The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-04-15

FhAN nation was cast from Joy
40 over the triumphant ending
tesEf. OF the Civil War, into deep
cxX25 est sorrow by the tragic
and shockingly sudden
death of President Abra-
ham Lincoln. and nowhere was the
sorrow and dismay deeper than in the
loyal town of Richmond and county of
Wayne.
Two weeks later, at 2 o'clock Sun
day morning, April 30, the city awoke
as one person and went down to the
station to witness the passing through
OF the funeral train, bearing the body
OF the dead President to its final rest
ing place at Springfield.
Celebrated Fall of Richmond.
Only few days before, in common
with the whole North, the city and
county had celebrated the fall of Rich
mond, Va, the capital Of the confeder-
acy, and the surrender of Lees army,
in manner which can only be COM
pared to the signing of the armistice
last November. The great war, which
for four years had hung like night
over the thoughts of every American.
was over. and President Lincoln was
quoted as saying that the Stars and
a united country. Rejoicing and hope
and optimistic foresight Of the fu-
ture made the radiant spring days
glorious.
When the saddening news was re-
ceived, Richmond as reflected in the
pages of her newspapers, was prepar-
ing heartily to obey Governor Nor
tons proclamation setting aside April
20 as day of rejoicing. With the
news of the Presidents death, the
proclamation was changed to make
April 20 day of mourning.
Sympathize with Widow
Second only to the grief of the ma
ton at it's loss, was the sentiment of
sympathy and pity for the lonely
widow of the White House, who was
sitting by her husbands side at Ford's
opera house at 10 o'clock the night Of
April IA, 1866, enjoying the play with
him. the night the President was shot.
At 1880 o'clock in the morning follow
ing, she was told that he was dead.
Willie Lincoln, the Presidents de-
voted son, had died in Washington
some time before, and it was the wish
of Mrs. Lincoln that the two be buried
side by side at Springfield. So the
body of Willie VS. raised and went
with that of his father to Springfield
for burial.
Upon the receipt of the news on
April Is, says one Of the Richmond
newspapers, of that date, all business
was suspended, stores and shops were
closed, flags displayed at half mast,
bells tolled, and the doors of business
places and private residences hung
with mourning. In the afternoon a
large meeting of all citizens assem-
bled at Starr Hall.
Lewis Burk was chairman of this
beeting, and L. d. Stubs was elected
secretary. Prayer was offered by the
Rev. A. Aten, and a committee to
draft resolutions of sorrow was APP
pointed, consisting of Jesse P. Siddall.
George Holland, Daniel B. Crawford,
John Yaryan and William G. Scott
While the committee retired, speeches
were made by the Rev. NJ. Chapman,
Col. Bickle, and John II. Popp.
On April 10, the day of the funeral
at Washington, the city mourned at
three great mass meetings. At the
Presbyterian church, the Rev. w. {.
Chapman delivered a sermon, which
the Palladium printed in full. His
text was from Chronicles: And Hez-
ekiah slept with his fathers, and they
buried him in the chiefest of the sep
uchres of the sons of David, and all
Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusa-
salem did him honor at his death"
Other mass meetings were held at
st. Pauls church, and the No. 3 En-
CINE house on the south side. At this
meeting a resolution of mourning was
drawn up by a committee consisting
of John H. Popp, Joseph Martinschang
and Charles Leive. An address was
delivered in German by the Rev. M.
Koch.
Every page of the three Richmond
newspapers, the Palladium, the Week
" Telegram and the Indiana True Re-
publican, seemed printed in tears dur
ing that tragic two weeks between the
death and the burial at Springfield.
Whole black-bordered pages were de- |
voted to news and editorial comment
on the national tragedy.
Tolerance Turns to Hate.
Much tolerance had been shown to
southern sympathizers during the |
early days of that joyful spring, but |
with the Presidents assassination by !