Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-14
Assassination Occurred Forty
Years Ago Today.
DAY WAS ALSO FRIDAY
NO PUBLIC EXERCISES OF EVENT
IN THIS CITY.
Story of the Event a Familiar One
Memorial to Martyred President
Building Where He Died.

President Abraham Lincoln was assass-
mated at Ford's Theater forty years ago
today This is the first time for many years
the anniversary has occurred on Friday, the
day of the week on which the crime was
committed. While there are many different
forms of observance of the birthday of the
martyred President, as far as could be
learned today there will be no exercises
of any character to mark this anniversary
from other days. The month of April is i'm
portant in the history of the United States,
many events of vital significance having
taken place during this particular division
of the year. Both the revolution and the
civil war began during the month, and the
civil war closed and the assassination OF
President Lincoln occurred also in April.
OF the great events with the memory of
which the month Is associated Lexington
day the 10Th, and Lincoln day, the 14th
are probably the most important. The first
named date is always celebrated by one or
the other, and sometimes all, of the patri-
otto societies, but Lincoln day is rarely ever
observed, in this city, at least.
The story of the assassination of the
great war President is familiar to every
one, from the oldest citizen who remembers
clearly the exciting events about Easter,
1865. to the school children who have just
advanced to the study of American history.
All know how the President attended the
performance of Laura keene in our
night of April Il, Good Friday, and how,
during the intermission between the acts
John Wilkes Booth stole into the Presi-
dents box and shot him in the head.
The excitement which followed was I'M
like anything of the kind that has ever
occurred in the history of the country.
The calamity that had fallen the coun-
try seemed almost as great as that which
followed the firing on Forst Sumter.
Military Took Charge.
nl,o taI, Of
the city, and swift measures were taken to
bring the assassin to justice. OF his es-
cape and pursuit and final death history
shows clearly, but of the eight hours the
President lived after he received the fatal
wound there are few who know clearly.
The President was carried out of the thea
ter by members of his party and others
who had volunteered for the service. When
the party reached the sidewalk they were
at loss where to go. On the side of the
street where the theater was located there
were number of saloons, all of which
were In full blast, and on the other side
was row of residences. which were dark.
young man living on the top floor of
the house numbered 516, almost directly OPP
posite the theater, heard the commotion in
the street and opened the window. He
asked someone in the street what had
happened, and on learning ran down
stairs to the front door. He opened the
front door just as the bearers of the I'M
conscious president reached the middle of
the street, and seeing the open door, direct
ed their steps toward the house and carried
the wounded man into small room just
In the rear of the front hall. Here there
was found a bed, which the President
was placed, and where he remained I'M
til he died. This room is preserved in it's
original state and forms part of Lincoln
museum into which the house has been con-
verified. The furniture that was in the
room at the time of LincOln'S death was
sold before the present OCCUPANT of the
house, Capt. o. H. Oldroyd, took charge.
Captain Oldroyd spent many years in col
lecting relics and articles relating to the
martyred President, and he has a col
lection of over 1000 articles in the house.
The house was purchased by the govern
ment few years ago, and Captain Old
royd is permitted TO charge a small ad-
mission fee to those who would view the
premises.
Four Persons Living.
There are but four persons living who
were at the bedside of President Lincoln
when he died, a few minutes after O'Clock
on the morning of April 10. These are Sec
rotary John Hay, who was one of the Pres
ident's private secretaries Col. Robert T.
Lincoln, the Presidents oldest son; Dr.
Leal of New YORK, who a surgeon in
the army at the time, and Mr.. H. S. SAT-
ford of Springfield Mass. All of the dis
tinguished group about the bedside includ-
ing Secretary Stanton, Senator Sumner and
many others have passed away Mr.. SAT-
ford was employe of the ordnance de-
partment of the army and lived at the
house. He is at present living in Spring
field. Mass, and in describing the scenes at
the time of the Presidents assassination
and death said:
About 10 o'clock hearing an unusual
commotion In front of the house where l
was, went to the window and saw the
audience pouring out of the theater, panic
stricken When the bearers of the Presi-
dent had brought him nearly across the
street some one said Where can we take
him.? There was no response, and shouted
Bring him in here The President was
carried into the house, where he died.
Whoever said anything rejecting upon
Mrs. Lincoln's love for her husband would
not have done so had he witnessed the
scenes of that night. She was detained at
the theater after the President was taken
out on account of her nervous condition,
and when she reached the house she cried
frantically: Where is my dear husband?
Where is he; where is hep Though Mrs.
Lincoln had promised to be calm while in
the room, She gave way to her anguish
and was dragged from the bedside of the
sinking President by main force.
THAT night many of the most famous
men in the country passed in and out of
the small chamber in which LINCOLN lay dy-
ing. Graphic pictures have been drawn OF
the dcathbed scene surrounded by a group
of notables. There We're, however, only a
few present. those of greatest prominence
being Charles Sumner. Schuyler Cofax, At
torney General Speed. Hugh Mccullough,
Secretary Stanton, Postmaster General
Dennison, Gideon Welles. Secretary of the
Navy, and Lincoln's son Robert, then a
beardless youth.
Mr.. Stafford has several interesting SOU
venirs. One is a piece of white lace torn
from Mrs. Lincoln's scarf Another is a
iCck of the Presidents hair cut from about
the wound The most treasured relic is one
of the two-cent pieces placed upon the
Presidents eyes to close them. Mr.. Stafford
said that relic hunters became trouble
some that the owner of the house in which
President Lincoln died was obliged to
charge a small admission fee to protect
himself. and that in spite of the utmost
care the carpet and the furniture of the
room were literally hacked to pieces by