very much interested in knowing about it* If further you could be of any help in providing some idea as to the possible value I am sure that my client would appreciate that. I am enclosing a photostat copy of this letter with the understanding that it is for your own information and should not be reprinted without permission and in turn I would appreciate a similar copy of your letter with the same understanding. Cordially and sincerely Donald E. Dickason cc - Mr. Steiger DONALD E. DICKASON Presents 82nd International Auction Sale Further Offerings From The THOMAS R. JOHNSTON Collection Plus Selected Material Providing Opportunities to Every Field of Philatelic Interest - Including: Britain Early U. S., Especially Strong in Stampless, Navy and Patriotic Covers — and Commonwealth — Classics Worldwide — Notable Signatures — Lindbergh Flown and Signed and Official First Missile Mail via U.S.S. Barbero and Regulus I — Specialized Collections - History of the Postal Card and Cameroun — and Letter From Eye-Witness Of Lincoln's Assassination. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4 at 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. And SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5 at 1:30 p.m. No. 181 To Be Held At The DOWNTOWN CABANA MOTOR HOTEL BRADENTON, FLORIDA By DONALD E. DICKASON 5605 Avenide del Mare, Sarasota, Florida 33581 Phone 924-2347 CONTENTS OF SALE SESSION I Friday, December 4, 1:30 P.M. — Lots 1 to 483 inclusive UNITED STATES 1-483 Naval and Ship Covers; Military Covers; Patriotics; The Lincoln Assassination 1-186 General Postage - Stampless; Covers; Stamps 187-483 SESSION II Friday December 4, 7:30 P.M. — Lots 484 to 911 inclusive UNITED STATES 484-702 Envelopes and Post Cards 484-500 Air Post Stamps; Special Delivery; Parcel Post; Revenues 501-556 Proofs; Locals 557-576 Confederate States,- U. S. Possessions 577-596A Mint Sheets 597-637 First Day Covers 638-702 AIR MAIL COVERS 703-863 U. S. Government; FAM's; CAM'S; Dedications 703-747 Crash — Lighter Than Air — Space (including the BARBERO) — Arctic 748-790 Lindbergh and Trans-Ocean Flights 791-813 Autographs of Famous Persons 814-842 Philippine Flights 843-863 STAMPS OF LATIN AMERICA — Regular and Airposts 864-911 SESSION III Saturday, December 5, 1:30 P.M. — Lots 912 to 1523 inclusive STAMPS OF THE BRITISH COMMONWEALTH OF NATIONS 912-1240 Great Britain 91 2-1 002 Commonwealth 1 003-1 240 STAMPS OF EUROPE AND COLONIES and INDEPENDENT NATIONS OF AFRICA AND ASIA 1241-1498 PHILATELIC LITERATURE 1499-1523 Catalog references as appropriate are to Scott's 1964 and 1965 Postage Stamp Catalogues, American Air Mail Cat., Sanabria 1963 Air Post Cat., Hebert 1962 Cat. of Used Plate Number Singles, Durland 1963 Standard Plate Number Cat., Kessler Cat. of Aerograms, Michel Briefmarkenkatalog Deutschland, 1964, and Holmes-Sisson Specialized Canada and B.N. A., 1963. « » > You evidence interest in stamps and covers by having a copy of this auction catalogue before you. If your interest is airpost collecting, stamps and covers per- taining to the history of Aviation, you should consider joining the oldest and largest Society in the world devoted entirely to Aerophilately. The American Air Mail Society was organized in 1923 before the general col- lector realized that mail had been carrid in airplanes long before Aviation came of age commercially. If you are interested in the Balloon Posts in the siege of Paris in the 1870's, or the more modern mail carried by Jets, Rockets, and even covers carried in the Space Age by satellites, the AAMS is for you. The Society is a non-profit organization, and operated as a co-operated group; all officers serve without pay. The Society has issued a series of catalogues, which describe and list by value, many covers and other items pertaining to the progress of Aviation. HORACE D. WESTBROOKS, Chairman, Membership Recruiting Committee, P. O. Box 252, Griffin, Georgia 30223 I am proud to hold Life Membership Number 123 in the AAMS, and am happy to endorse this association. — D. E. D. November 6, 1964 Mr. Donald E. Dickason 5605 Avenida Del Mare Sarasota, Florida 33581 Dear Mr. Dickason: I have your letter of November 4, along with your catalogue and photo- stat of the Daggett letter dated April 15, 1865. I enclose a copy of the April 1961 issue of Lincoln Lore which will provide you with all the historical facts relating to our Daggett letters. I have compared the letter Daggett wrote to Julie with the one he wrote to his mother. They are almost identical except the letter to "My Dearest Mother" is considerably longer. V/e purchased our letters from Mrs. Blanche i>. Daggett. The purchase price is confidential. Also enclosed is a Xerox copy of Daggett's letter to his mother. In comparing this letter with the one to Julie, you will note that Daggett repeated the word "hours" in the first sentence. This error, along with the fact that he omitted other words which he may have judged unnecessary, leads me to believe that he first wrote to his mother and then immediately copied this letter to send to his fiancee. Yours sincerely, RGM:rph R. Gerald McMurtry 2 enc. ^hrZ^^^ ^L^^J J^^ ^^^ ^^, 62)^ ^C&^^z^? ^a~ '(&***?£- s& <& t&^&^^t^ ^*^^?^y j/^*-*-^, (^^^^/^e^^c^^^^ ^&s^tx^W<-/y tZL^x^f /c^^ Xp^^^r-/^giua^ J^-c^dU*/ <&C& £& ihf &&r /&/£, I I ^^C £L**j3jCs '(t^r-nc^ &£m^£ ^z^^^^ ^/Z^^* ^ "i-cJ -**-e "zfr^r,^^^ x— ^^^ ^_„ t/^JZk. >6 _^£t^c? stz^zZ-^yZ- ^^^ ^^ >^«^2-<--«_^^^ X^ >*%^z=?l-^^«^^^ ^^ ' I l*2X*~ .~~\ -A^2? C^^rf-^cX. >£^> i -£»-<_.. U* , -y^^x^^^c^r y^^fe^^^^ ^fy^^r s£cj~ ^^^L ^ > .*^~~ ; ! » TT-mnirriw** t>c^5^, iHWV / / i.i ,;< V, £?Ll&C /7^7, <^£^ /2e^*^ ^£lA£U^ €- «L ^^c^t- a&\ (frLsO £x&*y^y^r ^~rLe^a <5&c^ *£ ,{J {&/^ fo^ (zzy£f Astc&t^jtjyt ^y^cyjty CiJ^C£^ *-~kj£// ~t£a^V #Cu<*t ild V^ /*^W^< cl-^c^/ ete^r J *£ JLs/ttpi^^t/ Oc ,/*•*/ Ctet-Ctni* UcjLtt ^T(2a^ 464r&>/ /£-&-z^l£^7G> L^^Z/, gsyuvri rj c& Z-V-7- -t/OC/ ~~K£xZ-d ^r ^^r_-^2L£-2£2- Bulletin of The Lincoln National Life Foundation . . . Dr. R. Gerald McMurtry, Editor Published each month by The Lincoln National Life Insurance Company, Fort Wayne, Indiana Number 1478 FORT WAYNE, INDIANA April, 1961 Within the last 12 hours this city has been the scene of the most terrible tragedies ..." Editor's Note: The Lincoln National Life Foundation has recently o'clock at Ford's Theatre on Tenth Street. I was almost acquired several letters and documents pertaining to the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln and the attempted assassination of an eye witness of the melancholy occurrence, occupying a Secretary of State William H. Seward, that are considered to be of front seat in the "Parquette" not more than twenty feet exceptional significance. from the President's box. I had gone out and was just The letters were written by a young man named Albert Daggett entering the door when I heard the report of a pistol and his mother and sister who to turned just in time to lived at Troy, New York. He served as a clerk in the De- see the hell-hound of partment of State. Composed treason leap from the in a Victorian mode of ex- box upon the stage, and pression these letters reveal that Daggett had a good edu- with glittering dagger cation even though there are flourishing above his several misspelled words and head disappear behind his sentences are not always well constructed. Perhaps his the scenes, as he leaped greatest talent was his ex- from the box he ex- cellent handwriting. -Sifas claimed "Sic semper ty- It must be remembered that this startling informa- rannis;" and just before tion was recorded in great he disappeared from the haste and when passions were stage he cried out "I at fever heat. Unfortunately, like others at that time, Dag- have done it, the South gett blamed the crimes on #< of* ^ /Y/,'#*/ SJS -VmsS is avenged"! It is im- "the authors of this unholy possible to describe the rebellion." Nevertheless, this intense excitement that 19 year old correspondent re- ' , /sty /s> 'A< r'&'Stt veals that he was a competent prevailed in the theatre. witness and there is no effort The audience arose as to exaggerate the events or f< /s,/6 /Zw ( W< jump to conclusions from one single person. I heresay evidence. helped carry the Presi- Perhaps, these letters best ~S.'s/sf /'Sv'fc-j *&*/: < dent out, and we bore reveal the excitement in Wash- ington. D. C, following the our precious burden into tragedy at Ford's Theatre and the house of Mr. Peter- /"//• s/s/St- scS/s/?'* the bloody encounter that son next door to my transpired at the Seward home. According to Daggett boarding house, where fffli/t two men were killed in that / 4& #a>,*/ he remained until he city for uttering treasonable % died, which melancholy sentiments, to the effect that / nii 'i « event took place at pre- they were "glad that Presi- i mm nn^y i fiM /{ feated army of General Lee, as it rung out clear and loud from the historic window of the executive mansion, in his last speech, the last speech he shall ever make. Cheer upon cheer greeted him last night as he entered the theatre. I looked plainly into his face, and I assure you it was a smiling one, as he stooped in his last bow, the last one ever to be made to an enthusiastic audience as he entered the door of his private box which was so Drpadmnit of Ulatf, appropriately decorated with American flags. It is diffi- w„*/,;„ /,.„. -'#/.*;/ cult to realize this fearful act, though I have seen the y >/. •jw*. train, motionless from its place, which but a few hours ago directed the affairs of this great Republic, and- the rattle of the wheels of the hearse upon the pavement iJfy at /isk/y vwfiUa //?a/, rmci has not yet died away, up the avenue, as the earthly re- mains of Abraham Lincoln are being borne to the Ex- ecutive Mansion for a last brief residence there prepara- & Wt memein c/ sad /a/t /MedfUwd Yo/m<^ tory to their being deposited in the vault of death. (w/cet-j rmrki My heart sinks when I try to speak or write of Abra- ham Lincoln. I cannot yet realize that he is indeed dead and the troubled events of the past two weeks seem like From the Lincoln National Life Foundation the phantasius of a dream. I was present at the theatre A piece of the pillow case on which the president's head and saw the terrible crime committed which removes rested and a portion of the towel which was bound about from us a second Washington. That evening about 7 his head. These relics are mentioned in Daggett's letter o'clock I saw the Rebel General Ewell, and five others, to his sister Abbie, dated April 16, 1865 who were captured before Petersburg a few days before, I LINCOLN LORE and just after looking at them, my companion, who had not convey in writing. The pictures are all correct. never seen Gen. Grant proposed that we should go to Especially that of President Lincoln at home, the boy of Ford's it Theatre as had been announced in the evening course being "Thad," and an exact . . . presentment of papers that he would be there together with the Prsident that enterprising youth. (By the way one of our clerks, and Mrs. Lincoln. Although I had seen the Lieutenant Mr. Williamson, has been the tutor of the boy, up to the General I was willing and anxious to see him again and time of his father's death). so we went, and chose seats in the dress-circle, just op- Poor Mrs. Lincoln. How. I pity her. She was proud posite the private box—or boxes for there were two of of her husband, as well she might be, despite them merged in one, and called the state box, which by his plain- ness. And do you know that he not half the way was highly decorated with flags and a picture was so plain as represented to be? His was a strong, rugged, honest of Washington—in which the presidential party would face, beaming at the same time with gentleness and good sit. I had often seen the President and his wife there, nature. His smile was something to remember forever. and knew very well where they would sit. Shortly after It was positively beautiful. I never saw like it eight the President, Mrs. Lincoln, Miss Harris—a daugh- one on any other human face. It seemed to come from the ter of Senator Harris of New York—and her foster- heart and it certainly touched brother, Maj. Rathbone, arrived and took their positions that of the beholder. Notwith- standing his reputation as a "joker" where we could get an excellent view of each one. The his face was habit- ually a sad one. It almost always main object of our presence was disappointed. Gen. had a mournful, inex- pressibly touching expression, so that you could Grant was not there but had gone to New Jersey to see not look upon it without pitying him. Could it be that it his family. We soon got over our disappointment how- was prophetic of his end? I noticed this expression ever, observing the play, which you know, was "Our sad par- ticularly on the evening of the assassination American Cousin." The acting was excellent as of course and saw him frequently cover his face with both hands as if it would be with Laura Keene's company—and the Presi- busily engaged in thought. Of course this might not dent and Mrs. Lincoln seemed to enjoy it highly—the have had any peculiar significance, yet thinking latter in particular, laughing often and very heartily. when of the later events of that horrid night, such little acts I could detect a broad smile on Uncle Abraham's face magnified very often, while, at other times, he rested his face in appear and imbued with a deeper meaning. loving one both of his hands, bending forward, and seemingly buried He was a husband and father and of the best that ever lived, I his in deep thought. At the end of the second scene of the men and when think of death there over loss. third act while Asa Trenchard "our American cousin" comes me a feeling of personal Of course I could not be expected to be acquainted with him was on the stage alone I was startled by the sudden re- — aspired to such I seen port of a pistol, which rang loud and clear throughout no honor—but had him often, and have taken him by the hand more than once. I heard the theatre. I thought that it sounded on the stage near him, too, deliver the inaugural address the fourth of the farther end, and I looked in that direction, but seeing nothing unusual the thought struck me, "perhaps the March last, when he stood high on the east front of the Capitol and looked, with his fatherly smile and President has been assassinated" for I had often thought beaming of the probability of such an event on some such oc- spectacles like a real pater familias, and spoke words of gentleness and forebearance to "our misguided Southern casion. As I looked toward the President's box I saw some commotion, and heard a slight disturbance, when, brethren" such as they never deserved. I heard him too in a second, the form of a man appeared on the balustrade only a week before he died, when he stood at an upper in views standing perfectly erect, hatless, with a knife in his window the "White House" and enunciated his question. right hand, shouted in a clear sonorous voice "Sic Semper on the "Reconstruction" tyrannis," leaped to the stage be'ow—a distance of ten He spoke too forgivingly, as I thought, and that is or twelve feet—and striding across the stage, disap- what gives me resignation now. I think it "all for the peared before the audience could recover from the shock. best," and while I mourn the national loss as anyone, I Then arose loud cries of "Kill him," "Kill him."—for yet think we should rejoice that now the Rebel chiefs they knew intuitively what had happened. Mrs. Lincoln will receive justice instead of mercy. The South will screamed, the audience rushed onto the stage, the ac- find to its cost that the wrong man has been killed and tresses turned pale—even through their rouge and "lily- will rue the day that Abraham Lincoln died and Andrew white", and confusion reigned generally—soon after, the Johnson became president. To use an homely expression, President a 1 ready dying—was carried across the street the Southern people have "jumped out of the frying pan and the audience left the house. The streets were im- into the fire." I have seen and heard President Johnson mediately filled, and I then heard that the Secretary of and I am convinced he is the "right man in the right State, and his two sons, and nurse had been attacked, place" and when he said "the leaders (of the Rebellion) and nearly murdered. It was then reported that Gen. I would hang," I know that he meant it and will do it, Grant had been killed in Philadelphia, and in a short if ever he catches them. time, they had everybody of any consequence in the city assassinated, until I almost began to doubt the fact of my own existence. It was a night of horror such as I hope never to witness again. Towards morning I retired "but not to sleep." Visions of murder and death floated through my brain and before my eyes, and I arose at 9 the next forenoon, thoroughly worn out. Of course there was no work. Everybody arrayed his house in mourn- ing—and men women and children—and negroes wore an expression of horror and grief such as I never wit- nessed before. The next Sunday I went to the church where Mr. Lin- coln had attended. His pew was draped in mourning, but every other was crowded, and hundreds were unable to enter the house at all. The performances were very solemn and interesting. I also went to my regular place of worship (Rev. Dr. Hall's "Church of the Epiphany" Episcopal) and heard a beautiful tribute to the lamented dead. Appropriate allusion was to the event in every church except one, which is known to be of "Secesh" sympathies. Of the funeral ceremonies it is useless to speak. They were grand and appropriate. The procession was some- thing to for a life time. Your humble servant remember From the Lincoln National Life Foundation formed a very humble part of it, and mourned really as well as ostensibly. I will send you "Harpers' Weekly" This print was published by E. B. & E. C. Kellogg, 245 containing illustrations of the event of that and previous Main St., Hartford, Conn., shortly after the assassina- days which will give you accurate ideas, such as I could tion. L i Friday Afternoon, Januai -'[ , : | DRAMA • = STAGE SCREEN | * + + + the most prized possessions AMONG ! In Madison of the veteran are notes he made on two of Lincoln's speeches made shortly before the president was assassinated. Dr. Dobson is one of the few persons living today who were In Washington at the time Lincoln was killed and his acquaintanceship with HERVIE A. DOBSON S Civil Emancipator and the leader DR. - the Great war period experience as~ secre- of the Union forces still live with him tary to Pies. Lincoln and friend in sharp recollection. and confidante to Gen. U. S. Grant Warner brothers' studio is making may be retold on the screen in one a national search for those surviving of Warner brothers' forthcoming members of the Grand Army of the his- Rppublic who knew Pres. Lincoln. The torical short subjects, "Lincoln in the studio has written Dr. Dobson asking White House." permifsion to send a representative to Dr. Dobson, 97-year-old veteran of talk with the aged physician, and it is the Civil war, who lives at 303 Lath- thought, that one of the forthcoming rop st., enlisted at the outbreak of "Lincoln in the White House." series may be based, in part, on Dr. Dobson's experiences. SHOW TIME Dr. Dobson was in Washington on ORPHEUM—Fredric March and the night of Apr. 14, 1865, when John Joan Bennett in "Trade Winds" Wilkes Booth shot Lincoln while the at 1:10, 3:25, 5:40, 7:25 and 10:10. president was seated in a box in CAPITOL—"Tom Sawyer, De- Ford's theater. Dr. Dobson stood in tective" at 2:03, 5, 7:57 and 10:54. front of the Peterson home on 10th st. Michael Whalen and Mary Hart at 7:22 a.m. Apr. 15 when Lincoln died. in "The Mysterious Miss X" at Dr. Dobson recalls that the night of 12:50, 3:47, 6:44, and 9:41. the assassination was murky. He had M A J E S T I C—Tex Bitter in been at the treasury office all day, and "Where Buffalo Roam" at 1:30, had returned to his room on the corner 4:05, 6:40 and 9:40. "Bulldog of P and 15th sfcs., and was sitting by I »r u in. muni's Revenge" at 2:30, a window facing F st. at about 10:15 5:05, 7:40 and 10:40. when he heard the beat of horse's MADISON—"Suez" with Tyrone hooves on the cobblestones in the Tower and Lorelta Young at 1:40, street, and saw a rider on a roan horse 4:35, 7:35, and 10:30. "Three Loves dash past. That rider was Booth, Dr. Has Nancy" at 12:30, 3:25, 6:25 Dobson believes! and 9:20. EASTWOOD — "Springtime in the Rockies" at 6:45 and 9:25. "Heidi" with Shirley Temple at 7:45 and 10:30. PARKWAY—"Stand TJp and Fight" with Wallace Beery and Robert Taylor at 1:25, 4:20, 7:15 and 10:10. "Swing, Sister, Swing" with Ken Murray and Johnny Downs at 3:10, 6:05 and 9. STRAND — "The Great Waltz" with Luise Rainer, Fernand Gravet and Miliza Korjius at 1, 4:05, 7:15 and 10:25. "Hard To Get" with Dick Powell and Olivia de Ha vil- la.. ,1 at 2:45, 5:55 and 9:05. the war and was attached periodical- ly to the treasury department and to the White House secretarial staff. He was injured in an industrial ac- cident which forced the amputation of his leg. In spite of the handicap he enlisted, with the special permis- eion of Pre*. Lincoln, and was prob- ably the only soldier accepted with that handicap. XC A s- A. Cr^r T (AC~ Celv^s^rl >• Oo^ , BEeP**" • K<& - !3&9k >•>*.: 7 Chicago History l>ui\«yr Vol I, Spring, 1947, No. The News of Lincoln's Death the 5 th of April, 1 a young soldier of the 52nd On 1 865, Wisconsin Infantry was en route from Madison to Benton Barracks at St. Louis. — But let him tell his own story: "We left Madison Friday night (April 14) at 9 o'clock and arrived in Chicago at 5 o'clock Saturday morn just as the news of Pres. Lincoln's assassination was spread- ing over the city; it being so early in the morning of course there was no great excitement. We left Chicago at about 9 o'clock A.M. on the C. Alton & St. Louis R. R. Found a very fine country for most of the way through — for hundreds of miles you might say as level as the floor. At Bloomington we heard of the death of Pres. Lincoln. It seemed as though it could not be so at first but I suppose it is and perhaps it may be for the good of the country. The people and the soldiers will unite in taking the life of every leading traitor now I believe as fast as they catch them and Andy Johnson will be much harder for the Rebs to deal with than 'Old Abe' ever was. Some people here in St. Louis gave three cheers upon the news of Lincoln's death but they did not live but a few moments. There were several shot right down in the streets." This is not the first time that we have heard of people being murdered for applauding the news of Lincoln's death. Yet we are skeptical. Note that the writer of this letter does not say that he saw the shootings which he describes, nor have any eyewitness accounts of such incidents come to our attention. Can any of our readers throw light on this somewhat morbid but interesting question ? The letter which we have quoted above was written from St. Louis on April 17, 1865, and is signed, "Dwjghl," For it we are indebted to Mrs. O. I. Landrud, of Lom- bard, Illinois, who recently donated it to our library. ^VMIXiS, U)vv\. WHEN LINCOLN WAS SHOT. General Ennis, Then a Lieutenant, in Ford's Theatre. d &£H- 11 Was as^s ay f-.-n "" he stae-e tall ,inan > ca;ine fr,,n tr, , ,• Die )j Saw Booth Cross the Stage, But Uposite wings. he ifXent Tad** h£**n Not Learn' of the Assassination audience an the wetor on I that the sta e the appearand -. * « of a new actot Until Later. was scarcer rea"L General William Ennis, U. S. A. (as ^tl-jS .." >s (retired), now residing in this city, appreciate <*°«»*Iily what i las . was one of the few, if indeed he is not the only one living- in this vicin- n ass ass,n ldthe ity who was present in Ford's Theatre, had^l!SU^d"lll't •earned that the * Sill1 3 Washing-ton, April 14, 18(15, when actor "Ifth grange anan on the 6 President Lincoln iwas shut Ihy John stage, c2rfinN ln . knife in a threatening- ,''" - Se « Wn.-k.esi Booth. General Ennis was JlU r made good his a "*>' then a, lieutenant in the United States' eSJf General Ennis .' "< artillery and was on duty with his. «a\ a t i«n t, ., battery a short distance from Wash- ington. He attended the theatre iwith an old dl ass mate at West Point, Lieu- tenant Maefliay of the' ordnance corps,, who, was then on duty in ox near ; Washington. Lieutenant 'Ma clay, who , was retired from the army several to a hotel, ,wl e- °n dent Lincoln been assassinated but also the Vice President, Secretary Stanton, Secretary Seward and other members of the cabinet had been killed. Everybody was naturally much to excited and it 'wias impossible learn the exact truth that night, and it iwas not until the next day at camp that he Beamed that President Lincoln reports had1 died and that the other 1 •» were unfounded . ' • GENERAL WILLIAM ENNIS, U. S. A, (retired). yeaia aigo aui-a ««*a ^n-a^s^a ;«. i»««t ness in New York, died iru that city quite recently and was then spoken of as the last survivor in that city who was at Ford's Theatre oin that fateful night. Lieutenant Ennis and Lieutenant Maclay occupied seats about six. or seven rotws from the stage. The play was "Our American Cousin," which was being presented by the Laura Keene Company, In which the elder Sothern played the part of Lord Dun- dreary. It had advanced to the point where the American cousin, Asa Trenchard, appears on the stage alone and soliloquizes whether he shall destroy the will wnich would make the English cousin heir to the property which' would otherwise fall to him. General Ennis does not recall the name of this actor, but he Is spoken of in other accounts as a play- er named Watts. — C-S-*"e"», v_i**0ur \«i wouldn't stand for anything like there that, and he saw to it that wasn't anything like that, too." "And Phil Sheridan! He certain- where to ly had folks not knowing with /^ y 7^ turn! He'l come tearin' in that crack cavalry of his, and be- gone fore you knew it he'd be again, like lightning, with a whole countrvside laid to waste. He was a fast and quick as wind. He was funny looking fellow. His head set low on his shoulders and his body '1^3? was heavy and his legs quite short. But how he'd come thunder- ing down the road! I remember L seeing his once with a new horse, 7 /^7A 7 VOLUME LXXII. NO. 29 he'd ridden his U/> and it was because before old one so hard the day defective that it had developed wind, and was out of commission He Heard the Shot for life." • What tension, what hysterical radicalism moved the North and Booth Fired South! "We used to take a South- ern town and command the Con- federate flag to be lowered. Once flag is Charles Estes, G. A. R. Veteran, Tells of Helping a fellow screamed: 'That there's going to fly as long as Carry Lincoln from the Theatre when, breath in my body!' And after prolonged warnings, he re- Even in the cool seclusion of his Hatteras, and two at the hands of fused to withdraw his flag, he was parlor, and in the sunny farm on a the Confederates. On James Is- hung. And he was the father of hill in Alton, N. H., the thunder land, where the regiment was sur- several children. Another radical of rebel guns has not grown faint rounded and under fire of heavy cried, as Ellsworth, Estes's^ cap- to the ears of Charles Estes. Mr artillery, Estes was wounded and tain, went to remove a flag: "Who- E^tts is almost ninety years old sent to the hjspital. Following his ever tears down that flag I shall he was eighteen when he entered release, the regiment took Morris shoot to kill!" And Ellsworth, en- the Civil War—and State Com- Island and held it. Morris Island raged, tare down the flag and was mander of the G. A. R. But in- is now fourteen feet under water. -hot through the heart. In an in- creasing years and honors have At the conclusion of his long en- stant that unhappy Southerner not dimmed for him the excite- trenchment on the Island Estes was lifted from his feet on the ment of those days in '61. Recount- was a member of an expedition points of a dozen bayonets. ing them, his voice trembles with into Florida, and in '64 he joined But not all were as loyal. Often, wistful enthusiasm, and he reels Grant and Grant's concentrated at- Estes says, towards the end of the cff dates and places with such ac- tack on Virginia. war, deserters joined their ranks. curacy and description that ' the "Grant," Estes says, "was noth- listener is there with him, marvel- ing but an old farmer. You ling- at the firey antics of Phil wouldn't have noticed him any For at the beginning the Confed- Sheridan, the rabid hatred of the more than you would a farmer. He erates won almost every battle, "Johnnies", the was a heavy and he always shrewdness of man, as if they and it seemed to many Grant. And Charles Estes helped walked looking down, with his were well on their way to winning carry Lincoln from the theatre hands in his pockets. And I don't the war. Estes remembers his where he was shot. The listener, believe anyone ever saw him with- captain halting before a house in although even seventy years out a black cigar in his mouth. He a Southern town. "There were younger than Charles Estes, lived always looked shabby. I saw him some ladies sitting on the piazza that war with him. once dressed in old worn clothes and one of them got up and called All torn Winter long, day and night, and a hat standing next to a in the Con- out: 'I have three sons through the Winter of 1860, trains, young officer all dressed in a shin- federate Army an' you ain't had leaded with unknown burdens, ing, spotless uniform, and I said: " a lick on 'em yet!' were moving steadily South. No "There goes a second lieutenant in Charles Estes was wounded one knew what the freights car- the Federal Forces. The fellow three times, and the last time he ried, but Estes knew there were next to him is Lieutenant General was sent to the hospital in Wash- guns in the flat cars, and that war of the Federal Forces." ington. But every man was needed was imminent. And so, with the "But McLelland—he was a styl- in°those days. You couldn't be laid fall of Ft. Sumter and the seces- ish man. Quite a dresser, McLel- Estes up for long. And so Charles sion of eleven states from the land. We liked Grant though. He'd 8th was set to guard a theatre on Union, Charles Estes enlisted with as soon speak to a private as to Lin- Street on the night President the Third Regiment of New Hamp- an officer. And there was jealousy per- coln was going to attend the shire, and, with two weeks of among the Federal officers. Often, formance. training on Long Island, New if an under-officer, jealous of his York, the regiment departed for superior, wanted to express his Washington and Annapolis, and, distaste, he simply failed to ap- under General Veeley, embarked pear with his regiment at a crucial on an expedition into South Caro-, moment in the capture of a town, lina, the festering point of the and thus deprived his superior of South. Four boats were lost on a coveted honor. ' "But Grant that trip —two in a storm off Cape (Continued on Page six) "I heard the shot. I was on box to the tage. He factured it in guard outside but you could have that jump, all right, and suffered heard it farther away than I was. until they captured him. He had a and yell- And then the screaming carriage waiting for him behind the ing began, and all of a sudden the theatre." street was mobbed with people, all Charles Estes is going to the crazy. Jammed with hysteri- gone Grand Army convention at Lin- people. Wilkes Booth had cal John coln's birthplace soon. At ninety shot the President through the he still remembers those days "As head! They brought Lincoln out if it was yesterday." He fought in onto the street, and I helped carry the crisis of a nation, and he ex- unconscious. The him. He was perienced history, actually and crowds couldn't get out of the vividly. He can sit back in his cocl theatre, one could make and no parlor in Alton, and rest calmly, trying to any headway. We were but the fevered confusion of war street, reach a house across the and the crying bitterness of the it long time before we but was a South opposed to the North have able it. Everyone were to make not dimmed for him. frenzy, was milling around in a "Nowadays," he says, "folks and we could barely move. All live too fast. Automobiles—they've President lay night long, while the practically ruined the country. My in that house, that street was | son says I didn't appreciate auto- packed, and finally, when the re- j mobiles till I got one myself, but I serves were called out, I could all the same, I miss teaming and hear the captain crying in the good hard work. I've experienced I pouring 'This street has got rain: three panic times, but when we to be cleared! Charge bayonets!' earned two dollars a day we were \1 could hear him calling: 'Steady decently paid. If folks would get Steady!' All night long it boys! down to good hard pan we'd end poured rain. President Lincoln died this depression. Why, I heard the towards morning. other day here in Alton that a lot r The day befcre word had been of carpenters were out of work be- received that Grant had taken cause they won't take less wages Richmond, and there were to be than they got last year. Good hard torchlight processions and celebra- labor is the answer." Charles ting all through Washington. "But Estes has labored fcr his country, en that sad day it seemed like and at ninety he can look back on Sunday. All the stores were shut his life and feel he has lived it, up, and there wasn't a sign of life fully and deeply. anywhere. The whole nation was STEPCHILD struck dumb." The New Hampshire Third marched in the funeral procession from the White House—two miles, and carrying heavy guns and para- phanalia. "We marched behind the hearse. It was a great black car- riage, fixed so that you could see' the body. And drawn by four black horses, with four drivers on the carriage. "I'd seen Lincoln many times. I'd heard, him makt1 speeches often, and I even remember things he said. He was all legs—huge and towering. And tired and kindly looking. He was one of the great- est men of all time. "And I passed Booth once on the street. He was very handsome. He had a heavy black moustache, and he was well built, ajid quite fine looking. He was the greatest ac- tor of the period. . There's been speculation as to. whether or not he broke his leg, leaping from the in tailing ne nau nroiien a snmn uuiie in his leg, a wound that during his flight &->lcu\% kA^\e*-me, f f must have erivrn him excruciating tor- HEARD ture. I heard somebody shout, 'Stop that THE SHOT THAT man!' 1 learned later that it was Maj. Lovejoy. SLEW LINCOLN. ! "Booth, being an actor, was familiar with the stage. He ran between Hawk Mrs. Katherine M. Evans, of and Billy Ferguson, struck at Withers, our orchestra leader, with his knife, and i Chicago, Was a Member of I made his way out through the stage door r the Company Playing in Into the alley, where Peanut Johnnie,' the boy who sold peanuts in the gallery, Ford's Theater on the Night was holding his horse. i t of the President's i Assassina- Lincoln Unconscious But Smiling. ? tion, and Becalls • Vividly "I looked up and saw President Lincoln the Details of the Tragedy. unconscious, his head drooping on his' breast, his eyes closed, but with a smile (•>•••• »—»••—•—•»—•—•—..:.— ..»~»~m~—St) Still on his face. Mrs. Lincoln had risen (From the New York Tribune.) from her seat beside him, and was strok- ing his cheeks. WOMAN who was iii the cast of "She wore an old fashioned black coal "Our American Cousin" on the scuttle bonnet, the chin bow of which night Abraham Lincoln was as- had become untied. She did not wear a A sassinated, in Ford's theater, In wreath of red flowers and a low-necked i Washington, D. fifty years next C, ago gown, as many people believe. Tuesday, is living in little now a side "Miss Clara Harris, Senator Harris' street on Chicago's west side. She is 70 daughter, and her fiance, the young Maj. years old, haired, bright, and re- gray Henry Ratbbone, who had accompanied with clearness the members photographic President and Mrs. Lincoln, stood beside events of that tragic night, iter name is them. Miss Harris was as pale as a Mrs. Katherine M. Evan s, sheet. The major, breathing heavily from On that evening she was appearing as his struggle with the assassin, was try- Sharpe in Tom Taylor's famous comedy. ing frantically to open the door which Her husband, J. Evans, was also a H. Booth, as you remember, had closed with member of the resident stock company a block of wood. at Ford's. It was customary in those "In an instant the theater was in an days to have visiting stars, and Laura uproar. It was crowded to the 'topmost Keene, as will be remembered, shared the, gallery, and every one had risen in his honors With John Dyott and Harry Hark. seat. Men were shouting and climbing Mrs. Evans is one of the four members out Into the aisles. Miss Keene was of the company alive today. Harry making her way up to where the presi- Hawk, the Trenchard of who was Asa dent sat wounded, and several doctors tho play, retired from professional life from the audience were trying to force years ago. During the 80s he was many a passage through the crowd. Dr. with Laura Dainty in "The Mountain Charles Taft was' lifted up into the box Pink." Mountain Pink, is now The who from the stage, while many persons, some Mrs. Laura Dainty Pelham, of Hull of them physicians, were crowding into House, remembers him well, and says the narrow aisle which led into the box that in at which they played | every town and were pounding on the door, demand- his fame as having been in the company ! lug admission. with Laura Keene at that memorable per- "Lincoln lay back in a rocking chair. formance before him. It was Mr. Went Dr. Taft had torn open his shirt and was Hawk who was alone on the stage at the looking for the wound. Ho found it time the shot was fired. finally behind the left ear. Then they Billy J.) Ferguson, who was cast (W, laid the president on a shutter and car- as Mr. Coyle, an attorney, is still before ried him out of the theater to the house the public. Jennie Gourlay, who was the across the street, where he died at 7:^0 Mary the play, is living a Trenchard of o'clock the next morning. retired life in the east. Mrs. Evans tells a vivid story of the "Peanut Johnnie" Held. assassination. She heard the shot fired "After the tragedy I ran upstairs into v\ bile she was talking to a friend be- the dressing room. The stage was filled hind the scenes during the third act. She with secret service men, who seemed to ran to the first entrance. Booth had have gone crazy. They had arrested leaped from the president's box. She 'Peanut Johnnie' as an accomplice. Poor saw him staggering toward the stage 'Peanut!' Ho did nothing more than hold door. A glance at the face of Mrs. Lin- Booth's horse. They were looking for coln revealed to her what had happened, Ned Spangler, our stage carpenter, who and the white faces of the audience con- had innocently held the door open for firmed the paralyzing fact. the assassin. My husband also was un- She had known the assassin. Her hus- der suspicion. band, who had had a drink with Booth "I rubbed my makeup off, and thought a few minutes before the rising of the that every moment a detective would rap curtain, was promptly arrested as an ac- at the door and place me under arrest. complice. Ned Spangler, who was sen- Finally 'Jlmmie' Mattox, our property tenced to penal servitude in Dry Tortugas man, called me. for complicity in the murder, but who " 'What are you doing up there?' he was pardoned by President Johnson, asked. spent the night in her house. " 'I'm waiting.' Mrs. Evans was on the stage when " 'Waiting for what?' President Lincoln entered, and she tells " 'To be arrested.' how the scene was interrupted by the "He assured me that everything was orchestra. cheering and the music of the all right, and I ventured down. The When Fatal Shot Was Heard. theater was empty by that time. The last audience it was ever to see had de- "I was in the green room," says Mrs. parted after witnessing a scene more Evans, "chatting with "Maggie' Gourlay, tragic than ever was played behind the the Skillet of the play, and waiting for footlights." my cue, when I heard a shot ring out. I was dressed in my stage gown—the crino- line of the period. Miss Gourlay was making a tidy. I had just said, using a stage expression, 'Wr ake me up when Kirby dies.' Hawk had the scene to him- self, and the other players were grouped at the entrances ready for their turns. I I knew when I heard that shot that It couldn't be a part of the play. We | | dropped our work and ran to the first i entrance, where there was a good deal I of excitement. "A moment before young Booth had j leaped to the stage and bad caught his of, J spur, as you remember, on one the J Wit I iiHT J E u c^\ $, a^Wtux t U < leaped to the stage and had caught RECALLS VIVIDLY his spur, as you remember, on one of the flags that draped the presidential box. In falling he had broken a small DETAILS OF bone in his leg. a wound that during his flight must have given him excru- ciating torture. 1 heard somebody LINCOLN'S DEATH shout, 'Stop that man!'. 1 learned later that it was Major Lovejoy. "Booth, being an actor, was fami- A in woman who was the cast of liar with the stage. Hi.' ran between "Our American Cousin"' on the night Hawk and Billy Ferguson, struck at Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, in Withers, our orchestra leader, with Ford's theater, in Washington, D. C, his knife, and made h'ir, way out fifty years ago next Tuesday, is now through the stage door into the alley, living in a little side street on Chi- where 'Peanut Johnnie,' the boy who cago's west side, says the New York sold peanuts in the gallery, was hold- Tribune. She is seventy years old, ing his horse. gray haired, bright, and remembers Lincoln Unconscious But Smiling. with photographic clearness the events Lin- I "I looked up and saw President of that tragic night. is Her name coln unconscious, his bead drooping Mrs. v i ns. KMll££JjX6_i!LL„J?. § on his breast, his eyes closed, but with On that evening sine was appearing a smile still on his face Mrs. Lincoln as Sharpe in Tom Taylor's famous had. risen from her scat Inside him, comedy. Tier husband, ,T. Evans, H. and was stroking his cheeks. was also a member of the resident "She wore an old fashioned black .stock company at Ford's. It was cus- ci.al scuttle bonnet, the chin biyw of tomary in those days to have visiting ttlTJ'll Jiarr hECiUfl'* 1 untied. She rl'.lnnt stars, and Laura Keene, as /will be wear a wreath of red flowers and a remembered, shared the honors with low-necked gown, as many people be- John Dyott and Harry Hark. lieve. \ Mrs. Evans is one of the four mem- "Miss Clara Harris, Senator Har- bers of the company alive today. Harry ris' daughter, and her fiance, (lie Ka.wk, who was the Asa Trcnchard of young .Major Henry Rathbone, who the play, retired from professional life had accompanied President and Mrs. many years ago. Tjuilng tlic 60o ho Lincoln, stood beside them. Miss Har- with Dainty in was Laura "The ris was as pale as a sheet. The. ma- Mountain Pink." Mountain Pink, The jor, breathing heavily from his strug- who is now Mrs. Laura Dainty Pel- gle with the assassin, was trying, Hull House, him ham, of -remembers frantically to open Ihe door which. well, and says that in every town at Booth, as you remember, had closed! which they played his fame as having whh a block of wood. been in the company with Laura j "In an instant the theater was in Keene at that memorable performance j an uproar. It was crowded to the top- before It Mr. went him. was Hawk most gallery, and every one bad risen who was alone on the stage at the in his seat. Men were shouting and time the shot was fired. climbing into the eta sbr shrill sc sa Billy (W. J.) Ferguson, who was climbing out into the aisles. Miss cast as Mr. t'oyle, an attorney, is still Keene was making her way up lo before the public. Jennie Gourlay, where the president sat wounded, and who was the Mary Trenehard of the I several doctors from the audience play, is living a retired life in the were trying to force a passage through j east. , I the crowd. Dr. Charles Tail was lil't- Mrs. Evans tells a vivid story of the the box from the stage, , ed up into assassination. She heard the shot fired while many persons, some of the pliy- while she was talking to a friend be- ciar.s, were crowding inio the hind the scenes during the third act. nar- roy aisle which led into the box and She ran to the first entrance. Booth had leaped from the president's box. were pounding on the door, demand- She saw him staggering toward the ing admission. "Lincoln back in stage door. A glance at the face of lav a rocking chair. Dr. Tafl torn his Mrs. Lincoln revealed to her what had had open shirt happened,, and the white faces of the and was looking for the wound. He audience confirmed the paralyzing found it finally behind the left car they laid the president f fact. Then on She had known the assassin. Her shutter and carried him out of th' husband, who had had a drink with theater to the house across the street Booth a few minutes before the rising where he died at 7:30 o'clock the nex of the curtain, was promptly arrested morning. tragedy T as an accomplice. Ned Spangler, who "After the ran upstairs was sentenced to penal servitude in into the dressing room. The stage was Dry Tortugas for complicity in the tilled with secret service men, whe crazy. murder, but who was pardoned by i seemed to have gone They had President Johnson, spent the night In arrested Peanut Johnnie' as an ac- her house. complice. Poor 'Peanut!' He did noth- Mrs. Evans was on the stage when ing more than hold Booth's horse. President Lincoln entered, and she They were looking for Ned Spangler, carpenter, tells how the scene was interrupted by our stage, who had inno- the cheering and the music of the or- cently held the door open for the as- chestra. cassin. My husband also was under When Fatal Shot Was Heard. suspicion. "I was in the green room," says "I rubbed my makeup off, and Mrs. Evans, "chatting with 'Maggie' thought that every moment a detective Gourlay, the Skillet of the play, and would rap at the door and place me waiting for my cue. when I heard a under arrest. Finally 'Jimmie' Mat- called shot ring out. I was dressed in my tox, our property man, me. stage gown—the crinoline of the pe- "'What are you doing up there?' he riod. Miss Gourlay was making a tidy. asked. " "I'm waiting.' I had just said, using a stage "expres- sion, 'Wake me»iip when Kirby dies.' "'Waiting for what?' Hawk had the scene to himself, and " 'To be arrested.' the other players were grouped at the I "He assured me that everything entrances ready for their turns. I knew was a'l right, and I ventured down. that time. when I heard that shot that it couldn't : The theater was empty by be a part of the play. We dropped I The last audience it 'was ever to see our work and ran to the first en- ! had departed, after witnessing- a scene deal of tragic than ever wa.s played be- trance, where there was a jrood j more excitement. hind the footlights." "A moment, before young Booth had ' I