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Rare Lincoln's assassination report, in a Washington, D.C. newspaper...
Rare Lincoln's assassination report, in a Washington, D.C. newspaper...
Item # 701647
April 15, 1865
EVENING STAR, Washington, D.C., April 15, 1865 Terrific to have this first report of Lincoln's assassination in a newspaper from the city where it happened.
The top of the front page has a column with heads: "ASSASSINATION OF THE PRESIDENT" "Attempted Murder Of Secretary Seward And Sons". The report begins: "Last evening at 10:30 p.m., at Ford's Theatre, the President, while sitting in his private box with Mrs. Lincoln...was shot by an assassin who suddenly entered the box. He approached behind the president. The assassin then leaped upon the stage...and made his escape by the rear of the theater. The pistol ball entered the back of the President's head. The wound is mortal. The President has been insensible ever since it was inflicted, and is now dying..." with much more detail.
Then another dispatch from 1 1/2 hours later begins: "The President still breathes but is quite insensible...He evidently did not see the person who shot him..." with more.
There are then several more reports with additional details, and the news reports carry over to pages 2 & 3 with heads: "Second Edition" Third Edition" and "EXTRA" with much more information. One report is headed: "The Death of The President" which begins: "At 22 minutes past seven o'clock the President breathed his last, closing his eyes as if going to sleep..." with much more detail, including an unusual minute-by-minute report of his condition up to the moment of death.
Other reports are headed: "Additional Details Of The Assassination" "Inauguration of Andrew Johnson As President of the United States!" "The Assassination of President Lincoln" "The Assassination - The Latest Particulars" which includes a "...diagram of the fatal ball that killed Mrs. Lincoln, taken from actual measurement showing its exact dimensions...".
Of special note: This newspaper, published at the corner of Pennsylvania Ave. and 11th Street, was just 1 1/2 blocks from Ford's Theatre! We can't imagine any notable event being published any closer to where the event happened than this one.
Also on the front page is a small advertisement reading: "Ford's New Theater - Tenth St. above Pennsylvania Ave. There Will Be No Performance At This Theater To Night."
Of wealth of more content than what is noted here, not surprising since this issue was published in Washington, D.C.
Complete in 4 pages, page 2 has archival strengthening to the top half of the vertical fold and a portion of the horizontal fold, generally in very nice condition.
Category: The Civil War
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