Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-10-25
A National Tragedy Recalled.


The tragic ending of Mrs. Surratt and the
others charged in the assassination of
President Lincoln-Payne, Atzerodt and
Herold-was wildly brought to my mind
during a recent visit in the United States
Arsenal in this city. The conspiratorS were
launched into eternity from roughly con-
Structed ScatfOld, just tWenty-four years
ago. on the same spot where the Third Al
tIl1ery Band now gives its forenoon and
evening concerts. Of course many changes
have taken place since the execution. The
buildings, which were then used for the
the manufacture of munitions OF war, nave
been remodeled, and are now used tor bar
racks by several companies OF artillery,
while the grounds, which were then used
for the storage of shetland shell, have been
converted into a succession of lovely, I'M
dulating lawns.
One of the buildings, understanding
structure, which is designated as the 'Post
Library" contains the relics that brought
so wildly to my mind the execution OF the
relics is the identical scaffold beam from
which the culprits were suspended and be,
meath this are four large photographs OF
the execution, taken on the spot by Brady,
the famous wartime photographer. The
beam is an unwieldy-l0oking piece OF pine
timber, fully fifteen feet in length and
nearly two feet thick. 1t occupies posi-
ton on top of two bookcases, and has been
somewhat sliced in places by relic hun
tiers. The artillery man in charge of the
library did not evidently regard tine beam
as of much consequence. He said that it
was in the way, and that as it had been
thoroughly seasoned by twenty-four years
stay indoors, it would make excellent
kindling wood. I remarked to the practi-
cal soldier that the better place for the
beam and photographs would be one of the
great Government museums up town, but
he still adhered to his kindlingWood pro-
position.
The pictures are no less curiosities than
the beam. The first represents the prison
ers after they have mounted the scaffold.
Mrs. Surratt is sitting down, and her face
is concealed from view by an umbrella in
the hands of an army officer, who is con-
siderately shielding her from the rays of a
fierce July sun. The male prisoners are
standing, and tough-loOking lot they are
AtZerOdt, the German, is perhaps the
roughest-looking member OF the trio. lie
is in his shirt-sleeves and bare-footed,
while his full beard and hair are long and
unkempt. His face wears savage, don t.
care expression, and his general demeanOr
reminds one of a tiger at bay The other
two men are in their shirt-sleeves, but they
look bit more presentable than their
Teutonic confederate. On the scaffold are
number of army officers and two men i'll
civilian dress. On the surrounding wall
and SWard are drawn up attachments OF
troops, ugh-and-ready- looking fellows,
who look as though they have just return
ed from active duty at the front. They
have their muskets, with fixed bayonets at
'order arms" and appear to be ready for
any emergency. The second photograph
shows the reading of the death warrant
and the tall form of an officer who looks
for all the world like General Hancock.
In picture No. most of the officers have
descended from the scaffold and four SOL
diers are busy adjusting the white caps
about the heads of the four unfortunates.
. The last picture was taken after the drop
had fallen. The four bodies are dangling
ing the air, The scaffold is deserted and
many of the surrounding soldiers have
turned their faces away from the dreadful
sight. The photographs are so realistic
that I almost imagined l was standing
there Oh that sultry July day, twenty-four
years ago, in the very shadow of that grim
pine scaffold.
In an obscure corner of the Soldiers Ma
tional Cemetery, just outside of Alexan-
dria, Va, is another reminder and relic of
the Lincoln assassination. 1t is roughly
constructed monument Of wood, Of about
eight feet high, painted brown and sanded
in imitation of sandstone. On its front is
this inscription: