Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1858-11-19
A Curious "Reminiscences.

Hc bodNduuan NEWS copies inc dc-
count, published in the Union, of Wi
nant Streng, an insane German, who
lately attempted to assassinatc a gentle
man in Washington city, and remarks:
The above calls to our mind thrill
ling scene which we Witnessed on the
eastern portico of the Capitol in the win
ter of 1884, when an attempt was made
by an insane man, by the name of Law
renee, to assassinate General Jackson.
1t was on the occasion of the funeral of
Hon. Warren r. Davis, Of South Caro-
lima. The funeral procession, in which
were the President and heads of depart
ments, foreign ministers, senators and
representatives., was passing from the
Hall of the House Of Representatives to
the eastern portco. Gen. jackson, lean
ing on the arm of lion. Levi Woodbury.,
then Secretary Of State, was near the
head of the procession, Immediately in
the rear of the mourners, among whom
were several ladies of Mr.. Davis family.
When the mourners had reached the
portico, and just as the President pass
cd out Of the green door leading to it,
Lawrence stepped from behind one of
the columns of the portico, where he
had concealed himself and instantly,
without word, presented large horse
pistol within three feet of the Presi-
dents breast, and exploded the cap
Quick as thought, Gen. Jackson raised
his hickory cane and aimed blow at
the assassin's head, but, missing him,
Lawrence snapped the second pistol be-
fore he was seized and borne down to the
ground by those near him General
jackson, without retreating an inch, had
raised his cane for second blow, when
it was seized by those Immediately around
him, who, protesting him from further
assault with their persons, urged him to
retire into the rotundo which he yehe-
mently refused to do. On being inform
ed that it was probably a conspiracy,
and that there might be more than one
assassin, he still refused to be led from
the porticc, and expressed his detcrmi-
nation to maintain his position where he
stood.
The scene presented was most exciting
Ladies' fainting and screaming--thc crowd
composed of the distinguished men Of
the country, hurriedly gathering around
the President, surprise depicted in every
conference.-the rush of the would-be
assassin, and the exertons of those who
had taken him in custody to prevent him
from being torn in pieces by the excited
multitude-the babel of voices-alto-
gether made most novel and impress
sive spectacle. The scrgoani-at-arms
having removed the prisoner, order was
soon restored, and the funeral obsequies
were concluded
On investigation, it was found that
Lawrence was an insane man, who had
been seen lurking about the capitol for
several days. According to his own
story, he was laboring under the strange
hallucination that he was the rightful
heir to the crown of Great Britain, and
that his object in killing Gen. Jackson,
that he might obtain command Of the
United States army and navy with
which he intended TO enforce his right TO
the British throne. 1t is singular that
Lawrence, like Streng, was a carpenter
by trade.
The pistols used on the occasion were
large horse pistols, which were found to
be heavily loaded. The weather at the
time was foggy and damp, and the pis-
tolls having been loaded for several days,
and kept in a carpenters chest, while he
was awaiting a favorable opportunity for
the accomplishment Of his purpose, the
powder in the tubes had absorbed sufi-
cient moisture 10 prevent ignition from
the caps To that circumstance alone,
under Providence, tho country owed the
preservation Of the life Of President
Jackson.