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STS Lincolnite · 01-16-2017, 03:51 PM

(01-16-2017 02:22 PM)RJNorton Wrote:
(01-16-2017 01:52 PM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote: Looks like it was taken during one of the very next days since the "Octoroon" is still "announced" while the houses and people are wearing mourning attire.

I agree, Scott and Eva. It looks like James Ferguson's Greenback Saloon/Restaurant is draped in mourning, also.

I think the draping was probably related to mourning but the thought also occurred to me that it could possibly be related to all the celebrations that had been going on in Washington since the surrender of Lee's Army of Northern Virginia on April 9, 1865. Those celebrations occurred right up to and including the day/night of the assassination. I think I would certainly place the photo between April 9 and April 15 and lean toward the latter.

Eva Elisabeth · (This post was last modified: 01-16-2017 05:01 PM by Eva Elisabeth.)

Scott - forgive, the draping looks like the darkest deep-mourning-black to me, would that be used for happy victory celebrating? I'd rather expect blue-red-white stars and stripes for the latter!

STS Lincolnite · 01-16-2017, 05:31 PM

(01-16-2017 05:00 PM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote: Scott - forgive, the draping looks like the darkest deep-mourning-black to me, would that be used for happy victory celebrating? I'd rather expect blue-red-white stars and stripes for the latter!

Yes, I think mourning draping is far more likely. Just an idea that popped into my head about being celebratory. Navy blue and black would be hard to distinguish from each other but I would agree there should be a greater variety of color tones in the draping (red and white in addition to blue probably) if it was related to celebration.

L Verge · 01-16-2017, 08:17 PM

I agree with the mourning aspect. The crepe is draped in typical mourning style. Many of our volunteer fire departments here drape the stations in the exact same way when a member dies. Also, I'm not sure that a photographer would focus on Ford's specifically during the celebrations, given that theaters were not especially great places in the society of that day.

Houmes · 01-17-2017, 05:43 AM

(01-16-2017 01:00 PM)STS Lincolnite Wrote:
(01-15-2017 12:10 PM)L Verge Wrote:
(01-15-2017 06:50 AM)RJNorton Wrote: You win, Eva! Kudos! Going north from Ford's Theatre this is the northernmost building I've seen in any photo. Other photos I have seen taken from the north don't include this structure. The photo I used was cropped from a photo in When Lincoln Died: The Assassination, The Funeral Journey, The Pursuit and Trial of the Conspirators, The Complete Story in Pictures and in the Words of His Day by Ralph Borreson.

I knew I had seen that photo before and that somehow it was related to Ford's Theatre. Ralph Borreson actually donated the negatives from his book's photos to our Surratt House Museum. BTW: I do recommend his book - sort of a mini-Twenty Days...

Kathy Canavan has researched Tenth Street in 1865. Perhaps she knows something about this particular structure.

This photo has always been a favorite of mine. The sandwich board in the foreground advertises a benefit for Jeannie Gourlay (a presentation of Dion Boucicault’s The Octoroon). This benefit was to have taken place on April 15, 1865 but never happened for obvious reasons. Using the sandwich board in the foreground to date the photo (it wouldn't have been up long before April 15th and it certainly wouldn't have been up long after), it is probably the photo which most closely depicts what that side of 10 street and Ford's Theatre looked like at the time of the assassination.

Does anyone know who took the photo or the exact date it was taken?

Thanks!

John Ford was arrested three times, the last on May 6th. He was finally freed on May 27th and began lobbying Stanton for his theatre to be reopened. The Octoroon, originally scheduled to be performed on April 15th, was now rescheduled for opening on Monday, July 10th (see: Backstage at the Lincoln Assassation, by Thomas A. Bogar p230). This was not to happen. Although Edwin Stanton reluctantly released the theatre to John Ford at 2 pm on June 22, it was closed again after Brevt. Major General Thomas Ewing, Jr., attorney for Spangler, was told by him the guards were muttering that any reopening would cause soldiers to lock it up, destroy the building, or gut it (see: p187).

Lincoln Wonk · (This post was last modified: 01-18-2017 07:13 AM by Lincoln Wonk.)

(01-15-2017 12:10 PM)L Verge Wrote:
(01-15-2017 06:50 AM)RJNorton Wrote: You win, Eva! Kudos! Going north from Ford's Theatre this is the northernmost building I've seen in any photo. Other photos I have seen taken from the north don't include this structure. The photo I used was cropped from a photo in When Lincoln Died: The Assassination, The Funeral Journey, The Pursuit and Trial of the Conspirators, The Complete Story in Pictures and in the Words of His Day by Ralph Borreson.

I knew I had seen that photo before and that somehow it was related to Ford's Theatre. Ralph Borreson actually donated the negatives from his book's photos to our Surratt House Museum. BTW: I do recommend his book - sort of a mini-Twenty Days...

Kathy Canavan has researched Tenth Street in 1865. Perhaps she knows something about this particular structure.

Hi Laurie, No, I don't know of that building. Does any one have a photo of the Tenth Street tavern where Mathews went that night to look for Booth? Kathy

RJNorton · 01-24-2017, 06:32 AM

What person with a connection to the Lincoln assassination saga had a military disability physical in 1902 which reported he had no visible scars?

LincolnMan · 01-24-2017, 06:41 AM

James Tanner?

RJNorton · 01-24-2017, 06:55 AM

That is an outstanding guess, Bill, but it wasn't Tanner.

Dave Taylor · 01-24-2017, 08:30 AM

Was it William Withers trying to milk the government for his "injuries" sustained by Booth?

Eva Elisabeth · 01-24-2017, 08:33 AM

Henry Rathbone? (There was some bureaucracy and assessment regarding his military pension while he was confined.)

LincolnMan · 01-24-2017, 08:56 AM

Eva and Dave: great guesses! Can't wait to hear the answer.

RJNorton · 01-24-2017, 09:34 AM

Eva, your guess is also excellent, but Dave wins. Kudos, Dave. It was indeed the orchestra leader, William Withers (whose "injuries" are the subject of debate and speculation). No matter what, he was able to marry actress Jeannie Gourlay in the days after the assassination (April 25, 1865).

LincolnMan · 01-24-2017, 10:22 AM

Was Withers swiped with Booth's dagger? I seem to recall so. Or was he just pushed out of the way or both?

RJNorton · 01-24-2017, 01:13 PM

In The Lincoln Assassination Encyclopedia author Ed Steers described things as follows:

"Withers was backstage when Booth shot Lincoln, and received minor cuts from Booth as he rushed past Withers toward the rear door. Booth slashed Withers' coat, vest, and shirt, but only grazed the skin."

I think in later accounts Withers was known to embellish his "injuries" to a degree more serious than they really were.