Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-11-15
J. WILKES BOOTH.
A Canadian Antiquarian Has His
Stage Garments
SHIPPED IN THE MARC VICTORIA
And Lost in the Wrsck-Hs Was Sending
Them Scutn BY Way Of Canada, Expecting
to Use Them There II Be Had Escaped
Ris Pursu,rs Aftsr Shooting Lincoln.
A Plausible Story.

MONTREAL, November 14-Antiquarlan
w. w. Snaith has obtained conclusive evil
dence that trunks found on the schooner
Marc Victoria, which was wrecked at Bic
in the autumn of 1864, were the property OF
J. Wilkes Booth, the assassin OF President
Lincoln.
During the autumn several trunks mark
ed -. w. B. New Providence were ship
ped on board the schooner Marc Victoria at
Quebec. How they reached Quebec or by
whom they were shipped or where tne yes
sci was bound for, or In what mission, IS
enveloped IN mystery but the Marc Victoria
sailed from the port of Quebec without 60
ing through the usual formalities OF clear
ing at the Custom House. for her name
does not appear among the shipping records
at that port. thereby giving good GROUNDS
for the suspicion that the service sne was
engaged in demanded secrecy.
After events gave proof Of this and leo
to the belief that the intended TO run the
blockade of the South or make for the Ba-
bamas, but this schooner was wrecked at
Bic about $50 miles below Quebec.
From these precautions 1t would appear
that Booth in anticipation of the murder
of Lincoln, had secretly sent his theatrical
wardrobe through Canada and had it ship
ped from a Canadian port in expectation
of finding it to hand in one OF the southern
States when he had succeeded in the object
which he had in view and that the con-
| spiracy to assasinate President Lincoln
! was calculated months before.
| During the following summer (lS65) there
appeared in the Quebec Morning Chronicle
Of July II, an advertisement stating that on
| the following day there would b9 sold AT
auction certain effects landed IRON the
| steamer Marc Victoria, consisting OF dry
| goods, theatrical costumes, swords ana
various other articles. Snaith was engaged
in business in Quebec at the time and hav'
ing penchant for the collection OF relics
and other curios attended the place and
purchased variety of things.
George Rankin also purchased q variety
of things from the stock Of articles offered
for sale. it was thought at the time for ms
brother, Mckee Rankin, the actor. The
following notice of sale appeared in the
Chroniclc of June 10, 1868: The theatrica
wardrobe of the late John Wilkes Booth
recovered about month ago from tht
wreck of the schooner Marc Victoria, a.
Bic last autumn, was disposed or by dc
cree of the Admiralty Court By puOh'
auction yesterday forenoon
Amongst the wardrobe which un[or
tunately has been injured by salt water
there was a splendid collection o
tleaIrlCdl ClOUucS III lllC ollh 'Ci'Sesp' oAAnS
satins. ermine and crimson and also hats
! CAPS, plumes, boots, shoes. etc. IL swords
adG pFaIoIs there was case or trunk
pas!S With large;, yfIeiy nHd 'ep' np
among them. Competition on the Who'll,
was very spirited ana several article!
were sold at high prices. The amoun
realized Cor the wardrobe in its damaged
state was about $500. The original cosI
cannot have been less than $4,000"