The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-09-10
Knoxville sentineD

Back In the little Kentucky noun
tain town OF Hazard, lives one OF tn
two persons known to be living out 3
the 1900 who were in Fords theate
fifty-fiv years ago when Abraham
Lincoln was assassinated by Joh
Wilkes Booth. He IL d. c. Richards
Dad" Richards to everybody VIII
knows him, who in his younger day
| was q reporter in Knoxville and
correspondent from this city to news
7 papers In various states. He Is nov
an accountant and although 70 year
| old 10 vigorous and active at least II
spirit as the best OF them.
The other living witness OF the ira.
gedy that shocked the world Is VII.
liam J. Ferguson, actor who was ir
the caste OF Our American Cousin,
the comedy being played on the fatal
night, and who still is appearing on q
stage on Broadway.
When Mr.. Richards was l6 years
old his father. at that time manager
OF a large rolling mills company in
Pennsylvania, decided to take him to
Washington. His father had taken an
active interest in politics and had
stumped the iron and coal districts
or Pennsylvania for President Lincoln
In his second race and was a great
admirer Of the president. He told his
son that he wanted him to see Abra-
ham Lincoln and that he could ar
range for him to shake hands with
the president.
Story Of the Tragedy
The following is Mr.. Richards story
OF what happened:
ION the morning>of the 14th day Of
April, 1865, father and / entered the
city OF Washington. There was much
excitement, men throwing up their
hats, bands playing. soldiers march
ing, SO that it was impossible to reach
the ears Of the proper officials to ar
range to see the president on that day.
1.-THE Civil War was just ended and
the people Of Washington were parad-
ing the streets with flags and bunt-
ings. and every building was decor
ated with the Stars and Stripes. The
president was busy In consultation
with his cabinet and officials, and we
found that 1t was utterly impossible
to see him on that day and we de-
cided to wait another day.
I'VE bought an afternoon paper and
read that President Lincoln would be
at Ford's theater, occupying the pres
ident's box on that night. Father said
to me, We will at least get to see the
president at the theater II we can get
tickets 1t was the first time that
either had ever been in a theater and
the price of the tickets. bought
through scalpers, was $3.50 each. a
big sum in the eyes of father, who
often spoke of II afterward.
I'VE reached Ford's theater long be-
fore the time for the doors to open,
having to stand in line. Everybody.
those who lived in Wash
ington, was speaking Of the new play.
to be produced for the first time, The
American Cousin but the strangers
and visitors like ourselves seemed to
be more interested In expecting to OBJ
tain q glance at the president.
Cheer az Lincoln Bowed.
"After being shown to our seats
about tho center OF the auditorium 1t
was not long before the orchestra be-
gan playing Hail to the Chief and the
whole audience rose to their feet as the
entered his box. walked to the
front and bowed to the right and then
10 the left, can see him now. for 1t
made a deep impression on my mind. he
stood at the front of the box slightly
stopped and holding the 'stovepipe' hat
in his right hand while the audience
cheered.
las soon as the president had taken
MS seat, the curtain was raised and the
play began. II went smoothly for at
east fifteen minutes or more; the stage
was cleared and there was a pause; II
seemed that there was a break IN the