Major Rathbone's accomodation in Hannover

[Eva Elisabeth]

Last week I was asked for literal translation of the two articles above. Just in case anyone else is interested, voilà.

If you think the outcome sounds odd- so does the German original. I tried to stick to the original wording and sentence structure as far as possible. Many words were used totally different in meaning than nowadays, and the sentences are Virginia-Woolf-like.

Hannoverscher Courier, Dec.24, 1883, 3rd column („Ein grauenvolles Ereigniß…)

A gruesome event of harrowing tragedy happened here last night. A top-ranking officer, member of the army of the United States of Northamerica, rich, happily married, father of several children, has been living in Hannover for some time (now). The said had been present at the assassination of President Lincoln and since has had bouts of profound, despairing melancholy. In order to ban (cure) these and to (re-) strengthen this felicitous, well-educated gentleman's mind, doctors had sent him to Germany. He moved here and lived happily until last night. Just during the previous days the said, in a good temper (and) toghether with his wife, had done some Christmas shopping for the children. Last night a sudden relapse regarding his mental disoreder must have occurred, which at once evolved into madness (insanity). At dead of night, the unfortunate (man) had arisen and tried to enter the bedroom, in which his children and the governess slept; the latter woke up and became suspicious due to the gentleman's words; she managed to keep him from entering the room. Due to the lively verbal exchange, the spouse awoke, and, suspecting the worst, thwarted him. She managed to lead her husband into the living-room. Here, the dreadful catastrophy commenced, the course of which no one will be able to testify. The unfortunate had locked the door (behind him). Shots were to be heared, then it got silent. When the door was broke open by (other) tenants, the unfortunate's wife was found dead already. She had been killed from revolvershots (gunshots) and dagger thrusts. The man (her husband) lay next to her, severely wounded, too. In his pockets, sufficient ammunition was found to get the impression, he had planned to kill his entire family. The unfortunate's wounds are so severe that he is (still) not transportable and thus it has yet not been possible to take him to hospital. Also a questioning of the said could not be held.


Hannoverscher Courier, Dec.25,1883, column 1+2 („Ein Familiendrama")

(A family tragedy.) On the part of other sources (~ from official quarters) we received, regarding the gruesome event reported in yesterday's evening edition, the following further details: Since June,6., the former American major Henry Rathtbone, 45 years old, born in Albany, toghether with his family, consisting of his wife and three children, age 9, 10 and 14, Mrs. R.'s sister, and a governess, has occupied (rented) an appartment in Heinrichstraße. Rathbone, who, according to his sister, in the course of President Lincoln's assassination in a theater in New York (2nd column, l. 6!!), had sustained a head injury (!!), is said to have henceforward occasionally suffered from (periods/bouts of) insanity, and, yesterday morning about 6 AM, doubtlessly in such a fit, he killed his wife with a revolver shot that entered her chest, and a stab into the middle of her chest, and then he caused himself five perilous stabs in the chest with a dagger. Mrs. R. died shortly after receiving the injury, whereas the murderer, although still alive, did not regain consciousness. Since the dramatis personae were only by themselves during the cruel drama, just the following respective information was to be gathered: About 6 AM, Mr. R. appeared outside the bedroom, in which the governess and the three children slept, knocked (at the door) and demanded to see the children; though almost at the same moment, Mrs. R. appeared, asking the governess to lock the door, and, with soothing words, (she) lead her husban