Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-05
To the Editor OF The Star:

To the Editor OF The Star:
Just twenty years ago a statement was
published by citizen of New York who
stated that he was the only living person
who witnessed the murder Of President
Lincoln.
In denial Of this and other misleading
statements in connection with that great
tragedy / wish to present the testimony
of a most successful and reputable bust
ness man of Washington. Mr.. Daniel
Ballauf. who was present at old Ford's
Theater the entire evening of the 14th
of April, 1865. and witnessed the dread
full tragedy. and was not only living
twenty years ago, but is today still con-
Quoting the manufacturing business he
established here in 1855
Mr.. Ballauf states that on the evening
Of April IA. 1865. he left his home, in
tending to go to some place Of amuse-
ment. and while walking down 7th street
northwest. near G he met a patent at
torney who said he ought to go to Ford's
Theater and see Laura keane in Our
to be present. He Immediately started
for the theater and was told there that
President Lincoln was also to be present
and would occupy box on the right
hand side Going In, he went upstairs
and took his seat at the extreme end of
the balcony. on the left-hand side, where
he directly faced the Presidents box.
Mr.. Ballauf states:
Saw Every Detail.
"I am sure there is no one. living or
dead, that saw more of the sad affair
than I did. sitting in the last seat oppo-
site the box occupied by President Abra-
ham Lincoln. his wife. another lady and
Mr.. Rathbone. I saw Booth enter the
box. holding in his right hand a dagger,
with which ne made stab at Mr.. Rath-
bone. while with his left hand he fired the
fatal shot. He then stepped over the
PROSTATE body Of the President. vaulted
over the rail. or front Of the box. let him
self down, supporting on his elbow. dag
ger In hand. He dropped to the stage,
stumbled backward two or three steps,
regafned an upright position and quickly
walked off to the back Of the stage. My
whole attention was on Booth from the
moment he entered the box until he was
out of sight. He never uttered a word,
not even Sic semper tyrannis,' which it
has been stated he uttered. It was as
still as a graveyard in the theater at the
time. Mrs. Lincoln broke the silence by
allng for water, which was brought by
Miss Laura Keane. People began jumping
onto the stage, and as some one was
handing the pitcher up to Mrs. Lincoln
some one behind me cried out: Put out
the gas. | left the theater. not needing
more warning. thinking there would be
more murder
n Business Here Nearly so Years.
Mr.. Ballauf began business at 731 It'll
treet in the fall of 1855 and has contin-
cd uninterruptedly for fifty-six years,
and there is but one other business man
n Washington that holds this record.
When he began business there was not
paved street in the city; not street car
line. and but two trains day out of
Washington from the old Baltimore and
ohio railway station. A Stagecoach line
ran from Georgetown to the navy yard,
and one to Marlboro. The Capitol was
not completed. and he has seen the con-
strtIction of nearly all of the public
I1iIdippS WASHINGTON TOpIIkN