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Lincoln Assassination: Most Extensive Eyewitness Account Extant. ...
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Lincoln Assassination: Most Extensive Eyewitness Account Extant. Eleven-page letter written by W. Martin Jones, Washington, D.C., April 24, 1865, to Captain H. Bowen of Medina, New York. Very little is known about Jones. He supposedly worked as Chief Clerk of the Consular Service and private secretary to various politicians, including Assistant Secretary of State Frederick W. Seward. His sole claim to fame, though, consists of a casual decision he made to take in a night of theater. He chose to see the final performance of "Our American Cousin" at Ford's Theatre the night of April 14, 1865. He wrote this letter on individual 7 ¾" x 10" sheets of wove paper. The first page is lightly toned with minor restoration to opposite corners and some pencil annotations in a different hand. The other pages are all bright white and undamaged. The account may have been published in an upstate New York newspaper, as Jones gives his permission to do so, as long as his name was omitted. Jones was apparently rather a modest and meek individual, feeling unqualified to write anything for public consumption, but overcame his reticence in the hope his words might inspire ("If any thing I can narrate can aid one person to more fully understand the awful act which has deprived a nation of a nation's 'man', I will freely enter upon my task."). After explaining he only visited the theater no more than three times a year, he decided to go to Ford's Theatre on April 14th, having seen a report in the latest edition of the local newspaper that Lincoln and Grant might also be attending. It was a beautiful day, made more memorable by the fact that Ft. Sumter had been retaken and the U.S. flag once again hoisted upon its ramparts. "The theatre was well filled, and the play opened soon after eight o'clock. I occupied a front seat in the first section from the private box fitted up for the Presidential company... In the middle of the first scene of the first act, the attention of the actors and audience was attracted by the rustling of silk and other movements to the rear of the dress circle. The tall and manly form of President Lincoln greeted the anxious eyes of the assembly. Cheer upon cheer welcomed him as he passed to the entrance of his box. On reaching the door, he stopped and bent in graceful acknowledgement... his face lit up with a brighter smile - if it were possible - than ever played upon that face before... He paused a moment to gratify those whose cheers seemed to die away, and then followed Mrs. Lincoln into the box, and was shut from the view of most of the assembly. The President, as usual with him, had no guard - except that which in the greatness and goodness of his heart he deemed sufficient... The play went 'smoothly on,' and the attention of the audience became so engrossed in it that little thought was given to other subjects... Madam Mountchessing had turned her back to Asa Trenchard... Trenchard watched her until she had disappeared from his vision, and, turning to the audience, with his hands run deep into his pantaloon pockets in true imitation of 'Young America', he replied, 'I guess I know enough to turn you inside out!' and the audience clapped their hands in admiration. Trenchard still stood upon the stage - alone - apparently waiting for someone to join him. All was still. Sharp and clear, amid the silence that reigned in that vast theatre, sounded the report of a pistol. All eyes were turned whence came the unwelcome noise. A thousand thoughts flashed through my mind in an instant. This was a comedy not a tragedy, why this sound of fire arms? There must be a mistake. The shot first appeared to me, in the position which I was occupying, as having been made behind the scenes - to the right of the audience. It was but an instant, and the slim form of a man with face of livid whiteness, stopped in front of the box in which was seated the President. The words 'Sic Semper Tyrannis' was hissed between compressed lips. Another instant and the form had vaulted over the balustrade and upon the stage below - a distance of over twelve feet... The words 'The President' and 'Assassination' were murmured by persons in the assembly just as the form struck the stage. Turning one ghastly look upon the awe stricken people before it, with a long glittering dagger raised high above its head and with rapid strides, it disappeared behind the scenes... In an instant the stage was filled with actors and audience... A surgeon immediately clambered or was lifted from the stage to the box... Laura Keene stepped forward and endeavored to restore quiet, but suddenly, as if seized with a new thought, she rushed to the President's box, and taking the head of the murdered man in her lap, did what she could to bring back the life that was fast passing away. This in the public theatre of Washington the life blood of the illustrious Chief Magistrate of the Nation stained the robe of an actress. The theatre was soon after cleared of people, and the President removed to a private house on the opposite side of the street." He then recounts Lewis Payne's attack on Secretary of State Seward and the filling of the streets with troops. "... on the morning of Saturday, April 15, the slow and solemn tolling of the church bells in the city, announced that 'Abraham Lincoln is dead!'" This is, without question, the finest eyewitness account of the assassination extant... a very significant item!Auction Info
2015 January 24 The Donald P. Dow Collection of Lincolniana Americana & Political Grand Format Auction - Dallas #6128 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
January, 2015
24th
Saturday
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