Details
BOOTH, JOHN WILKES, Actor, assassin of President Lincoln. Autograph letter signed ("J. Wilkes Booth") to "Dear Kim" (Moses Kimball, a friend and theatrical producer), St. Joseph, [Missouri], 2 January 1864. 4 pages, 8vo, on lined paper with small embossed "Omaha Mills" stationer's stamp at top of first page.
"SOME OF MY OLD LUCK HAS RETURNED TO HUNT ME DOWN"
A letter of striking melancholy tinged with bitterness, with a tantalizing reference to the return of his "old luck" and an account of his recent difficulties, including the loss of his "best friend" (a whiskey flask!) in a blizzard. "Here I am snowed in again. And God knows when I shall be able to get away. I have telegraphed St. Louis for them not to expect me. It seems to me that some of my old luck has returned to hunt me down. I hope you passed a delightful New Years, you and your kind lady, but I fear not, I will give you a slight glimpse of mine.
"I arrived at Fort with one ear frost-bitten. I saw our friends there had a ___, well I won't say what. And then after giving my boy my flask to keep for me, I started for a run and made the river (four miles) on foot. I run without a stop, all the way. I then found my boy had lost that treasured flask. I had to pay five dollars for a bare-backed horse to hunt for it. I returned within sight of the Fort, and judge of my dismay upon arriving to see a waggon just crushing my best friend, but I kissed him in his last moments by pressing the snow to my lips, over which he had spilled his noble blood. I got back to the river in time to help and cut the ice that the boat might come to the shore. And after 'a sea of troubles,' reached this Hotel a dead man. Got to bed as soon as I could where I have been ever since. Am better now and will I expect get up tomorrow. You must excuse this scrawl. I am the worst letter writer alive. And I am trying to get through this on a cold bed. Give my best wishes to Mrs. Kimbal and ask her to forgive me for keeping her husband out so late at night. I guess she is glad I am gone. We may get away from here Monday or tomorrow: we can-not tell. Hoping you will remember me to all my friends. And that you will look over this poorly written letter...."
Booth's letters are rare.
Provenance:
Elsie O. and Philip D. Sang Foundation (sale, Sotheby Parke Bernet, 26 April 1978), lot 46 [envelope then present]).
"SOME OF MY OLD LUCK HAS RETURNED TO HUNT ME DOWN"
A letter of striking melancholy tinged with bitterness, with a tantalizing reference to the return of his "old luck" and an account of his recent difficulties, including the loss of his "best friend" (a whiskey flask!) in a blizzard. "Here I am snowed in again. And God knows when I shall be able to get away. I have telegraphed St. Louis for them not to expect me. It seems to me that some of my old luck has returned to hunt me down. I hope you passed a delightful New Years, you and your kind lady, but I fear not, I will give you a slight glimpse of mine.
"I arrived at Fort with one ear frost-bitten. I saw our friends there had a ___, well I won't say what. And then after giving my boy my flask to keep for me, I started for a run and made the river (four miles) on foot. I run without a stop, all the way. I then found my boy had lost that treasured flask. I had to pay five dollars for a bare-backed horse to hunt for it. I returned within sight of the Fort, and judge of my dismay upon arriving to see a waggon just crushing my best friend, but I kissed him in his last moments by pressing the snow to my lips, over which he had spilled his noble blood. I got back to the river in time to help and cut the ice that the boat might come to the shore. And after 'a sea of troubles,' reached this Hotel a dead man. Got to bed as soon as I could where I have been ever since. Am better now and will I expect get up tomorrow. You must excuse this scrawl. I am the worst letter writer alive. And I am trying to get through this on a cold bed. Give my best wishes to Mrs. Kimbal and ask her to forgive me for keeping her husband out so late at night. I guess she is glad I am gone. We may get away from here Monday or tomorrow: we can-not tell. Hoping you will remember me to all my friends. And that you will look over this poorly written letter...."
Booth's letters are rare.
Provenance:
Elsie O. and Philip D. Sang Foundation (sale, Sotheby Parke Bernet, 26 April 1978), lot 46 [envelope then present]).