Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 267, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 November 1914 — LECTURE REPORTED BY H. S. STUDENTS [ARTICLE]

LECTURE REPORTED BY H. S. STUDENTS

1 . —— * Commercial Students Take Down Lecture of Dr. Bancroft On the > Assassination of Lincoln. , >

Dr, T. D. Bancroft, 76 /ears-of age and a cultured gentleman, was an' eye witness of tlie assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, which occurred fifty years ago. Dr. Bancroft last Friday delivered his lecture on “The Worlds Greatest Tragedy” to pupils of the high school and the intermediate grades at the high school auditorium and Prof. C. A. Tindall had his commercial class in shorthand take down the lecture: Their work on the whole was ‘very commendable and from the reports afterward typewritten Prof. Tindall ■ briefed the following report of the lecture: Dr. Bancroft began his lecture by giving a vivid description of Ford’s theatre, Washington, D, C., as it appeared on the night that Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. He explained that the entrance of the theatre was at the rear and that the stairs leading to the gallery were against the rear wall. Also, at the rear of the theatre there was a door which opened directly into a saloon. The boxes were well to the front of the theatre and nearlyabove the stage. On this particular night the, left upper box was decorated with flags as Abraham Lincoln was going to attend the theatre that night. The war was over and everyone was proud of Abraham Lincoln, the man who had won the war for the north. Everyone was anxious to see him. The theatre was crowded as it had been advertised that the president would attend the performance that night. Mo-re people attended t<> see Lincoln than to see the show.

Mr.- Bancroft explained that he had a seat juSt outside the box opposite the president’s box. He was in a position to see everything as it happened. When it was time for the performance to begin, the president was not there. Two ex- ■ tra pieces of music were played. Finally the curtain Was raised and the first act was begun. More of the people were watching for Mr. Lincoln to appear than the show. The first act was finished and the second begun, Lincoln still absent. During this act the whole house cheered for the president when he appealed. The cry was “Mr. Lincoln, Mr. Lincoln.” The president came through the entrance followed by Mrs. Lincoln, then Miss Harris and finally by Mr. Bathbourne. Lincoln still leading, this train crowded its way up the stairs, along the side of the gallery until it reached the box. Then they seated themselves, Mr. Lincoln ir. the center of the group. For several.years there had been a man in Washington by the name of J. Wilkes Booth. He had formerly been an actor and had been successful. He had taken to drink and had since been a very disreputable character. At most any time of the day or night.he could be found in some part of the city, either drinking or drunken. On this particular night J. Wilkes Booth was not intoxicated. He might have been seen leading a horse, saddled and bridled, to an alley at the side of Ford’s theatre. He hired a boy to hold his horse near the stage entranec on the alley. Then Booth came into the theatre through the front door and upon entering the theatre walked into- the saloon. He soon left and ascended the steps to the gallery. He crowded his way to the front box. He quickly and quietly opened the door to the president's box and stepped inside. With him he carried a sort of cane, which he immediately fitted into a holfe which had been carved into the floor. This securely locked the door from the outside. Booth drew his pistol and advancing toward the president shot him in the back of the head. Immediately Mr. Bathbourne grappled with Booth and was cut by a dagger which the lab ter carried. Booth then jumped to the stage and, in alighting,' he sprained his ankle. He jumped up an<b~ crossed the stage irf long strides, brandishing the knife over his head. Then he turned and ran for the stage dopr, jumped into the alley, mounted his horse and rode away. Immediately it was known in the theatre that the president had been shot and that J. Wilkels Booth was the man who had shot him. IJir-rt came the task of getting Mr. Lincoln out of the theatre. Mr. Bancroft was instrumental in holding back the crowds until this was accomplished. He was removed to a room across the street. The crowd remained outside all night. After several hours a man announced that Mr. Lincoln was no better. Some time later he notified fyh<T Crowd that the president was sinking, ands at 7:20 a. m. that, he was dead.

The city of Washington w*as in deep mourning. Everyone was sorrowful. A division of the army in Washington at the time was given the tis kof finding Booth. For a week tne search was continued, with no success. Finally he was located in a barn across the Potomac river. He w*as ordered to surrender and upon his failure to do so was shot.’ He lived for a few moments. His body Was then carried to Washington. . Mr. Bancroft explained that It

had been his pleasure to detect several fakirs who were imposing a book entitled “The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln” upon the people. He w§jitß to warn the people of Rensselaer against such frauds. This lecture was heard and enjoyed by the high school pupils and the pupils! of the grammar school building.