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Lot 84
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“Terrible Calamity,” Extremely Rare Michigan Broadside Extra From "Lansing State Republican," April 15, 1865
“Terrible Calamity,” Extremely Rare Michigan Broadside Extra From "Lansing State Republican," April 15, 1865
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Description:

Lincoln Assassination
Lansing, MI, April 15, 1865
"Terrible Calamity," Extremely Rare Michigan Broadside Extra From "Lansing State Republican," April 15, 1865
Broadside
"President Lincoln, Secretary Seward and Others, Assasinated [sic]"

This vivid early account of the assassination of President Lincoln incorrectly reports that Secretary of State William H. Seward had also died and that Booth had been arrested. Seward recovered slowly from his injuries and returned to duty in June 1865. Booth evaded capture for twelve days before being surrounded in a barn in Virginia and mortally wounded.

[LINCOLN ASSASSINATION.] "Terrible Calamity," Broadside Extra, April 15, 1865, The Lansing State Republican, Lansing, Michigan. 1 p., 6.125" x 24". Expected folds; light staining and toning; very good.

Historical Background
News of Abraham Lincoln's assassination spread by telegraph throughout the nation on Saturday, April 15, often with inaccurate details. Coming only days after the news of Confederate General Robert E. Lee's surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia, the first assassination of an American president struck the people of the nation with particular force.

Newspapers reassured the public that the nation was safe, that Johnson had been inaugurated as president, and that all resources were devoted to finding the assassin, John Wilkes Booth. This broadside brings the immediacy of these transformational events to life.

The city of Lansing had a population of 3,074 in 1860, but grew to 5,241 by 1870. In November 1860, Lincoln won Ingham County with 54.2 percent of the popular vote over Stephen Douglas's 45.7 percent. Four years later, Lincoln won Ingham County over McClellan by a majority of only 6 votes. Dr. Ira H. Bartholomew (1828-1889) was a physician who served as mayor of Lansing from 1863 to 1865.

The Lansing State Republican was issued weekly on Wednesdays. In the issue of April 19, published with black mourning lines between the columns, the newspaper reprinted the text of most of this broadside, without the erroneous "Third Dispatch." It also included details about Johnson's inauguration, General Joseph E. Johnston's surrender to General William E. Sherman in North Carolina, and an editorial entitled, "The National Calamity": "Before this number of our paper will reach our subscribers, they will all have learned of the awful calamity that has befallen the nation in the death of President Lincoln. This event was as unexpected as it was appalling."

Excerpts
"Terrible Calamity. / President Lincoln, Secretary Seward and Others, Assasinated. / The President Dead. / Secretary Seward Dead. / Escape of One of the Assasinators—The Other Captured."

"First Dispatch. Washington, April 15—12:30 A. M.—The President was shot in a theatre to-night, and is perhaps, mortally wounded."

"Second Dispatch. Washington, April 15. Lincoln and wife, with other friends, visited Ford's Theatre this evening, for the purpose of witnessing the performance of the ‘American Cousin.' It was announced in the papers that Gen. Grant would also be present, but that gentleman took the late train of cars for New Jersey....
"The parting of his family with the dying President is too sad for description....
"When the excitement at the theatre was at its wildest height, reports were circulated that Secretary Seward had also been assassinated.... It is believed that the injuries of the Secretary are not fatal, nor that of either of the others, although both the Secretary and assistant Secretary are very seriously injured."
"Third Dispatch. Secretary Seward died at 9:45 A.M. Booth, the assassin, is arrested. It is J. Wilkes Booth, the actor."

"Citizens' Meeting. At an impromptu meeting of the citizens this morning on the receipt of the intelligence of the assassination and death of President Lincoln, it was resolved,
"1st. That 1,000 copies of the dispatches concerning the intelligence, be printed for general distribution;
"2d. That the Mayor be requested to call a meeting of the citizens at 3 o'clock P.M., at the State House, and that he also request a general suspension of business during the day;
"3d. That the bells of the several churches and schools in the city be tolled for two hours."

"Proclamation by the Mayor.
"Whereas, The sad intelligence has been received by telegraph this morning of the assassination and death of President Abraham Lincoln and Secretary Seward.
"And whereas, This unfortunate calamity is one which saddens every heart, and has filled the nation with sorrow and mourning, and calls upon every citizen to manifest his feelings in some appropriate manner;
"Therefore, I, Ira H. Bartholomew, Mayor, do hereby call upon all the business men of this city, to close their places of business, and the people generally to abstain from their usual avocations, and assemble at the State House this afternoon at 3 o'clock, to take such action in the premises as to them may seem mete and proper; and I also hereby order that all the bells in the city be tolled for two hours, commencing at 10 o'clock, and continuing until 12 o'clock M."


The Lansing State Republican (MI) (1855-1911) was a weekly newspaper published in Lansing, Michigan. Henry Barnes, the editor of the Detroit Tribune and a founding member of the Republican Party, moved briefly to Lansing to establish the newspaper in 1855 as an answer to the Democratic Michigan State Journal. Within weeks he sold the newspaper and its printing press to Herman E. Haskell. After failing to obtain the position of state printer, Haskell sold the newspaper to Rufus Hosmer and George A. Fitch. A variety of publishers and editors oversaw the newspaper for the next several years. The state had elected its first Republican governor in 1854, and Republicans controlled the position for most of the rest of the nineteenth century. The newspaper avidly supported the Republican Party and was rewarded with important state contracts, including state printer. In 1872, the Republican became Lansing's first daily newspaper, but in 1875 reverted to twice weekly publication. In 1886, it again became a daily. In 1911, it merged with another paper to become the Lansing Journal Republican.


This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 6.125" x 24"
  • Medium: Broadside

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