State Box

[Ed Steers]

(05-13-2014 08:49 PM)RobertLC Wrote:  I am new to this forum, but am excited about being here. I would like to start with a couple of questions about the night of the assassination of the President. When Booth shot Abraham Lincoln, by which portal did he exit the State Box? I have attached a Brady photo of the theater that was taken just days after the shooting. Did Booth escape by portal I or portal II? I suspect portal II because portal I would have been a precarious jump and placed him very close to the front edge of the stage, but I have found no solid evidence to support my supposition. Moreover, we know that Dr. Charles Taft was lifted from the stage and thus climbed into the box. This is confirmed by his writings and other eyewitness accounts. Did he enter via portal I or portal II. Again, I suspect portal II because the President was just inside portal I and it would have been very awkward for Taft to enter via that route. I appreciate anyone who can elaborate and clarify these points for me.

Robert, There is a photograph of the box and stage taken presumably by Brady shortly after the assassination on Stanton's order. In this particular photograph you can clearly see a white circle drawn on the stage floor directly beneath your portal II. While there is no description accompanying the photograph I conclude it was taken with the circle to indicate where Booth landed on the stage - beneath portal II. Ed

[LincolnMan]

Interesting that the flag as pictured on the shirt seems to be the back side of it. If the flag was positioned like pictures we see of the American flag- shouldn't the blue square be on the left end? Hope this isn't confusing.

[davg2000]

For what it's worth, ALPM has Lincoln and Mary in their accepted places, but Clara Harris is seated close to the box's rail at the viewer's very left. Major Rathbone, in uniform, is seated behind Clara and to her left. Although you can't see down into the box, it certainly appears to me that both Clara and Henry are seated on chairs. There is no settee. (But that surely appears to be a settee in the picture posted by RobertLC.)

[RobertLC]

(05-23-2014 08:37 AM)Ed Steers Wrote:  

(05-13-2014 08:49 PM)RobertLC Wrote:  I am new to this forum, but am excited about being here. I would like to start with a couple of questions about the night of the assassination of the President. When Booth shot Abraham Lincoln, by which portal did he exit the State Box? I have attached a Brady photo of the theater that was taken just days after the shooting. Did Booth escape by portal I or portal II? I suspect portal II because portal I would have been a precarious jump and placed him very close to the front edge of the stage, but I have found no solid evidence to support my supposition. Moreover, we know that Dr. Charles Taft was lifted from the stage and thus climbed into the box. This is confirmed by his writings and other eyewitness accounts. Did he enter via portal I or portal II. Again, I suspect portal II because the President was just inside portal I and it would have been very awkward for Taft to enter via that route. I appreciate anyone who can elaborate and clarify these points for me.

Robert, There is a photograph of the box and stage taken presumably by Brady shortly after the assassination on Stanton's order. In this particular photograph you can clearly see a white circle drawn on the stage floor directly beneath your portal II. While there is no description accompanying the photograph I conclude it was taken with the circle to indicate where Booth landed on the stage - beneath portal II. Ed

Ed, Thanks so much for the info. I have seen some of Brady's pictures from the National Archives, but I have not seen the one that you mention in your note above. I would love to see it. Do you have a reference that I could use to see it? Thanks.

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(05-23-2014 09:50 AM)davg2000 Wrote:  For what it's worth, ALPM has Lincoln and Mary in their accepted places, but Clara Harris is seated close to the box's rail at the viewer's very left. Major Rathbone, in uniform, is seated behind Clara and to her left. Although you can't see down into the box, it certainly appears to me that both Clara and Henry are seated on chairs. There is no settee. (But that surely appears to be a settee in the picture posted by RobertLC.)

I am not familiar with your reference. Can you direct me to it so I can follow up? Thanks.

[davg2000]

Robert, I think that is a settee in Portal II in the original picture you posted at the start of this thread.

I am not familiar with your reference. Can you direct me to it so I can follow up? Thanks.
[/quote]

[Hess1865]

(05-23-2014 08:43 AM)LincolnMan Wrote:  Interesting that the flag as pictured on the shirt seems to be the back side of it. If the flag was positioned like pictures we see of the American flag- shouldn't the blue square be on the left end? Hope this isn't confusing.

No, its not confusing. Actually that's the way the flag was put up in the exhibit-not hanging up, but encased in glass.

[Ed Steers]

(05-13-2014 08:49 PM)RobertLC Wrote:  I am new to this forum, but am excited about being here. I would like to start with a couple of questions about the night of the assassination of the President. When Booth shot Abraham Lincoln, by which portal did he exit the State Box? I have attached a Brady photo of the theater that was taken just days after the shooting. Did Booth escape by portal I or portal II? I suspect portal II because portal I would have been a precarious jump and placed him very close to the front edge of the stage, but I have found no solid evidence to support my supposition. Moreover, we know that Dr. Charles Taft was lifted from the stage and thus climbed into the box. This is confirmed by his writings and other eyewitness accounts. Did he enter via portal I or portal II. Again, I suspect portal II because the President was just inside portal I and it would have been very awkward for Taft to enter via that route. I appreciate anyone who can elaborate and clarify these points for me.

Robert, I think I answered this in an email earlier. Brady photographed the (reconstructed) shortly after the assassination. There is a photograph in the LMU collection that shows a white ring drawn on the stage floor directly beneath the left portal as you look at the box. A poor copy of the photo exists in Buckingham's book, Reminiscences and Souvenirs." I post a scan of it here and have enhanced the ring because of the poor quality of the image. I assume it is a chalk mark drawn to show where Booth landed on the stage after dropping from the box. Ed

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Another attempt to post photo.

[Dave Taylor]

Dr. Steers,

I think that the circle in the Buckingham image is merely the result of some scratches and artifacts on the image and not indicative of an actual circle drawn on the stage at Ford's. Here's another copy of the same image that was owned by Dr. Lattimer. It does not show any white circle drawn on the stage:

[BettyO]

Quote:It is a chalk mark drawn to show where Booth landed on the stage after dropping from the box

I agree, Dave. The marks on the other image appear to be drawn on the image; perhaps to emphasize where someone thought that Booth landed. It does not appear to be on the image (i.e. glass plate) itself.

[wsanto]

(05-23-2014 08:43 AM)LincolnMan Wrote:  Interesting that the flag as pictured on the shirt seems to be the back side of it. If the flag was positioned like pictures we see of the American flag- shouldn't the blue square be on the left end? Hope this isn't confusing.

Bill,

American flags are reversible and can be displayed either way. Even though it is unusual to see the blue box of the American Flag reversed to the upper right corner, this is not a incorrect representation of the flag. In the armed forces, when wearing the U.S Flag on your uniform, the flag is "reversed" when displayed on the right shoulder.

That is done intentionally to keep the stars closest to the wearer's heart.

Bill C

[J. Beckert]

Unless I'm missing it, I don't see the Treasury Guard's between the two boxes as it is in all of the other Brady photos and the tear in the carpet looks much bigger. Souvenir hunters, maybe?

[wsanto]

(05-26-2014 10:47 AM)Dave Taylor Wrote:  Dr. Steers,

I think that the circle in the Buckingham image is merely the result of some scratches and artifacts on the image and not indicative of an actual circle drawn on the stage at Ford's. Here's another copy of the same image that was owned by Dr. Lattimer. It does not show any white circle drawn on the stage:

Note the location of the settee and Clara's chair in these great photos. Exactly as described by Ferguson.

Also the tear in the carpet seems to fit the trajectory of Booth leaping from portal 1 toward backstage instead of leaping slightly forward from portal 2. (Although their does seem to be more room of escape on the right side of portal 2).

[RobertLC]

It seems to me that the evidence and a consensus indicate that Booth exited from portal I (box 7), even though he, of all people, would have known how dangerously close to the front edge of the stage such a jump would place him. The eyewitness accounts of that night and the evidence of the flags seem to point to portal I. I would still like to see the original photo to which Ed refers regarding the chalk mark on the floor.
That said, back to my Taft question. Has anyone seen any hard evidence regarding Taft and his entry into the State Box? Logic would dictate that he entered through portal II (box 8), but I still have seen no firm evidence indicating such. Any help with this one?

[J. Beckert]

I don't know if I've ever seen this view of the box before. It seems to have been taken from a higher vantage point than the others.

[LincolnToddFan]

Wow...I've never seen the box up that close either...it's almost eerie to see it from that angle!