Evening Star Newspaper, February 9, 1930, Page 87

THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, FEBRUARY 9, 1930. 5 When the Tragic Story of Lincoln How Word of the Assassination of President Lincoln, Ilze.'T/.zrilling Capture of Booth and the Account of the First Public Observance of Lincoln’s Birthday in Washington Were Given to the Readers of The Evening Star in 1865 and 1866. = 8 : St Al (¥RoM ECNBATE 3XTay < rans ) rmme THE ASSASSINATION | Deveiopomats kave deer seadr wikin Je § ;e Lwentylipme Rutrs shawiny SonsRenively | W OXINRBOR B0 & diep Dk Fio Sik 1R gae o | | W AR T CRNRDIrALTS, tackic 3 e arder of ~Eughue of e (¥viden *® Wy _r::_(gr FORident Rikotin aud &is OMlane 5 THE YATAL BAid. : Beiew we LvE % GIMIA% of e Mokl Bali | ®|e: Kiiies o Rincsin, tabew troan RAIMAL A RTOMNG L A2 SR AR RARCK BIRARKICLS . o e s ot i o Bl o VRS - B s maw precy we © W Roeded ik W | DA Dronet e os tewr. f DRCuTS ix e Gour ik in 'mm;'m;pum was NEiE clove 'gthe Beed of e Presidens frum ive clusr sper. are mads Mreugh e Uy, Kwf nas g L RME CuRPSE The soeges oI sleJasy Procidunt ns Description of the fatal bullet in The Star of Monday, April 17, 1865. BY HUDSON GRUNEW ALD. HE first public observance of Abraham Lincoln’s birthday in Washington— Lincoln's birthday anniversary in Washington on Monday, February 12, 1866, 10 months after his tragic death, was chronicled in The Evening Star of that day in a news story, which began on the sec- ond page of th2 edition and ran. two and a half columns in length. This was the only men- tion of the important event in The Star, at that time an issue of only four pages, with six columns of type to the page, the front page of which was mad2 up principally of advertise- ments and short items, as was customary in the Journals of the 60s. There were no headlines to call attention to the story, merely a title in capital letters of small type, which read: “Abraham Lincoln— the Memorial Address of George Bancroft.” And there were no pictures, as this was long before the day of illustrated newspapers. What a contrast to the way that memorable event would be handled in the press of today! And yet what a vivid record of the happen- fngs on this historic occasion, and at the time of Lincoln’s assassination, as told in the news of the day, is to be found in The Star’s files of *65 and '66. Written while the news was still news, and secmingly a part of the events themselves, these accounts contained a certain poignancy and freshness of viewpoint -lacking in histories and chronologies prepared at a later date. Read- ing them is like g2ining information from some one who was actually present at the scene. “THE morning opened rather gloomy, with muddy streets and falling rain, but these disasters did not prevent lucky ticket holders for seats in the Representative Hall from mak- ing their way to the Capitol to use them,” be- gins the account of the first anniversary cere- monies for the martyred President. “From the number of visitors from Northern cities seeking seats these tickets were in much demand and as high as $50 have been offered for the precious bits of pasteboard. Hackmen, too, were in de- mand and improved their opportunities, charg- ing from $25 to $30 for their vehicles for the day in some cas>s. The great rush was for the galleries, which were pretty compactly filled by 10 am. The portion of the floor of the hall devoted to th2 diplomatic corps was also filled early, th: British Minister and Russian Min- ister occupying seats nearly in front. In the same vicinity was Gen. Janes Watson Webb, re- turned from Brazil. “The clapping of hands from time to time indicated th: entrance of personages of note. Such applause was given to Mrs. Grant on her being escorted to the ladies’ gallery by Hon. Mr. Washburne, A little later a hearty round of applause was given on the entrance of Gen. Grant, whose seat, as it happened, was imme- diately in front of where Gen. Butler was seated. Gen. Logan, John Minor Botts, Judge Advocate General Holt were among those no- ticed s:ated in the range behind Gen. Grant. “The funeral decorations of the Representa- tive Hall were simple and in good taste. The clock was draped in b'ack crepe and festoons of the same were :suspended over the Speaker’s chair. “At 12 o'clock the House was called to order by Speaker Colfax and prayer was delivered by Rev. Mr. Boynton, chaplain. The Speaker then read a letter from Secretary Seward, expressing his regret at his inability to b> present on ac- count of his health. “At 11 minutes past 12 the ‘Senate of the United States’ was announced and the members of that body were shown to their seats, in the center of the hall. Next was announced ‘the President and his cabinct,” and they, too, were A very rare portrait of Abraham Lincoln, especially favored by his wife, which is now part of the Oldroyd collection. escorted to seats immediately in front (to the left) of the Speaker, all being present but Mr. Seward. Next was introduced ‘the Supreme Court of the Unitad- States,’ who, draped in black gowns, were placed to the immediate right front of the Speaker. Upon the entrance of each of these bodies the assernblage, at a rap of the Speaker’s gavel, rose until the visit- ing party was placed, when, at two raps of the cavel, they resumed their seats. With the Sen- ate came the orator of the day, Hon. George Bancroft, a slim, gold-spectacled gentleman of literary look, and whose gray hair was closely cropped, as he usually wears it. He was shown to his seat, in front of the Speaker. “The audience being placed, the exercises were commenced by the performance in ex- quisite style by th> Marine Band (36 pieces, teaded by Prof. Scala in person) of the ‘Miscrere’ from ‘Il Trovatore.’ The band was stationed in the hall, in the rear of the re- porters’ gallery, and the mournful music pene- trated into the main hall with exquisite chas- tened efTect. “The President of the Senate, Hon. L. S. Foster, then callad tha two houses to order, and an affecting and eloquent prayer was of- fered by the Rev. Mr. Boynton, chaplain of the House. “The orator of the day was then introduced and proceeded to read his address.” The speak- er most eloquently reviewed tha early life of President Lincoln, then outlined the high points of Lincoln’s h2roic administration. “When he refzrred to the assassination,” continues the story in The Star, “he said: ‘Not in vain has Lincoln lived, for he has helped to make this Republic an example of justice, with no cast but the cast of humanity. Th2> heroes who l:d -our armies and ships into battle—Lyon, Mc- Pherson, Reynolds, Sedgwick, Wadsworth, Foote, Ward, with their compeers—and fell in the service, did not die in vain; they and the myriads of nameless martyrs, and he, the chief martyr, died willing “that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.” “‘The assassination of Lincoln, who was so free from malice, has by some mysterious in- fluence struck the country with solemn awe, and bushed, instead of exciting, the passion for re- venge. It seemed as if the just had died for the unjust.” “The speaker closed his address with a glow- ing tribute to the character of Abraham Lin- coln.” On the same page as the above a small news item without heading reads: “The White House was closed to all persons calling on business today, and no one was received by the Presi- dent, who for a considerable portion of the day was at the Capitol.” Beneath this is a brief account of the clos- ing of all Government departments for the day. Thus was the first observance of Lincoln’s birthday anniversary in Washington “covered” in the manner of the news of those times. IT is equally interesting to read how the big- gest and most tragic news story ever to break in the Capital was told in The Evening Star 65 years ago. On the fateful Friday, April 14, 1865, three small news items in The Star told of President Lincoln’s intentions to attend the evening per- formance at Ford’s Theater. The first read: “Lieut. Gen, Grant, President and Mrs. Lin- coln have secured the State box at Ford's Thea- ter tonight to witness Miss Laura Keene's ‘American Cousin.” " k The second notice, appearing farther down in the same column, said: 3 “Lieut. Gen. Grant, arrived in town last éve- ning on his way to Philadelphia, will visit Ford's Theater this evening, in company with President and Mrs. Lincoln.” ; The third notice, appearing under Items,” on the next page, stated: “Ford’s Theater—'Honor to Our Soldiers,” a “City new and patriotic song apnd ghorus, has bf’en . Was New: THE EVENING STAR. | W. D WALLACH, Kitites aRt Prencinars | WABKINGTON CITY o THERSDAY (oinrn.. - o APREL 7 INEH, | THRILLING NEWS! CAPTURE OF THE ASs! BOOTH Y - CAPTUREOF REROLD ALIVE! BOOTH TAKEN IN A BARN! HE FIRES 0N OUR MEN ! THE FIRE RETURNED. BOOTH SHOT N THE NECK. HE DIES IN THREE iOURS. THE BODY BROUGHT TO THE NAVY VARD,. . - OFFICIAL BULLETLIN. . Wak DECARTERNTY, » Wessiraron, D00, &pnt £, 56505 Nagrr Govrral Pize Kew ¥ori gt . Wiikee Hoota snd . Harrcid were chisal From R swamp e B Marys county, M. FHIeus Fraletdny mirning o Lhureercs s, Bess Port Hoyst, on the Baypshasssex, by Coii. Bakwr"a force. CHRoATR I WhiSh ey t30K Telupe was LR i G WAREUR BN EICRDE WRL RNt rarengis ¥ bewd axd Bdice, Dagening araut Mres a:ure, ard HErTCI ke alive, 3 Bivib's 200y ssd HRrvold aoe now Gere. Lowin M. NTAZTOR, Nocrery 14 War FURTHEL PARTICULAKS a0 RN il ligruce 6t e captare and | ERYMisONE death of e assrean Hooth was | veceived with JLufound satisfact:on fiers, the | The first of Booil’s news “flash” capture. written by Mr. H. B. Phillips, and will be sung this evening by the entire company to do honor to Lieut. Gen. Grant and President Lincoln and lady, who visit the theater in compliment to Miss Laura Keene, whose benefit and last ap- pearance is announced in the bills of the day.” Thus it may be seen what an easy matter it would have been for any assassin, who may have been unable to gain information otherwise to check up on the President’s intended move- ments of that night. N an “extra” which appeared on the streets of Washington the next morning The Star told its readers of the tragic event in the fol- lowing aceount: “President Lincoln and wife, together with other frisnds, last evening visited Ford’s Thea- "ter for the purpose of witnessing the perform- ance of the ‘American Cousin’ It was an- nounced in the newspapers that Gen. Grant would bz present, but that gentleman, instead, took the late train of cars for New Jersey. The theater was densely crowded, and everybody seemed delighted with the scene before them. “During the third act, and while there was a temporary pause for one of the actors to enter, a sharp report of a pistol was heard, which merely attractzd attention, but suggesting noth- ing serious, until a man rushed to the front ef the President's box, waving a long dagger in his right hand and exclaiming ‘Sic Semper Tyrannis,” and immediately leaped from tha box, which was of the second tier, to the stage beneath, and ran across to the opposite side, thus making his escape, amid the bewilderment of the audience, from the rear of the theater and, mounting a horse, fled. “The screams of Mrs. Lincoln first disclosed the fact to the audience that the President had been shot, when all present rose to their feet, rushing toward the stage, exclaiming, ‘Hang him! “The excitement was of the wildest possible character; and, of course, there was an abrupt termination of the theatrical performance. “There was a rush toward the President's box, when cries were heard, ‘Stand back!® ‘Give him air!” ‘Has any one stimulants?’ ete. “On a hasty examination it was found that the President had been shot through the head above and back of the temporal bone and that some of the brain was oozing out. He was' removed to the private residence of Mr. Peterson, opposite to the theater, and the surgeon general of the Army and other sur- geons sent for to attend to his condition. “On examination of the private box blood was discovered on the back of the cushioned (,‘qutim_:»'_l Lon >T1w>n'v/-flr_‘¢ Paqe