Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1860-03-01
From Owens FOOTBALLS on the Boundaries
of Another World."l
How Senator Linn's Life was
Saved

Saved.
Those who were familiar with the
political history Of our country twenty
years ago. remember we'll DR.. Linn. of
Missouri. Distinguished for talents
and professional ability. but yet more
for the excellence of his heart, he
received. by distinction as rare as it
was honorable. the unanimous vote of
the Legislature for the Office of Senator
of the United States.
In discharge of his Congressional
duties he was residing with his family
in Washington. during the Spring and
Summer of lS40, the last year of Mr..
Van Buren's administration.
One day during the month Of May. !
of that year. DR.. and Mrs. Linn
received an invitation to q large and
formal dinner party given by public
functionary, and to which, the most
prominent members of the administra
tion party. including the President
himself. and our present Chief Magis
trate, Mr.. Buchanan. were invited
guests. DR.. Linn was very anxious
to be present, but when the day came.
finding himself suffering from an at
tack of Indigestion, he begged his wife
to bear his apology in person. and
make one of the dinner party, leaving
him at home. To this she somewhat
reluctantly consented. She was ac-
companied to the door of their host
by a friend, General Jones, who
promised to return and remain with
DIR. Linn. during the evening.
At table, Mrs. Linn sat next to
General Macomb. who had conducted
her to dinner, and Immediately opposite
to her sat Silas Wright Senator from
New York, the most intimate friend OF
her husband, and man by whose
death shortly after, the country sus-
tanned an irreparable loss.
Even during the early part of the
dinner, Mrs. Linn felt very uneasy
about her husband. She tried to
reason herself out of this. as she knew
that his indisposition was not at all
serious; but in vain. She mentioned
her uneasiness to General Macomb,
but he reminded her of what she
herself had previously told him-tha'
General Jones had promised to remain
with DIR. Linn and that, in the very
unlikely contingency of any sudder
illness, he would be sure to apprise hel
of it. Notwithstanding these repre-
sentations, as dinner drew toward {
, close. this unaccountable uneasinesi
: increased to such an uncontrolabl,
| impulse to return home, that as sh,
expressed it to me, she iel; she coul,
: not sit there moment longer. He
} sudden pallor was noticed by Senate
!, Wright, and excited his alarm.
81 am sure you are i'll. Mrs. Linn.
: he said, "what is the matter?"
| She replied that she was quite well
e but that she must return to her hus
e band.
e Mr.. Wright sought. as Gcners
Macomb had done. to calm her fear,
but she replied to him
t "If you wish to do me a favor. fo
: which shall be grateful while | liv,
: make some excuse to our host so III,
Y we can leave the table"
a Seeing her so greatly excited. j
e complied with her request. though the
>. were but then serving the dessert. an
: he and Mrs. Wright accompanied Mr.
d Linn home.
As they were taking leave of her
, the door of her lodgings. Senat,
e Wright said, IL shall call to MORO
: morning. and have a good laugh wit
l. the doctor and yourself over yol
n panic apprehension"
le AS Mrs. Linn passed hastily I
1t stairs. she met the landIady. "How
At DR.. Linn" she anxiously asked
a, "Very well. / believe" was the repl
at "He took bath more than an no
id ago, and | dare say is sound asleep
er this time. Gen. Jones said that
was doing extremely we'll"
:. The General is with him, is
,s not?"
fe II believe not. / think saw h,
TO pass out about half sa hour ago."
is In q measure reassured, Mrs. Lii
a hastened to her husbands be
le chamber, the door of which W
a closed. AS she opened it. den
,h smoke burst upon her in such stiff
Ie quantity, that she staggered and
4. on the threshold. Recovering herse
en- after few seconds. she rushed in
ne the room. The bolster was on f
Al. and the feathers burned with . brig
It. glow, and . suffocating odor. S
ce threw herself upon the bed; but
id fire half smothered till that mome