St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1867-10-11
The Burial OF Hikes Booth.

In noticing the disinterment of the re-
mains of the con>pirators and WIZ, the
Washington Chronicle adds the follow
ing relative 10 John Wilkes Booth:
The secret history of the interment OF
John Wilkes Booth, concerning which
so MANY improbable and diverse stories
hsve been fabricated and widely circula-
ted, and perhaps no less widely credited.
is now made public and agrees substan-
tally with the statement in General Ba
ker's book, published a few months ago
Lieutenant Colonel Conger, Lieutenant
L. b. Baker, Lieutenant Z. L. Dough-
ertv. and detachment of the 10th L.
s. cavalry. having in charge David T..
Harold and the remains of Booth, arriv-
ell at the navy-yard about , o'clock IN
the morning of the 9th of April, 1863
Booths remains were removed TO the
monitor Montauk, on which several per
sons charged with being implicated in
the conspiracy were then imprisoned
The body was laid on a bench near the
turrct of the vessel, and was seen by
many persons congregated on the wharf,
no person being permitted TO 60 on
board. \ post norton examination was
made 10y Surgeon General Barnes and
Surgeon Todd, the latter attached 10 the
Mun,auk, and two of the verlebr;e be-
tween which the fatal bali had passed
were removed No other portions OF lie
body were removed, and the rumors that
it was decapitateI. and the heart taken
out, &c. are without the slightest found
alion in fact.
About , T. NJ the remains were
wrapped IN an ordinary gray blanket of
the description u>el in the army, and
removed to small boat, in which was
one of the off ,crS of the Montauk, Gen
erll l.. {. Baker, and two detectives and
four sailors The little craft, propelled
by the sturdy arms OF the seamen, pro-
ceeird down the Anacostia river. OF, as
it is frequently termed, the Eastern
Branch, and stopped at the lower arsen-
ii wharf. and The boat then returned TO
the monitor. General Baker and the le
tectiyes remaining. Some Of the en-
ployes at the arsenal observed the corpse
living upon the wharf, AMI made some
inquiries concerning in but their sus-
picions were diSarmed bz the statement
that il was the body nf soldier who
had been accidentally drowned. The
identity Of the remains was nearly di>cov-
cred, however. Il short time af,erwarl
10y two men who hal occasion II move
them. and in doing 80 GOT blood upon
their hands. which aroused their suSpi-
cions. They made several inquiries, but
were ordered 10 keep quiet a. 10 the mat
ter, and wisely followed this advice
Shortly after sunset preparations were
made for the intermemi of the body ; Sec
rotary Stanton. General DYER, chief OF
ordnance Colonel Benton. commandam
of the post. and General Baker and sey-
eral detectives being present The ser
vices of three lsborer> were secured. and
IN attempt was made 10 di. a grave in
one OF the penitentiary cells. but after re-
moving the bricks it WIS found imprac-
ticablc 10 penetrate the granite toumda-
ton except al the expense Ot no little
time and labor. The ueXt place fixed
upon WIS a spot IN the wardrUom of the
penitcntiIrv. about two wards from the
iron door leading from the warlcn'- room
INTO the prison y grave ten feet in
depth WAS cNcavated. and the body. en-
closed IN AN arms box, ui the description
IN which muskcts are PACKED. WIS
brought into the apartment bv sergeant
and four men ot' the ordnance corps. and
lowered into the grave. which MAS soon
filled up. The bricks OF the floor which
had been removed were carefully replac-
ed, and the surplus earth removed. after
which the windows were securely ta>ien-
81 with boards and the door locked The
KEY WAS taken by Secretary Stanton.
who deposited ii i'll the War Department.
where 1t was retained until a few weeks
ago, when Ii WAS gwen up 10 the officers
OF the arsenal. Tie remains of Booth.
Mrs. Surrati. Atzerodt. Wirz. Pavne. and
lla. old now rtpo>e in common grave.
and it Is not probable that they will ever
be surrendered 10 their relatives.