Assassination Photos

[MaddieM]

I have never noticed before the sword by the gentleman kneeling by Mrs Surratt. I've enhanced this shot with software. You can quite clearly see Mrs Surratt's face.

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Full shot, enhanced.

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For the first time, I've finally noticed that Mrs Surratt has someone holding her arm. I thought it was her bonnet! But she is still veiled. Also, Powell's head is turned slightly to his right, towards her.

[BettyO]

Wow! I never noticed that before either, Maddie -

Mrs. Surratt's face here is quite plain in the blow up - This is a somewhat different angle than the other photo of Mrs. Surratt as far as I know....

I think it's different from the photo that John and Barry have showing Mrs. Surratt's face, but I could be wrong - Laurie? Anyone know?

[Gene C]

Amazing Mattie!
Nice work.

[MaddieM]

Another shot. This one shows Mary's face more clearly again, and I think her mouth is open slightly, and the minister to her right seems to be either administering the host, or some water, or perhaps some sedative? His hand appears to be under her veil, and if you look closely, you can see the edge hemming on her face veil.
   

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A close up.

[BettyO]

This is the photo that John Elliott and Barry Cauchon noticed a few years ago - you can distinctly see Mary's face through the veil. It was said that here, she was kissing the crucifix held in front of her by one of her two attending priests.

[Jim Garrett]

With the advent of digitizing the images and the ability to really analyze the images, it has allowed us to dig into the content of the gallows pictures. Being able to see the expressions of not only the condemned, but also the other participants in what was the most famous/infamous hanging in history, brings the event to life. For those who were privileged enough to hear Dr. Blaine talk about the dire condition of Mrs. Surratt's health, we have a whole deeper perspective and appreciation for her condition. My most sincere thanks to Blaine, Barry and John for bringing this event "to death". It would be great for a digitize techno geek to colorize this group.

[MaddieM]

(11-04-2014 07:02 PM)Jim Garrett Wrote:  With the advent of digitizing the images and the ability to really analyze the images, it has allowed us to dig into the content of the gallows pictures. Being able to see the expressions of not only the condemned, but also the other participants in what was the most famous/infamous hanging in history, brings the event to life. For those who were privileged enough to hear Dr. Blaine talk about the dire condition of Mrs. Surratt's health, we have a whole deeper perspective and appreciation for her condition. My most sincere thanks to Blaine, Barry and John for bringing this event "to death". It would be great for a digitize techno geek to colorize this group.

I did partially colourise one of the photos. I've posted it before.

[Anita]

Maddie, your enhancement of these photos is incredible. They are very powerful images. I can feel the tension. How long did it take for the entire drama of the hanging to play out from the time they were brought outside until they fell? The stress must have been unbearable. Yes, they were found guilty, but I feel for them. That's a good thing.

[Rsmyth]

Wow, that's great Maddie!

[BettyO]

Quote:Maddie, your enhancement of these photos is incredible. They are very powerful images. I can feel the tension. How long did it take for the entire drama of the hanging to play out from the time they were brought outside until they fell? The stress must have been unbearable. Yes, they were found guilty, but I feel for them.

I most certainly have to agree, Maddie! This is a powerful image - but the color only enhances the tragic tension....

Yes, I agree with you as well Anita. From the time the condemned stepped though the arsenal door (about a 31-37 foot walk - not the "Long Mile" which was portrayed in the movie The Conspirator, the entire affair took about 30 minutes to an hour from the time they walked to the scaffold, the formalities of reading the Order, prayers, etc. were completed and the actual binding and hooding and the drop - was about 30 minutes. The drop fell at about 1:20-1:25 PM. They hanged for an additional 20 minutes or so (the last to die, Powell, died approximately 8 minutes after the drop) and they were allowed to hang until all movement had ceased; they were cut down and then examined by a team of doctors before being put into the "coffins" and buried about 2 PM. I, too feel for these folk. Hanging is a cruel and inhumane death and when you consider their ages (two college-age kids - 21 and 23 years old) and one woman, (it must have been a tragic nightmare for Annie Surratt who watched her mother's death) plus an "innocent" (Atzerodt) who committed no crime, other than upholding the actual conspiracy - it is indeed tragic. Of course, they were guilty (guilt by association - plus Powell did assault the Seward family), but such a cruel death was indeed tragic, if warrented.

[SSlater]

Something is wrong! Index shows posts coming in Today at 9:53 PM, when it is only 5:25 PM. Is that their time, and not ours? The Index seems to be stuck.

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The Index is stuck

[HerbS]

You can also see Dr.Mary Walker on a horse.Maybe Mary Surratt did faint!How about the young boy from Albion,NY as a spectator?He later started the"Boys and Girls Club".

[Anita]

(11-07-2014 08:13 AM)BettyO Wrote:  

Quote:Maddie, your enhancement of these photos is incredible. They are very powerful images. I can feel the tension. How long did it take for the entire drama of the hanging to play out from the time they were brought outside until they fell? The stress must have been unbearable. Yes, they were found guilty, but I feel for them.

I most certainly have to agree, Maddie! This is a powerful image - but the color only enhances the tragic tension....

Yes, I agree with you as well Anita. From the time the condemned stepped though the arsenal door (about a 31-37 foot walk - not the "Long Mile" which was portrayed in the movie The Conspirator, the entire affair took about 30 minutes to an hour from the time they walked to the scaffold, the formalities of reading the Order, prayers, etc. were completed and the actual binding and hooding and the drop - was about 30 minutes. The drop fell at about 1:20-1:25 PM. They hanged for an additional 20 minutes or so (the last to die, Powell, died approximately 8 minutes after the drop) and they were allowed to hang until all movement had ceased; they were cut down and then examined by a team of doctors before being put into the "coffins" and buried about 2 PM. I, too feel for these folk. Hanging is a cruel and inhumane death and when you consider their ages (two college-age kids - 21 and 23 years old) and one woman, (it must have been a tragic nightmare for Annie Surratt who watched her mother's death) plus an "innocent" (Atzerodt) who committed no crime, other than upholding the actual conspiracy - it is indeed tragic. Of course, they were guilty (guilt by association - plus Powell did assault the Seward family), but such a cruel death was indeed tragic, if warrented.

Thanks for the information Betty. The camera records history that's sometimes difficult to look at yet we must. We can't do things over but we can do them differently.

[HerbS]

A picture is truely worth a"1000 words"!Sad,but true,hanging was the punishment of the"day".

[Jim Garrett]

(11-07-2014 06:54 PM)HerbS Wrote:  You can also see Dr.Mary Walker on a horse.Maybe Mary Surratt did faint!How about the young boy from Albion,NY as a spectator?He later started the"Boys and Girls Club".

Dr. Mary Walker's medical kit (similar to Dr. Mudd's in the museum at Ford's) is on display at the Nat'l Museum of Health & Medicine.