The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-05-03
BURIAL OF BOOTH TAKES PLACE
AT NIGHT WITH GREAT SECRECY

rated from the escort and also lost
his way
The wagon broke down and much
time was lost securing another With
this Baker reached Potomac Creek.
only TO ind himself three miles below
the point at which he expected to meet
the steamer.
II was not possible TO strike across
country with the wagon. Baker hid
the body In the woods. and leaving
the negro TO guard IL. set out for aid.
He procured a small boat, and in this
rowed back TO where he left the body.
and putting 1t aboard the boat, rowed
IL TO the steamer. where Il was placed
on deck
The cavalry having arrived with its
prisoner. the boat set out for Wash
, ington.
Taken Away In a Boat.
Meanwhile Detective Conger had
reached Washington with the great
news that Booth had been taken. Gen.
Lafayette c. Baker. chief detective OF
the War Department Secret Service.
who had sent out the party which
trapped Booth-one OF many that were
searching for him-at once embarked
arrived at Alexandria with the body
late that evening.
By orders Of Sec. Stanton the steam
er proceeded at one TO the Washing
ton Navy Yard. and the body was
transferred TO the deck OF the monitor
Montauk. where II lay for the remain
der OF the night, under a marine
guard. Herold. in heavy irons. was
placed in the ships chain locker
The next morning an autopsy on
Booths body was held by Surg. Gen.
Joseph X. Barnes OF the United States
Army, and the body was Officially
Identified. DIR. J. r. May. a prominent
Washington physician who had treat
ed Booth for a carbuncle on the neck.
found the scar resulting from its re-
moval II was also Identified by other
persons who had known Booth.
The section OF the spine at the neck
through which the bullet had PASS
ed was removed and the body was
pronounced ready for burial. The
body was then placed IN two blank
cts, the edges Of which were sewn
together forming a bag. A young
woman who had known Booth, whom
some one OF the persons present AZ
the autopsy had smuggied aboard the
ship, when not observed cut the sew.
Alh near lne heaQs and cut on lock
OF the assassinis hair She was OBJ
served and Obliged 10 return Il 70 the
bag.
The commander Of the monitor had
orders 70 place the body IN a strong
boz, and navy yard carpenters vied
with each other IN driving a nail IN
the cohin Of the presidents murderer.
Before the boz was ready a small
boat was rOwed alongside the mont
tor ~ 2:45 D. m. Detectives Lafay-
cite G. Baker and Luther - Baker
quickly lifted the body over the ship
low side, into the boat. and before the
guard could interpose efectual objec-
ton, rowed away from the ship. head.
Ing their boat down the eastern
branch Of the Potomac.
ourteo Secreteiy 81 NIoht
The two detectives we're ACTING on
direct orders from the secretary Of
war. 70 take the body % q place where
~ 20 given secret burial
They roWed the boat around 10 thu
o. ulch the war COLLEGE now
stands, and up 20 a wharf near the
foot 81 -Four and a-Hhlf street. IN the
old arsenal grounds
y vas lifted out and placed an tbs
wharf. where u lay under guard Of a
seftry until night MeanWhile Mai
James q. Benton. commanding a. the
arsenal. received orders from secre-