The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1865-04-22
ID E ATII OF Pr Z . DE = Il
LIN COLIN.
Evenfs PrecedinE and Attend.
ing the AssI ssinaei0u-
Etc.
New YoRK April. l6

: The Herdld'S Washington special sends
details of events preceding the assassination
of the President, and his last hour: About
hslfpast seven in the evening, Hon. George
Ashmun called at the White House and was
ushered into the paror, where Schuyler Col
fax was seated. waiting for short interview
with the President on busiues. which had Il
bearing upon his proposed overland trip. A
few moments elapsed, wh.n President Lin
cold entered the room. and short converse
ton took place upon various matters. The
President was in happy ard jovial frame
uof mind. Mr. AsEmun desiring TO see h i'm
on special business, and i,'ere being 10 time
TO atteEd to it then, the President took ou,
card, and placed II on his knee. and wrote
ss fellows:
HAliow Mr.. Ashmun and friend to come to
me at a. m. tomorrow. a. LINCOLN.
"April 18th. 1850"
"These were the last words that he penned
1t was the last that he signed his name TO
any order, document or message. Mr.. Lin
coin finally stated that he must 90 to the
theatre, and warmly pressed Speaker Coiiax
and Mr.. Ashmun to accompany him, but
they excused themselves on tie score of
previous engagement.
"At about $ in the evening, Mr.. and Mrs.
Lincoln started for THEN carriage, the latter
tiki. the arm of Mr.. Ashmun, and the Pres
ident and Dir. Colfax walking together. AS
soon as the President and Mrs. Lincoln were
seated in the carriage the latter gave orders to
the coacbman to drive around to Senator Har-
ris' residence for Miss Harris. As the carriage
rolled away, they both said Good bye, good
bye to Messrs Ashmun and Colf;,x and the
carriage had in moment more disappeared
from the ground in front of the White House
"a few moments later, party of four
al. I
Miss Harris aud Mr.. Rathburn, of ALBANY
step-son of Senator Harris, arrived at the
theatre, and entered the front and left-hand
upper private box.
a moment before the attack was made
tbe President was leaning forward, resting
his head on his hand, in his accustomed care
less way, his eyes bent upon the stage and
enjoyipg heartily laugh. Miss Harris who
was in the box with the President makes the
following statement:
'.Near ore hour before the commission OF
.he deed the assassin came TO the door of
the box and looked in % take survey of
the position OF its occupanss. Il was sup
posed at the time that it was either a mistake
or the -xcerise OF imPertient cnuriosity.
The circumstance attract q no particular
attention at the time. Upon his entering
the box again, Maj. Rath6urn arose and
asked the intruder his business. He rushed
past the Major without making = reply
ana placing his pistol close to the ba ok of
the Presidents head, actually in contact with
1t, fired, and instantly sprang upon the
cushioned baluster of the hoS. when he made
backward plunge with hi5 kr:!e, aimed at
the lace or breast Of Mr. Lincoln Major
Rathburn sprngirg forward 10 protect the
President, received a stab in the am TIE
M rde-er ,ter Jumped rron the stage
ctfac cd H.. rar,i. ,,T-
which all was commitred upon the President
was astounding. Mrs. Lincoln saw the form
OF a person GO down from the box and thought
Mr. L,ncoii had fallen cus; -nd looked If she
could see him the floor, and barley srw
the cuprit jump to the stage, When all
was over, she turned her ewes to the box ard
saw that Mr. lincolns head had dropped
forward upon hi. breast, au1 at orce rcaiiz
ed wha; transpired.
The murder of the President was once
anunonced at Growers Theatre. Little Tad
Lincoln was III attendance there, and the
moment he heard the statement he seemed
to go almost crazy. He shreked and sob.
bed in a heartrendering manner. The poor
boy was taken to the White House, aud was
soon quieted when il was ascertaired that his
father was still alive.
From the moment the President was shot
.ln to his death be was insensible, and eXhi-
bited no 81 n of pain. recognized no person
and in fact l believe did not open his ewes.
Blood lrorbled his breathing. often making
it extremely difficult. He was watched with
tender care, and all that could be done was
done for him. -.H- ~.
'Vice President johnson VIZ. ed the Presi-
dent during the night, but remained only
an hour. In fact, many OF those who had
rushed to assist IN taking care of the Presi-
dent found that their presence obstructed.
rather than gave, assistance, and therefore
Jeff, Among these were many members of
Congress and Western men The number
present was reduced to bnt few before he
breathe0 his last.
about five o'clock this morning, reach
ed the house where the President Law in his
dying agonies. He was lying upon his bed.
apparently breathing with great difficulty.
He was entirely unconscious as he had been
since his assassination. His eyes were pro-
truding from their sockets and suffused with
blood. In other respects his cOuntenance
was unchanged. In an adjoining room were
Mrs. Lincoln, her son Robert Lincoln. Miss
Harris, who was with Mrs. Lincoln at the time
of the assassination OF the President, Rufus
+. Andrews. aid two lady friends of Mrs
Lincoln. Mrs. Lincoln was under great ex-
CItement and agony, wringing her hands and
exciaiming, Why did he not shoot ne instead
of my husband2 / have tried to be so care
full Of him, fearing something would happen,
and his life seemed to be more precious now
than erer.- must go with kim, and other
expressions Of like character. She was con
stantiy going back and forward to the bed
side of the President, cxcaiming in great
agony, How CAN'T be SOP The scene was
heartrending, and it is impossible to portray
itin its lvin- light Captain Lincoln bore
himself with great frmness, and constantly
endeasofedto assuage the grief ofhis mother
BY telling her to put her trust in God and all
would be well. Occasionally, being entire.
" overcome, he would retire into the hall and
give vent to The most heartrending lauentaiion
He would recover himself and return, to his
mother, and, with remarkable selfpossession
Try to cheer her broken spirits and Tighten
her load OF sorrow. His conduct was the
most REMARKED bic exhibition of calmness in q
trying hour that have ever seen. 1.-
About quarter of an hour before the
President died, his breathing became very
difficult. and, in many instances. seemed TO
have entirely ceased SO that the surgeons who
were holding his pulse supposed him dead,
De would breath with so great difficulty "a
TO be heard in almost every part of tbs house.
4rs.S s.SLineoln. sock her last leave Of hin;