Comments on: When the Grieving Went Global

By: Richard Fox

Richard Fox — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 20:00:58 +0000

Thanks for your question Lisa, and sorry I didn’t catch it until now. The answer is simple : The trans-Atlantic cable had broken down, and wasn’t repaired until months (if not longer) after Lincoln’s death. I don’t have access to the exact dates for when it was out of service, but they’re available on-line if you search for the history of the trans-Atlantic telegraph cable.

By: Lisa Hogan

Lisa Hogan — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 14:50:08 +0000

I’m confused by this article. I stayed at an resort at Bedford Springs, PA and they said the first transatlantic telegram was sent there from Buchanan to the Queen in England. This, of course, was before Lincoln was president. They have a copy of said telegram framed at Bedford Springs. Could Dr. Fox clarify why a telegram could not be sent at the time of Lincoln’s death?

By: Jeromy

Jeromy — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 20:53:32 +0000

It’s certainly hard to grasp how big of change this was to mourn someone so distant. Even today we don’t necessarily go into mourning for international figures.