Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 44, Number 157, 15 April 1919 — Page 11

PAGE ELEVEN Fifty-Fourth Anniversary of Assassination of Lincoln Recalls Visit of Funeral Train r Wayne County, in Common vith Entire Nation, More Than Half Century Ago, Mourned Death of War President- Every Page of Richmond Newspapers During Two Weeks Between Shooting in Ford's Theatre in Washington and Passing Through Richmond of Funeral Train Filled With Eulogies and Tributes to Immortal Lincoln. i . ( v fill' ) ,. '-.y ; , n x jt

THE RICHMOND PALLADIUM AND SUN-TELEGRAM TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 1919.

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TABLEAU STAGED HERE Diary of Benjamin Johnson Gives Interesting Details of Visit to Car Containing Body of Martyred President and Ceremonies at Station -Salvo of Artillery receives Cortege at Cambridge City Governor Morton and Staff Accompany Remains Into Richmond 2,000 Centerville Residents Meet Train Lewisville Distributes Eulogistic Pamphlets.

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By ROSCOE FLEMING

l'TY-FOUR years ago today, on April 15, 1865, the entire nation wus cast from joy over the triumphant ending of the Civil War, into deepest 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 Sunday 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 tho dead President to its final resting place at Springfield. Celebrated Fall of Richmond. Only a few days before, in common with the whole North, the city and county had celebrated the fall of Richmond, V'a., the capital of the confederacy, and the surrender of Lee's army, in a manner which can only be compared 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 Stripes were again about to float over a. united country. Rejoicing and hope and optimistic foresight of the future made the radiant spring days glorious. When the saddening news was received, Richmond as reflected in the pages of her newspapers, was preparing heartily to obey Governor Morton's proclamation setting aside April 20 as a day of rejoicing. With the news of the President's death, the proclamation was changed to make April 20 a day of mourning. Sympathize with Widow. Second only to the grief of the na

tion at its loss, was the sentiment of sympathy and pity for the lonely widow of the White House, who was sitting by her husband's side at Ford's opera house at 10 o'clock the night of April 14, 1S65, enjoying the play with him, tho night the President was shot. At 7:30 o'clock in the morning following, she was told that he was dead. Willie Lincoln, the President's devoted 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 w .s raised and went with that of his father to Springfield for burial. Upon the receipt of the news on April 15, say3 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 tho afternoon a large meeting of all citizens assembled at Starr Hall. Lewis Uurk was chairman of this beetirg, and L. D. Stubbs was elected secretary. Prayer was offered by the Rev. A. Aten, and a committee to draft resolutions of sorrow was appointed, consisting of Jesse P. Slddall.

George Holland, Daniel B. Crawford, John Yaryan and William G. Scott. While the comimttee retired, speeches were made by the Rev. M. Chapman, Col. Kickle, and John II. Popp. On April 19, the day of the funeral at Washington, the city mourned at three great mass meetings. At the Presbyterian church, the Rev. W. C. Chapman delivered a sermon, which the Palladium printed In full. His text was from Chronicles: "And llezrklah slept with his fathers, and they burled him in the chiefest of the sepulchres of the sons of David, and all Judah and the inhabitants of JerusaBalem did him honor at his death." Other mass meetings were held at St. Paul's church, and the No. 3 Engine 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 Weekly Telegram and the Indiana True Republican, seemed printed in tears during that tragic two weeks between the death and the burial at Springfield. Whole black-bordered pages were devoted 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 fc-ith the President's assassination by,

Scene at the death bed of President .Lincoln shows: (1) Secretary Welles, (2) Secretary Stanton, (3) Dennison, (4) Charles Sumner, (5) Surgeon General Barnes, (6) Robert Lincoln, (7) General Halleck, (8) Hay, (9) General Meigs. Below, the suit worn by Lincoln when he was assassinated, the chair he sat in , when shot and the house where he died.

Above, a recently discovered print of a Lincoln Indignation meeting held at Bloomlngton, April 25, 1865. The Lincoln funeral train as it appeared May 3, and William Porter, the last survivor of the Lincoln train crew.

one of them, all this was changed. Several lynchings occurred, and rough treatment was a common incident. Everyone In Richmond was interested In the thrashing administered to a sturdy young copperhead, near Eaton by Charles Larsh, a man of eighty, and a veteran of 1S12. It was not until April 24, that Governor Morton returned from the Washington ceremonies, and announced

! that the funeral train would pass

through to Indianapolis. Instantly the town prepared fitting ceremonies to receive the train. Scores of people who are yet living, and who as young men and women or children, formed part of the vast throng that woke at 2 o'clock to the tolling of the bells, and went down to the station to pay the last rites of respect to Lincoln, hold the passing of the funeral train through Richmond among their dearest memories. Benjamin Johnson, a young man at that time, recorded the entire occurrence in his diary. Many other members of the elder generation remember some of the events of the night, but their memories have dimmed in fifty-four years, and very few remember much except the crowd and the feeling of oppressive sorrow that prevailed throughout the entire throng. At 11 o'clock on the evening of Saturday, April 29, Governor Morton and his staff arrived in Richmond, stayed a few minutes, then proceeded eastward to the state line to meet the funeral train The gubernatorial party accompanied the train across the state, conducted the ceremonies at Indianapolis, where the body remained all day Sunday, and went to the Illfnols state line a3 a guard of honor. "At two o'clock on Sunday morning last," says the account in the Palladium, of May 6, 1865, "the bells of the city were tolled as a signal to the people that the mortal remains of President Lincoln were about to arrive here. In a very few minutes, almost the entire population of the city filled the open space in the vicinity of the railroad station where the funeral cortege was to halt. A special train had arrived here shortly before midnight, bearing the governor, officers of tho stat9 government, members of the legislature, the military authorities, clergymen, and members of the press, which went forward to meet the funeral train at the state line. Pilot Engine Arrives. "At 3 o'clock the pilot engine arrived, followed in a few minutes by the train bearing the remains of the

President, and, amid a silent, weeping, uncovered assemblage of thousands, and the notes of bands of music, the funeral car halted by the side of the passenger depot. The train consisted of nine cars, all draped in emblems of sorrow, the car containing the remains of the President and his

son, Willie, being next to the last car. "A committee of ladies of our city, consisting of Mrs. S. R. Lippincott, Mrs. Nannie Vaughn, and Mrs. Annie E. Vaughn, had prepared two beautiful wreaths of flowers, which, by permission obtained of General Hooker, were deposited on the coffins of the President and his son. The larger wreath bore in black letters, on a badge of white satin, the motto: 'Oh, Lincoln, friend of liberty, A nation mourns in grief for thee.' "The other wreath was of spring flowers in honor of Willie Lincoln, and bore the sentiment: 'Like the early morning flower, he was taken from our midst.' "At tho west end of the depot, opopsite the warehouse of James McKinney and son, an arch was erected, spanning the railroad track, 25 feet wide and 30 feet high. The pillars were gorgeously decorated with flags intertwined with evergreens and ornamented with red, white and blue lights. Tableau is Staged. "At the base of the arch a staging was thrown across, on which was arranged a cojgn, trimmed with black velvet, by the side of which a young lady, Miss Mary McClelland, representing the Goddess of Liberty, stood weeping, while on either side were two boys representing a soldier and a sailor. "Above this tableau the arch was raised, supporting a flagstaff bearing

a beautiful flag, draped, and surrounded by elaborate decoration of evergreens, the whole illuminated by colored glass lanterns. Henry Cull represented the soldier, and Charlie Zimmerman the sailor. The arch was erected by Abe Brandt, esquire, assisted by L. Huntzleman, Ed Palmer and others. "After remaining half an hour, the funeral train moved away to the music of a solemn dirge." At Cambridge City, the funeral train was received with a slavo of artillery and the burning of Bengal lights. Three thousand people participated in a demonstration in honor to the dead president there. At Centerville, at 3:24 a. m. 2,000 people met the train. At both towns, arches similar to the one at Richmond were erected. At Lewisville there was distributed through the train a sentiment tastefully printed, reading: We mingle our tears with yours, LINCOLN The Savior of his country the Emancipator of a Race and the Friend of ALL MANKIND Triumphs over death and mounts Victoriously upward with his old familiar tread. The body remained at Indianapolis all day Sunday, being in state in the Capitol building, and was taken in a memorial procession through Indianapolis. As the lights of the departing train moved west into the misty morning, the bells of the churches and the city fire tower tolled farewell, and the great crowd that had gathered to pay honor to the martyr President went sorrowfully about the duties of the day. Diary Tell of Train. Benjamin Johnson, who was then a young business man of Richmond, was keeping a diary in 18C55, and re-

corded his day-by-day impressions of

the great events of the close of the Civil War. Following is his account of the passing of the funeral train. "At 3:30 o'clock the train of cars arrived bearing the remains of our lamented Abraham Lincoln. The bells were tolled at 2 o'clock, and a great body of citizens collected at the depot to view the passing train. It was a solemn occasion and one long to be remembered. The cars were draped in mourning, and the next to the last bore the mortal remains. It was a beautiful car and handsomely decorated. The band played solemnly. I have many times wished to see see the face of the deceased, but now I know that my wish cannot be granted." Two weeks later he wrote: "Many men while talking of the

death of the President shed tears." ,In telling of the reception of the news of the death of the President his diary says: "All places of business are closed and the streets draped in mourning. A large meeting was held at Starr hall." "News this morning of the surrender of Gen. Lee to Gen. Grant," says the diary only a few days earlier. "Great rejoicing, no work going on, all stores closed." The death of Abraham Lincoln brought to the nation perhaps the greatest and saddest tragedy in its history. The Civil War veterans were returning home much as our heroes are returning today. The president faced the hardest problems of his administration, those of restoring the south and cementing the good-will of the two sections. Regardless of the bitter feeling of many fanatics toward him and of the personal danger he was in he often refused to use his body guard, and they sometimes followed him much against his wishes. There was only one with him the night of his assassination. John Wilkes Booth who was born on a farm in Hartford county, Md., near Baltimore in 1839, and who had made his debut on the stage as Richmond in "Richard III." at the St. Charles theater, Baltimore shot President Lincoln at Ford's theater, Washington, D. C, at 10:20 o'clock, on Friday evening, April 14, 1865. The President was carried from the theater across the street to the house of Mr. William Petersen, and he passed away there at 7:22 o'clock the following morning, April 15, 1865. Keene Star of Evening Booth had entered the theater just as the third act of "Our American Cousin" had commenced, the star of the evening being Miss Laura Keene. Booth escaped, but was finally tracked to a barn belonging to a man named Garratt, near the town of Bowling Green, Caroline county, Va. His pursuers were twenty-eight men of the Sixteenth New York cavalry, under Lieutenant Col. Everton J. Conger of

Ohio. After Booth had refused to surrender, the barn was set on fire by Colonel Conger, who lighted a rope of straw and thrust it inside the barn on top of a little pile of hay in a corner. Although Booth knew that either death or surrender was inevitable, he obstinately refused to come out of the barn, and, leaning upon his crutch for his leg had been injured while jumping from the President's box to the stage of the theater was in the act of taking aim at one of the pursuing soldiers, who were stationed so as to command every point of observation, when Lieutenant Dougherty, seeing Booth's move ordered Sergt, Boston Corbett to fire on Booth, which he did with telling effect. Feeling Is Intense Indignation and horror, the like of which has never since been exhibited in this country, swept over ther north when the intelligence was flashed to every 6tate that Lincoln's death had followed soon after the bullet was fired. It is impossible for the present generation to realize the intensity of

public feeling of a half century ago. A series of indignation meetings was held, one of the most notable being that in Bloomington, on April 25, 1865. This gathering was held upon the court house square. Thousands of people assembled from central Illinois points. The speakers were the famous spellbinders of that era and included Jesse Pell, the closest friend of Lincoln; David Davis, afterward chief justice of the supreme court; Judge Lawrence Weldon and others. A photographer, fortunately, secured a negative of the scene and this was recently discovered after a lapse of a half century. The famous funeral train, which conveyed the body from Washington to Springfield, 111., was also photographed. The train was pulled by one of the old-time wood burning locomotives with the enormous smoke stacks of the pioneer days. Of the crew that handled the train between Chicago and springfield over the Chicago and Alton, one brakeman, William S. Porter, of Jerseyville, yet survives. Porter was a soldier of the Civil Wrar but

was mustered out in the fall of 1864 and secured a position as trainman. He was assigned to the Lincoln funeral train. He recalls that the catafalque car was fitted up especiall for the purpose, all of the Beats being removed. The corpse of Lincoln was placed upon a pyramid in the center of the car and a railing erected around it. Thousands view the body in this car at points where the funeral train wa3 stopped. A guard of honor from New York city accompanied the body and rode in a following train. Elaborate precautions were taken to prevent delays and accidents. Pilot engines were sent ahead, all switches were spiked and all other trains ordered to sidings one hour ahead of the funeral train. On the evening of May 2, the special left Chicago for Springfield, arriving at the latter city about noon of May 3. At every station, it appeared as if the entire populace had assembled to witness the movement of the funeral special. The demonstration furnished one of the most remarkable incidents in ths history of the nation.

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