The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-04-28
Death Bed of the President.

lied what had transpired.
Death Bed of the President.
The murder of the President was at
once announced at Growers Theatre. Lit
tie Tad Lincoln was in attendance there,
and the moment he heard the statement
he seemed to go almost crazy, and sobbed
and shrieked in heart-rending manner.
The poor boy was taken to the White
House, and was soon quieted when it was
ascertained his father was still alive.
From the moment the President was
shot up to his death he was insensible, and
exhibited no signs of pain; recognized no
person, and in fact, I believe, did not open
his eyes. Blood troubled bis breathing,
often making it exceedingly difficult.
He was watched with tender care, and
all that could be was done for him. Vice
President johnson visited the President
during the night, but remained only about
an hour. In fact, many of those who
rushed to assist in taking care of the Pres
ident, found that their presence INSTRUCTED
rather than gave assistance, and therefore
left. Among these were many members
of Congress and Western men. The num-
Der present was reduced to but few before
he breathed his last. About O'Clock this
morning, I reached the house where the
President lay in bis dying agony. He was
lying upon the bed and apparently breath
ing with great difficulty. He was entirely
unconscious, as he had been since his as
sassination. His eyes were protruding
from their sockets and suffused With
blood. In other respects his countenance
was unchanged. In an adjoining room
were Mrs. Lincoln, her son Capt. Robert
Lincoln, Miss Harris, (who was with Mrs.
Lincoln at the time of the assassination of
the President), Rufus F. Andrews and
two lady friends of Mrs. Lincoln's. Mrs.
Lincoln was under great excitement and
agony, wringing her hands and exclaiming:
"Why did he not shoot me instead of my
husband? I have tried to be so careful
of him, fearing something would happen.
And bis life seemed to be more precious
now than ever. l must go with him -
and other expressions of like character.
She was constantly going back and forth
to the bedside of the President, exclaim-
ing in great agony, elbow can it be So"
The scene was heartrending, and it is
impossible to portray it in its living light.
Capt. Robert Lincoln bore himself with
great irmness, and consequently endeav-
ored to assuage the grief of his mother,
by telling her to put her trust in God and
all would be well. Occasionally, being en-
tirely overcome, he would retire into the
hall and give vent to the most heart-rend.
ing lamentations. he would recover him
self and return to his mother, and with re-
markable self possession try to cheer her
broken spirits, and tighten her lad of sor-
row. His conduct was the most remarka-
bic exhibition of calmness in trying hours
that have ever seen.
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 sur
geons that were holding his pulse were
him dead; he would breathe
with so great difficulty as to be heard in
almost every part of the house. Mrs. Lin
coin took her last leave of him about twen-
ty minues before he expired and was sit
ting in an adjoining room when it was an
nounced to her that he was dead, and
when the announcement was made she ex-
claimed, "Oh, why did you not tell me
he was DYING.
Surgeons and members of the Cabinet,
Senator Sumner, Capt Robers Lincoln,
Gen. TODD, Mr.. Field and Mr.. Andrews,
were standing at his bedside when he
breathed his last. Senator Sumner, Gen.
Todd, Robert Lincoln and Rufus Andrews,
stood leaning over the head-board of the
bed, watching every motion of the breath.
ing breast of the dying President.
Robert Lincoln was reclining himself
upon the arm of Senator Sumner. Mem.
oers OF the Cabinet were standing at the
side OF the bed, Mr.. Stanton at the left
Mr.. Andrews near Mr.. Lincoln.s head
next to him was Mr.. Dennison, and others
arranged along their left. Surgeons were
sitting upon the side and foot of the bed.
holding the Presidents hands, and. with
their watches observing the slow declen-
sion OF the pulse. Such was the solemn
stiffness for the space of five minutes that
the ticking OF watch could ba heard in
the room. -"
at twenty-five minutes past seven his
muscles relaxed and the spirit of Abra.
ham Lincoln fled from its earthly taber-
nacle to that bourne from whence NO trav.
eler returns.
The countenance of the President was
beaming with that characteristic smile
which only those who have seen him in
bis happiest moments can appreciate, and
except the blackness of his eyes, his face
appeared perfectly natural. He died with
out struggle, and without even percep-
tible motion of limb. Calm and silent,
this great and good man passed away.
The morning was calm and the rain was
dropping gently upon the roof of the hum
BILE apartment where they laid him down
to die. ttE9
Guards had been stationed to keep the
people from the house, and no noise could
be heard in the streets save the footsteps
of the sentry pacing to, ald fro as he
guarded all that remained Of Abraham
Lincoln. All present felt the awful SOL