Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-04-18
FIFTY YEARS AGO
IN THE STAR

Washington celebrated the surrender
Of Lee and the practical end OF the re-
bellion on the night
Lncoln's Last Of April IL. 1866.
Public Speech. Of citizens at the
White House which filled the grounds
In front of the mansion. The Presi-
dent made q speech to the throng,
which was his last public utterance and
which outlined his idea Of the vast
mode Of reconstruction The Star Of
April II paid the following tribute to
Mr. Lincoln:
by what we can hear of the popular
feeling, we Judge that the visit to the
White House tonight by the people
will partake very much Of the char
acter of an ovation to the President
from the numbers and visible enthusi-
asm of those preparing to be in at
tendance. The grand traits Of Mr.. Lin
coins character. his magnanimity. pa
thence, firmness, sagacity and humanity
developed so conspicuously through the
trying ordeal of the times, have won
for him an amount Of personal regard
in this community that is apt to de-
yelop itself upon any and every oppor-
tunfty and which will have an exceed
ingly appropriate one tonight
The assassination Of President Lin
coin occurred on the night of Friday.
April IA, and the news
Inauguration Of the tragedy fills the
columns Of The Star of
ol SonnsoA' the day following. An
extra edition issued early in the morn
ing announced the Presidents death.
which occurred at 1922 am. later
edition gave the news Of the inaugura-
ton Of Andrew johnson as President
In his rooms at the Kirkwood House.
which stood on the northeast corner of
Pennsylvania avenue and 18th street.
The oath was administered at 10 o'clock
by Chief Justice Chase in the presence
Of Secretary Mccullough of the Treas
ury, Attorney General Speed. F. P.
Blair, Montgomery Blair. Senators
Foot of Vermont. Ramsey Of Minnesota.
Yates of Illinois, Stewart Of Nevada
and Hale Of New Hampshire and Gen.
Farnsworth of Illinois. The Star re.
ports President Johnson's inaugural
|
The duties of the office are mine:
will perform them-the consequences
are with God. Gentlemen. l shall lean
upon you: I feel that I shall need your
support. am deeply impressed with
responsibility Of the duties of the Of
fee am assuming"
In addition to the general account OF
the assassination of the President,
which was made up
Scene in the chiefly of the Official an
nouncements of Secre-
1neater. tary Stanton in the form
Of kilograms to Gen. John A. Dix in
New York. The Star carried in its final
edition of April Is an account Of the
tragedy written by one who was pres
emit at Ford's Theater at the time, in
part. as follows:
while the play Of Our American
Cousin was in progress, and in a part
of the third act, where the scene is
set in the front part Of the stage and
only single performer was on. the
sharp report of pistol was heard in
the direction of the stage. to the right
OF the audience. and from it's elevation
appeared to come from the range OF
the theatrical wardrobe room, or car
penter's shop. in the same story, and
therefore attracted no particular at
tention until a person was seen to
by the President. who stepped upon
that portion of the balcony rail COW
cred by the blue portion of the Ameri-
can flag with which the box front was
draped. On mounting to the front of
the box he raised his right hand. -four
ishing a dagger In theatrical style. and
in the same style uttering the words.
Sic semper tyrannis!' At the same
time he sprang to the stage and on
striking 1t seemed a little staggered
by the conclusion. but. rising almost
instantly to his feet, ran across the
stage to the prompt side. first entrance.
and disappeared behind the scenes.
THE suddenness of the affair and
the moment from the Presidents box
caused a feeling OF bewilderment on
the part of the audience and of misap-
prehension as to the nature of the
fact that the stage in front of the scene
was comparatively unoccupied. gave
the assassin some start Of his pursu-
ers which he duly improved
THE piercing screams OF Mrs. Lin
coin following gave the awful assur-
ance that terrible
Disclosure of tragedy had been enact
r,o-su ed and Immediately the
Ai@seuy' cry was raised that the
President had been shot. The scene
which followed Is beyond the power OF
adequate description. The entire dra-
MATHS personnae rushed to the front OF
the stage. Almost the entire audience
r,lshed in the same direction while