Showing posts with label Fanny Seward. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fanny Seward. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 30, 2025

Accident to Secretary Seward.

We regret to learn that Secretary Seward was severely injured yesterday afternoon. He together with his son, F. W. Seward, his daughter, Miss Fannie, and Miss Titus, started from his house for a drive. When the driver stopped to shut the door of the carriage the horses became restive, and the driver endeavored to close the door while holding the reins. Mr. F. W. Seward sprang from the carriage for the purpose of assisting the driver to stop the horses, but in doing so he fell, and before he could recover the horses became unmanageable. They reached the neighborhood of H street, and suddenly turned, careening the carriage, and throwing the Secretary violently upon the ground. In falling he fractured his right arm near the shoulder, and bruised his face. He was conveyed to his residence, where the limb was braced, it not being sufficiently injured to require setting. By 7 o’clock he was free from pain, other than in his face and jaw. The shock was violent, and the reaction produced restlessness and some pain; otherwise he was comfortable. The ladies remained in the carriage, and escaped uninjured. There was a report that the driver was killed, but such is not the fact though he was somewhat injured.

SOURCE: “Accident to Secretary Seward,” Daily National Intelligencer, Washington, D. C., Thursday, April 6, 1865, p. 2, col. 1

Serious Accident to Secretary Seward.

We are deeply pained to learn that Secretary SEWARD met with a sever accident yesterday afternoon, which must prevent him from leaving his house for some time to come. He was about to start from his house for a drive, accompanied by his son, F. W. SEWARD, Assistant Secretary of State; his daughter, Miss FANNIE SEWARD, and Miss TITUS.

The door of the carriage refusing to be shut, Mr. SEWARD ordered his driver to close it. The driver dismounted from his box and, with his reins in one hand, slammed the door. The horses were restive and started as the driver took his seat. He jumped off and attempted to hold them, and Mr. FREDERICK SEWARD, seeing the animals were starting to run, jumped to the ground to assist the drive, but he fell to the ground and was unable to get hold of the reins. The horses ran around a corner, swinging the driver by the reins as one would swing a cat by the tail. They went on madly, and Mr. SEWARD, before they had got to the top of their speed, jumped from the carriage, thinking he could maintain his footing, and with a vague notion, perhaps, that he could get hold of the reins. He fell violently to the ground upon his right side, breaking his arm close to the shoulder joint, bruising his nose, cheek, and jaw in a terribly painful manner. He was at first insensible, but on being taken home it was found that he had suffered no internal injuries.

Meanwhile the ladies, with remarkable presence of mind, remained in the carriage, (Miss SEWARD had remonstrated against her father’s getting out,) and the horses were turned into an alley and brought to a stand-still by their colliding with a brick well, when the ladies quickly alighted and the horses recovering themselves, ran into a stable.

We are glad to be able to state that at twelve o’clock to-day Secretary SEWARD was much more comfortable, the severe pain of his contusions having been much moderated. He has been visited by members of the Cabinet and many distinguished people, and the kindest solicitude in his welfare is entertained by our citizens generally.

Hon. F. W. SEWARD, who had such a narrow escape yesterday, has but recently recovered from a broken arm, caused by being thrown from a carriage.

SOURCE: “Serious Accident to Secretary Seward,” Daily National Republican, Washington D. C., Thursday Evening, April 6, 1865, p. 2, col. 1

The Accident To Secretary Seward.

In our third edition yesterday, we announced a serious accident happening to Secretary Seward. It appears that the Secretary, with Miss Fannie Seward and Mr. Frederick Seward, started from his resident on 15½ street, near Pennsylvania avenue, for the purpose of taking a drive, and when on Vermont avenue stopped to take in Miss Titus, who was to accompany the party. When Miss Titus entered the carriage the driver got down from his box to shut the door, (at the same time holding the reins,) but experienced considerable difficulty in doing so. The horses becoming restive, Mr. Frederick Seward attempted to grasp the reins to assist the driver, but failing to do so, he jumped from the carriage in order to stop them, but fell, and somewhat bruised himself. Before Mr. Frederick Seward could regain his feet the horses broke away from the driver, he being unable to regain his seat; and when the horses suddenly turned into H street, Secretary Seward attempted to get out of the carriage, but fell violently to the ground, bruising his face severely, and badly fracturing his right arm just below the shoulder blade. The horses continued running, and when turning into the yard adjoining Mr. Seward’s resident one of them fell which stopped the carriage when the ladies alighted in safety.

The Secretary was immediately picked up in an insensible condition and conveyed to his residence, where the fractured limb was braced, Surgeon General Barnes, Dr. Verdi and Surgeon Morris attending him.

The driver was not killed, as at first reported, but was somewhat injured.

The fracture of the limb is a bad one, but Mr. Seward’s injuries are not considered dangerous, we are mostly happy to state.

The news of the accident to Secretary S. caused much excitement last night, as it was at first feared it might prove fatal, and the general feeling that his loss would be irreparable to the country was mingled with the feeling of high personal regard entertained for him by all in the community.

P. S.—We regret to learn since writing the above that Secretary Seward’s injuries are more serious than was at first supposed. On examination this morning, the attending physician discovered a fracture of the right jaw. The operation of setting it was very painful, but since it is bandaged, the Secretary feels more comfortable.

At 3 o’clock this afternoon he was comparatively easy, and there seems every reason to believe that he will soon be in a way of convalescence and able shortly to resume the functions of the office he fills with such distinguished ability.

SOURCE: “The Accident To Secretary Seward,” Evening Star, Washington, D. C., Thursday, April 6, 1865, p. 2, col. 4

Tuesday, January 30, 2018

Edwin M. Stanton to Major-General John A. Dix, April 15, 1865 – 1:30 a.m.

WAR DEPARTMENT,         
April 15, 1865 1.30 a.m. (Sent 2.15 a.m.)
Major-General DIX,
New York:

Last evening, about 10.30 p.m., at Ford's Theater, the President, while sitting in his private box with Mrs. Lincoln, Miss Harris, and Major Rathbone, was shot by an assassin, who suddenly entered the box and approached behind the President. The assassin then leaped upon the stage, brandishing a large dagger or knife, and made his escape in the rear of the theater. The pistol-ball entered the back of the President's head, and penetrated nearly through the head. The wound is mortal. The President has been insensible ever since it was inflicted, and is now dying. About the same hour an assassin (whether the same or another) entered Mr. Seward's home, and, under pretense of having a prescription, was shown to the Secretary's sick chamber. The Secretary was in bed, a nurse and Miss Seward with him. The assassin immediately rushed to the bed, inflicted two or three stabs on the throat and two on the face. It is hoped the wounds may not be mortal; my apprehension is that they will prove fatal: the noise alarmed Mr. Frederick Seward, who was in an adjoining room, and hastened to the door of his father's room, where he met the assassin, who inflicted upon him one or more dangerous wounds. The recovery of Frederick Seward is doubtful. It is not probable that the President will live through the night. General Grant and wife were advertised to be at the theater this evening, but he started to Burlington at 6 o'clock this evening. At a Cabinet meeting yesterday, at which General Grant was present, the subject of the state of the country and the prospects of speedy peace was discussed. The President was very cheerful and hopeful; spoke very kindly of General Lee and others of the Confederacy, and the establishment of government in Virginia. All the members of the Cabinet except Mr. Seward are now in attendance upon the President. I have seen Mr. Seward, but he and Frederick were both unconscious.

EDWIN M. STANTON,       
Secretary of War.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I Volume 46, Part 3 (Serial No. 97), p. 780