Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1865-04-19
The Last Hours of President Lincoln

From special dispatch to the Western Associated
Press.l
From the moment the President was
shot ND to his death he was insensible, and
exhibited no signs of pain, recognized no
person, and, in fact, believe, did not open
his ewes. Blood troubled his breathing,
often making it exceedingly difficult. He
was watched with tender care, and all that
could be was done for him.
Vice-Presidcnt Johnson visited the Pres
iacnt during the night, but remained only
about an hour. In fact, many of those who
had rushed to assist in taking care of the
President. found that their presence i'm
pe,ied rather than gave assistance. and
therefore left Among these were many
members of Congress and Western men.
The number present was reduced to but
few. Before he breathed his last, about
five o'clock this morning, | reached the
house where the President lay in ~ ...s diving
agonies. He was vy:.ng upon the bed, ap-
parently breathing with great difficulty
He was entirely unconscious, as he had
been since his assassination. His eyes were
protruding from their sockets, and suffuscd
with blood. In other respects his counte-
nance was unchanged In the adjoining
room were Mrs Lincoln, her son Capt Rob
Grt Lincoln, Miss Harris, who was with
Mrs Lincoln at The time of the assassina-
ton of the President, Rufus f. Andrews,
and two lady friends of Mrs. Lincoln. Mrs.
Lincoln was under great excitement and
agony, wringing her hands and exclaiming
''why did he not shoot ME instead of my
husband have tried to I've SO careful of
him. fearing something would happen. and
his life seems to he more precious now than
ever; must 90 with him. and other ex-
pressions of like character. She was con
stantly going back and forth to the bedside
of the President, exclaiming in great ago.
nv, chow can it be sO?"
| The scene was heartrending, and it is
impossible to portray in its living light
Capt. Robert lincoln bears himself with
great firmness, and constantly cndeavors to
assuage the grief of his mother by telling
her to put her trust in God and oil would
be we'll. Occasionally being entirely over
come, he would retire into the hall and givs
vent to tie most hcartrending lamentations
lie would recover himself and return to his
mother, and with remarkable selfposses
sion try to cheer her broken spirits and
tighten her load Of SORROW His conduct
was a most remarkable exhibitson Of calm
ness in the most trying hour that hav,
ever seen.
About a quarter Of an hour before ths
President died his brcathsng became very
difficult, and in many instances seemed t.
have entirely closed SO that the surgeons
who were holding his pulse supposed hin
dead. He would breathe with as grea
difficulty as to be heard in almost every
kpart of the house Mrs. Lincoln took he
last leave of him about twenty minutes
before he expired, and was sitting in thu
adjoining room when it was announced t
her that he was dead; and when the an
nouncemcnt was made she exclaimed, ''Oh
why did you not tell me he was dying.
The surgeons and members of the Cabinet
Senator Sumner, Capt. Robert Lincoln
Gen. Todd, Mr.. Field and Mr.. Andrew
were standing at his bedside when h
brcathed his last Senator Sumner, Gen
Todd, Robert Lincoln, and Rufus Anderson
stood leaning over the headbcard Of tn
bed, watching every motion Of the breath
ing breast Of the dying President. Rober
Lincoln was reclining himself upon tn
arm of Senator Sumner The members o
the Cabinet were standing by the 9de Q
1.-The bed, Secretary Stanton at the left o
Mr.. Andrews Mr.. Andrews near ~. Lin
coins head. Next to him was Mr.. Dennisol
and othen ranged along at the left. tn
!. surgeons were sitting upon the side and foo
of the bed, holding the Presidents hand
and with their watches observing the slo,
declension Of the pulse. Such was tn
! solemn stiffness for the space pf Eve Iair
utes that the ticking Of watches could .
heard in the room. At twenty two minute
J. past seven his muscles relaxed, and tn
! spirit Of Abraham Lincoln few from u
|, earthly tabernacle to that hOurn fsom whic
j. no traveller returnA The c0untenance
the President was beaming with that cha
e acteristic smile which only those who hav
d seen him in his happiest moments can q
d preciate, and except the blackness OF b
: eyes, his face appeared perfectly natura
He died without struggle and withot
!. even a perceptible motion Of the limb
: Calmly and silently the great and good ma
" passed away. SIS xss'fe &oSe q Ct -
: The morning was calm sndthe rain Va
|. dropping gently upon the roof Of the hun
: BILE apartment where they laid him dow
:, to die. Guards had been stationed to kee
people from the house, and no noise coul
Be heard n the streets me the footsep