
FRESH STUFF DAILY
Seacoast New Hampshire
& South Coast Maine
Subscribe To Our Newsletter
|
|
| |
|
|
|
de5
male enhancement accutane online lexapro no prescription canadian pharmacy viagra for sale viagra without prescription online prescritions buy daily cialis where to buy fenfluramine canadianpharmacy cheap prescription free viagra where to buy fenfluramine cialis online pharmacy canada detox from vicodin canadian cialis pharmacy canada viagra online no prescription canadian levitra no prescription pharmacies buy daily cialis buy sildenafil online viagra sales online viagra buy propecia canadian no prescription pharmacy cialis 5 mg viagra onlinge
0
|
The New Dying Words of John Wilkes Booth
|
|
|
|
Written by J. Dennis Robinson
|
|
Page 1 of 3
NH's LINCOLN CONNECTION
April 1865
Behind the curtain of the Lincoln assassination is a strange New Hampshire love
story. Lucy Hale, daughter of an abolitionist senator, was reportedly engaged
to the man who killed President Lincoln. Whether it wasa real love or a manipulative
game, no one knows. It was real, at least, from Lucy's view. But what it is was
real from the other side too?
SEE: Tour of Lincoln's Assassination Site
Abraham Lincoln was murdered at Ford's Theater 140 years ago. If this was 1865,
you and I would be in shock. We would find ourselves suddenly sobbing, unable
to talk about the news. A minute later, remembering that the long bloody Civil
War was over, there might be a jolt of elation, then the crashing realization
that the man who carried us through tens of thousands of deaths, was himself freshly
slaughtered.
At this point in the story, with a $100,000 bounty being offered, John Wilkes
Booth is still at large, hiding in the swamps of Virginia, writing in his journal,
waiting for the Confederacy to raise him to glory for shooting President Lincoln
in the back of the head. Hundreds of witnesses to the murder in Washington are
being interviewed. Scores of people who knew the famous actor are being detained
or jailed. Booth is at large. After jumping from the theater box to the stage
he escaped on horseback out the back stage door. No one knows how many conspirators
were part of this plot. Everyone is a suspect.
It took over a week for soldiers to track Booth to a barn at Garrett Farm. We've
heard the story so many times since that it reads like a fairy tale. They set
the barn on fire hoping to smoke out the assassin. Finally, Booth appeared through
the flames, his leg broken from his leap to the stage at Ford’s Theater. A soldier
shot him in the spine. He lay paralyzed, mumbling and crying for the soldiers
to kill him. He asked the soldiers to tell his mother that, what he did, he did
for his country. But there was no country. The South had lost the war.
Then John Wilkes Booth made a strange request. He asked that his hands be lifted
up so he could see them. This was done. He stared at his hands for a moment and
mumbled, "Useless, useless." Then he died. Perhaps that is exactly what Booth
said. Perhaps he said something else. Open your mind and stick with me for a moment.
Maybe we can change history.
John Wilkes Booth had a fiancée. As he lay dying on the porch of Garrett’s farm
he was engaged to Miss Lucy Hale of Dover, New Hampshire.
Lucy’s father, NH Senator John P. Hale forcefully denied the engagement story. But witnesses reported seeing Lucy and
John Wilkes Booth spooning in the public rooms of the National Hotel in Washington,
DC. Perhaps the actor was simply playing Lucy for a fool. Using her father’s connections,
Lucy had gotten a ticket to Lincoln’s second inauguration ceremony for her boyfriend.
You can see Booth standing within striking distance of the President in a famous
photograph. It is a chilling picture.
When Booth died outside that burning barn, he was carrying a portrait of Lucy
in his pocket. The small photo of Lucy and a number of other women are on display
in the museum beneath Ford’s Theater. Lucy’s home too is a museum in Seacoast,
New Hampshire. Guides at the Hale House mention the Booth connection, but the
historic emphasis is always on father JP Hale’s record as the nation’s first Abolitionist
senator.
Until now, history has played Lucy, better known as "Bessie" Hale, like an innocent
footnote to the death of Lincoln. Booth was a ladies' man and Lucy was just one
of the ladies he played to off stage, historians say. She was the toast of Washington
society and the daughter of an influential Senator. She had attracted the attention
of Oliver Wendell Homes Jr.. Her father hated Booth's lowly actor status and,
some say, had hoped to marry Lucy to the President's son Robert Todd.
"The Day Lincoln Died", a made-for-TV-movie, offers an imagined scene between
the lovers. Booth sweeps Lucy onto the dance floor at the hotel where both were
staying. "Have you gone mad?" Lucy says breathlessly as they spin around the ballroom.
"Mad for you," Booth cajoles. "Have I caused you some trouble?"
"Seeing as my father's jaw is resting in his soup, I'd say so," she replies.
CONTINUE ESSAY
<< Start < Prev 1 2 3 Next > End >>
|
Please visit these SeacoastNH.com ad partners.
Portsmouth Herald
|
Portsmouth Herald Latest Headlines
|
| Portsmouth Herald News from SeacoastOnline.com |
-
UNH hockey powers past Terriers
DURHAM — The play of the University of New Hampshire men's hockey team special teams looked, well, special, Friday night against Boston University.
-
NFL's premier corner Revis mans up on Moss again
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Darrelle Revis has heard enough about his last matchup with Randy Moss. The New York Jets cornerback just wants to move on to the next one.
-
Father-son coaches creating legacy with Winnacunnet football
HAMPTON — If nothing else, Winnacunnet High School has proven that two Steve Magris are better than one when it comes to coaching football.
-
Bergeron wins it for B's in OT
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Patrice Bergeron scored with 47 seconds left in overtime, lifting the Boston Bruins to a 2-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Friday night.
-
Emotional home finale for UNH football
DURHAM — One year ago this week, University of New Hampshire strong safety Terrence Klein intercepted two late passes to preserve a snowy 28-24 win at Maine, more proof that...
-
Carter, Magic drop Celtics
BOSTON — Vince Carter scored 26 points, Rashard Lewis had 16 points and 10 rebounds, and the Orlando Magic beat the Boston Celtics 83-78 on Friday night.
-
Portsmouth says stimulus jobs overstated by White House
PORTSMOUTH — While federal stimulus dollars flowing into the city may help both causes and the economy, at least one local project echoes concerns expressed nationwide about the accuracy of...
-
Joseph Popluhar
TAMPA, Fla. — Mr. Joseph Popluhar, 71, of Tampa, formerly of Portsmouth, N.H., beloved husband of Marjorie (Hunt) Popluhar, died Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009, in Florida.
-
Turkey Trot 5K in Portsmouth on Thanksgiving morning
PORTSMOUTH — Thanksgiving is one of the most charitable times of the year. If you're in the giving mood, why not get a little exercise, too?
-
Marshwood Middle School parents told 58 of 60 kids accepted unknown Facebook friend
ELIOT, Maine — Marshwood Middle School parents were shocked to learn from Internet expert Jayne Hitchcock Thursday evening that 58 of 60 middle school honors students accepted her as a...
-
Newington tax rate drops, but selectman chides state lawmakers
NEWINGTON — Town taxpayers will pay a lower tax rate for 2009, but the chairman of the Board of Selectmen announced the good news with some concerns for state politicians.
-
Memorial Bridge re-opens
PORTSMOUTH — The Memorial Bridge reopened ahead of schedule on Friday following a month of repairs that forced motorists to seek alternative routes between the city and Kittery, Maine.
-
Bakers bustling for Sunday's pie festival
GREENLAND — Judy Alix laughed excitedly. "Thirty made, only 470 more to go!" she exclaimed.
-
3-car crash on Woodbury Ave.
PORTSMOUTH — A three-car, chain-reaction crash snarled lunch hour traffic Friday on Woodbury Avenue and sent a Maine man to Portsmouth Regional Hospital.
-
Thumbs up to preservation, determination
Thumbs up to the heirs of Mary McIntire Davis for selling a 239-acre parcel of salt marsh and forest along the York River to the York Land Trust ,and to...
-
John R. Genthner
HAMPTON FALLS — John Richard Genthner, born Jan. 28, 1943, in St. John, New Brunswick, Canada, died peacefully Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009, after a long illness. He was surrounded by...
-
Runner's Alley helps racer achieve her goals
I would like to thank Janine and the staff at Runner's Alley for their great work in this community. Their contribution, enthusiasm and encouragement are a shining example of what...
-
New Generation raises $10,000 with golf tourney
The New Generation Golf tournament was held at Breakfast Hill Golf Club. With the help of all those who supported it, we made more than $10,000.
-
Memorial is a N.H. bridge; Herald must act to save it
Sitting a couple of hundred miles up the Maine coast, there isn't anyone who knows or cares about our bridge. They've got their own big-time problems that aren't getting fixed.
-
Robert F. Pucciarelli
WELLS, Maine — Robert Francis "Bob" Pucciarelli, 83, of Wells, formerly of Medway, Mass., died early Thursday morning, Nov. 19, 2009.
|
|
|
|
|
| Saturday, November 21, 2009 |
|
|
|