Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1865-04-21

The Great C1ldmity.-Quite early Sat
urday morning the horrible news of the
assassination of President Lincoln and
Secretary Seward reached this place by
telegraph; but, as nearly everywhe
else, the first report was to great ex-
tent mistrusted and discredited. 1t
could not be true! A dispatch shortly
after, from Mr.. J. b. Cavanaugh, who
was in Dubuque, to the editors of this
paper, which was issued in an extra,
was reluctantly received as confirma-
ton Of the sad news. The stores and
and by noon the whole town was draped
in deepest mourning. Nearly every
building bore evidence that there were
mourners within, The general and
heartfelt gloom which developed the
community cannot be portrayed by
words-much less by any feeble words
we possess the ability to pen. The peo-
pie loved Absah.l,n Lincoln noble,
generous, large-hearted, large-minded
Abraham Lincoln The reported death
OF the Secretary of State added matcri-
ally to the general depression and fore
boding. "- .#t
The beautiful Sabbath which follow
ed was day of great solemnity. The
clergymen of the churches holding
morning service alluded in touching
terms to the great National bereavc-
ment About eleven o'clock another
extra was issued from the GAZETTE of
flee, giving some particulars of the
fiendish outrage, and also containing
the gratifying assurance that Mr.. Sew
nrd was still alive, and would probably
recover. In the afternoon the Cover
nor's Guards came out and paraded the
streets with arms reversed to the solemn
music of muffied drums and funeral
flies. Each member appeared with
Grape on his arm and the guard of his
gun, and as they slowly filed along fol-
lowing the brave Old Flag deeply draped,
they presented touching and solem-
nizing spectacle. After leaving their Ar
mory they first marched up in Compa-
ny front and saluted the flag, and then
proceeded to the common on Ninth
street near Main, where they fired three
rounds of blank cartridges in honor of
the great departed. At three O'clock
Elder Eberhart, of the Baptist Church,
addressed the people at Presbyterian
Church, services elsewhere being sus-
pended. The house was packed to its
utmost capacity, and not one half af
those who sought admittance succeeded
The Guards, with their arms, surround
ed the pulpit. The choirs of all the
churches united, and made such grand
music as we have never listened to be-
fore. Rev. Mr.. Norton assisted by read
ing portion of scripture. Mr.. Eber-
hart commenced by reading the latest!
intelligence, and then proceeded toI
speak of the great calamity. He did
not strive to work on the sympathies of
his audience. He spoke plainly and
forcibly, and in sincerity of heart that
none could doubt, of the great crime i
referring in scathing terms to those of
the North who could attempt to offer
palliation, and demanding in the nameI
Of Heaven that justice to the pcrpetra-
tors be not sacrificed to mercy. He be-
lieved that righteous God demanded
a change of policy in the conduct of
this war, and that Abraham Lincolnl
had fulfilled his mission and by God
was removed to subsarye His ail-wise|
purpose. Hefrequentiy excited Demon
STATIONS of approval, and throughout;
held the close attention of his large au-]
dience. Some have intimated that hisl
remarks were too severe but we believe;
he spoke the honest convictions of thel
people of this community, who are;
firmly of the opinion that nothing cani
be too severe for the demons of this hell;
born rebellion or for their apologists,
and proseiytes in the North.
Saturday and Sunday wore very sad
days. Words are SO altogether inade-i
quate to picture the general gloom
which pervaaod, that we are almost
discouraged from effort to write on the,
subject. Perhaps 1t were enough to say
that the people here done what they
could TO give expression to inexpressi-
BILE sorrow, in honor of the memory of;
Abraham Lincoln, whom In life they
loved and trusted, .sr