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L Verge · (This post was last modified: 07-07-2012 05:31 PM by L Verge.)

There is one account of Anna's return to the boardinghouse that claims souvenir seekers were attempting to enter.

While doing housework today, I passed by my thermostat, which gives an outside reading. At 3 pm, the temperature in my back yard was 106. I immediately thought of what it was like on the grounds of the Penitentiary on July 7, 1865. It was probably about ten degrees cooler that day, but still unbearable. I doubt that the four who would be hanged noticed the heat because their fear had the best of them; but the crowd, the officers, and the enlisted men had to be suffering. The one young prop-knocker that we read about throwing up was suffering from heat stroke, I am sure.

Linda - I also thought about Sec. Seward being confined to bed and swathed partially in bandages and brace-like contraptions in such sweltering heat. As much as I love studying history, I think I prefer living with modern conveniences...

Barry Cauchon or John Elliott could probably identify who was speaking to Herold. My guess - without documentation - would be The Rev. Mark Olds, rector of Christ Episcopal Church on Capitol Hill, home church of the Herolds (and John Philip Sousa).

P.S. Whoever the man is, he needs a haircut! Just saying...

Linda Anderson · 07-07-2012, 05:43 PM

Thanks for thinking of Secretary Seward, Laurie, but he was up and about as soon as the doctors would let him. He believed that "rest is rust." Seward went for his first carriage ride after the assassination attempt on May 3 and he returned to the State Department on May 19. The metal appliance he wore on his jaw couldn't have been too comfortable in the heat, though.

BettyO · (This post was last modified: 07-07-2012 06:35 PM by BettyO.)

Thanks, Linda and Laurie! But I also think that the man talking to Herold is more than likely Dr. Olds....

One of my favorites in the view of the "far end of the scaffold" is the "headless" man; i.e. the man in the back row who apparently moved and it appears he has no head! I've often wondered who he was....

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You can see how hot it was in this photo of the aftermath of the hanging. The deed has been done and now the soldiers are going to bury the dead....
I see handkerchiefs and fans in action here; notice the soldiers in front and the apparent detective in civies on the wall.... but one must remember that our Victorian counterparts were acclimated to the heat - much unlike ourselves today....

J. Beckert · (This post was last modified: 07-07-2012 06:55 PM by J. Beckert.)

I've never noticed Powell wearing a straw hat before. What do you think, Betty? Is that on him or someone bending down behind him? I know you don't buy the story that he snatched a hat off someone's head as he walk to the scaffold.

Gene C · (This post was last modified: 07-07-2012 06:45 PM by Gene C.)

Incredible photo's Betty. Is is my imagination, or can you barely see Mary Surratt's face through her vail?

Linda, that's amazing about Seward. I am a bit confused about the metal jaw contraption. Is their some debate about whether it was metal or not, and was he wearing a metal jaw brace when he was attacked? Are there any drawings of it, I have a hard time imagining what it may have looked like being worn?

L Verge · 07-07-2012, 07:00 PM

(07-07-2012 06:43 PM)Gene C Wrote: Incredible photo's Betty. Is is my imagination, or can you barely see Mary Surratt's face through her vail?

Linda, that's amazing about Seward. I am a bit confused about the metal jaw contraption. Is their some debate about whether it was metal or not, and was he wearing a metal jaw brace when he was attacked? Are there any drawings of it, I have a hard time imagining what it may have looked like being worn?

I'll let Linda explain the jaw contraption. I just want to comment on the first time that I saw Barry's and John's high resolution images of the historic photos. They literally blew me away! And, when I caught the glimpse of Mrs. Surratt's facial outline, I got chills down my spine. For some reason, it reminded me of the same structural features as my maternal grandmother Huntt.

BettyO · (This post was last modified: 07-07-2012 07:20 PM by BettyO.)

(07-07-2012 06:40 PM)J. Beckert Wrote: I've never noticed Powell wearing a straw hat before. What do you think, Betty? Is that on him or someone bending down behind him? I know you don't buy the story that he snatched a hat off someone's head as he walk to the scaffold.

Hey, Joe!

I wish that Gardner had moved his camera a little bit more to the left so we could get a good glimpse of Powell's face wearing that straw hat!
According to Dr. Gillette, (Newspaper article "Sixteen Hours in the Cells", Washington Chronicle 071065), he addressed Lew's "jaunty hat" and stated that the newspapers were in error that Powell snatched that hat off of someone's head. Gillette asked Lew's guard to procure a hat for him before he walked to the scaffold to protect him from the heat of the sun. Lew's hands were manacled behind him, so he couldn't snatch anything - couldn't even wipe the sweat and tears from his face on the gallows....

(07-07-2012 06:43 PM)Gene C Wrote: Incredible photo's Betty. Is is my imagination, or can you barely see Mary Surratt's face through her vail?

Linda, that's amazing about Seward. I am a bit confused about the metal jaw contraption. Is their some debate about whether it was metal or not, and was he wearing a metal jaw brace when he was attacked? Are there any drawings of it, I have a hard time imagining what it may have looked like being worn?

This IS an amazing photo - yes, you can see Mary's face somewhat through the veil - Dave Taylor illustrated this haunting fact with his wonderful photo montage last year (by the way - check out his "BoothieBarn" blog today for another look at that wonderful graphic he made out of these photographs)...

To give John and Barry full credit for these wonderful photos.... like you Laurie - these gave me cold chills! Especially the look at Mrs. Surratt's face - amazing!!

I blew up my photo of Powell on the gallows and yes, you can see his face; head bowed, eyes closed. He was weeping as Gillette prayed.

J. Beckert · 07-07-2012, 07:18 PM

Thank you, Betty, for your knowledge of all things Powell. (And isn't Roger's little place off to an a$$ kickin' start here??!!)

BettyO · 07-07-2012, 07:22 PM

(07-07-2012 07:18 PM)J. Beckert Wrote: Thank you, Betty, for your knowledge of all things Powell. (And isn't Roger's little place off to an a$$ kickin' start here??!!)

No problem, Joe! I LOVE sharing....and yes I LOVE Roger's "Little Place" !

L Verge · 07-07-2012, 07:26 PM

I think we should consider ourselves Mr. Roger's Neighborhood!

Linda Anderson · (This post was last modified: 08-08-2012 10:37 PM by Linda Anderson.)

Gene, Seward was wearing wire and bandages on his jaw that he broke as a result of injuries he received during a carriage accident on April 5. The metal splint designed by Dr. Gunning was put on Seward about two weeks after Powell's attack.

Dr. Gunning wrote a book called Treatment of Fracture of the Jaw [Google Books] in which he describes Seward's mouth splints. The account starts on page 58. Dr. Gunning saw Seward on April 16 when Seward was still wearing the wire splint. He considered the wire splint that Seward was wearing at the time of Powell's attack "not only useless but dangerous..."

Betty has some great pictures of Dr. Gunning's splint. As far as I know, there are no pictures of Seward's wire splint.

BettyO · (This post was last modified: 07-07-2012 08:06 PM by BettyO.)

(07-07-2012 07:26 PM)L Verge Wrote: I think we should consider ourselves Mr. Roger's Neighborhood!

HAhahahaha!!!

LOVE it, Laurie!!

(07-07-2012 07:31 PM)Linda Anderson Wrote: Gene, Seward was wearing wire and bandages on his jaw that he broke as a result of injuries he received during a carriage accident on April 5. The metal splint designed by Dr. Gunning was put on Seward about two weeks after Powell's attack.

Dr. Gunning wrote a book called Treatment of Fracture of the Jaw in which he describes Seward's mouth splints. The account starts on page 58. Dr. Gunning saw Seward on April 16 when Seward was still wearing the wire splint. He considered the wire splint that Seward was wearing at the time of Powell's attack "not only useless but dangerous..."

http://books.google.com/books?id=T0yar7m...rd&f=false

Betty has some great pictures of Dr. Gunning's splint. As far as I know, there are no pictures of Seward's wire splint.

Thanks, Linda!

Here are the photos of Seward's brace:

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HerbS · 07-08-2012, 11:13 AM

Fantastic job Linda!Seward has always been an interest of mine.But,you have the most knowledge about him that I have ever seen!

Linda Anderson · (This post was last modified: 07-08-2012 04:36 PM by Linda Anderson.)

(07-08-2012 11:13 AM)HerbS Wrote: Fantastic job Linda!Seward has always been an interest of mine.But,you have the most knowledge about him that I have ever seen!

Thank you, Herb! I am really concentrating on the period between Seward's carriage accident on April 5, 1865 and Fanny's death in October 1866.

I can hardly wait to read Seward: Lincoln's Indispensable Man by Walter Stahr which will be released in September, 2012. It's already getting great reviews.

http://walterstahr.com/books/seward-linc...an/praise/

BettyO · 07-08-2012, 11:41 AM

(07-08-2012 11:24 AM)Linda Anderson Wrote:
(07-08-2012 11:13 AM)HerbS Wrote: Fantastic job Linda!Seward has always been an interest of mine.But,you have the most knowledge about him that I have ever seen!

Thank you, Herb! I am really concentrating on the period between the assassination attempt and Fanny's death in October 1866.

I can hardly wait to read Seward: Lincoln's Indispensable Man by Walter Stahr which will be released in September, 2012. It's already getting great reviews.

http://walterstahr.com/books/seward-linc...an/praise/

Same here - I have the book on order....