The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1909-02-12
ASSASSINATION OF
ABRAHAM LINCOLN
Centenary Anniversary Brings
Forward Tragic Event.
Account of Assassination From New
York Herald Printed the Day After
Its Occurrences lnte resting Relic
of Forty Four Years Ago.

This being the centennial anniversary
OF the birth of Abraham Lincoln has
brought out many things in connection
with his name. The Gazette has been
permitted to peruse a copy of The New
York Herald, bearing date Saturday.
April Is, 1865-the day after the assas-
sination of Lincoln. 1t is the property
OF j. l.. Irwin of this city and is in a
good state of preservation. The paper
is in mourning, the column rules on the
first page being inverted. This copy is
interesting from two veiwpOints-one
telling of the crime OF the assassination
and the attempt on the life Of Secretary
Seward, and the other noting the change
in journalism from that date to this 1t
is hardly conceivable that only A years
could or would bring about such a radi-
cal change as has taken place in this re-
gard. Whether the change has been for
the best many people will question. The
Herald OF. that date is devoid of the SEN
satiOnal headings that now atfiict most
OF the daily papers Of the land, and the
news, even the assassination of Lincoln,
is given in condensed form, quite in con-
trasU with the padded and voluminous
forms OF presenting things now. The
whole story OF the assassination and the
attempt on the life of Seward is told in
four columns, with editorial comment of
less than third Of column. Such an
event now would fill pages, with head
lines only surpassed by a circus poster,
with editorials Of corresponding length.
James Gordon Bennett the elder was
then editor Of the Herald.
News from the seat OF war fills several
columns of the Herald, although at that
time the rebellion was what might be
called on it's last legs, Lincoln had pro-
posed terms to Jeff Davis, which the
latter was 10th to accept. Richmond
had been evacuated, but Davis had
issued his last proclamation, announc-
ing that Virginia would be held at all
hazards. But that is all matter OF
history.
Let us take from the Herald the irst
accounts OF the assassination of Lincoln
and how it was received by the American
people.
Assassination of Lincoln.
Washington, April IA, 1865 Wash
ingtOn was thrown into an intense ex-
citement few minutes before III O'Clock
this evening by the announcement that
the president and Secretary Seward had
been assassinated and were dead
The widest excitement prevailed in all
parts of the city. Men, women and chill
dren, old and young, rushed to and fro,
and the rumors were magnifed until we
had nearly every member of the cabinet
killed. Some time elapsed before authen-
tic data could be ascertained in regard
TO the affair.
The president and Mrs Lincoln were
at FOrd's Theater listening to the per-
formance of The American Cousin" oc-
cupying a box in the second tier. At
the close of the third act person entered
the box occupied by the president and
shot Mr.. Lincoln in the head. The shot
entered the back of his head and came
out above the temple.
The assassin then jumped from the box
upon the stage and ran across to the