The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-05-05
OUR LATE PRESIDENT.
Last Hours of President Lincoln.

WASHINGTON, April Is, 1865.
As every incident of the death-scene of
our nations second Father-ABRAHAM
LlNOOLN-must take its position in the
worlds history, the following facts which
we have not yet seen in print, may prove
interesting. ~ ~
Until he died was absent from his room
but an hour. Mrs. Lincoln was led in
many times during the night. She seemed
almost frantic, and her ordinations of
woe were truly heart-rending. At one
time, while sitting by his bedside, she kept
saying, "Kill me! kill me! kill me, too
shoot me, tool" AT another time heard
her exclaim in the most piteous tones, =
"Do live do speak to me! Do live and
speak to me, wont your"
But those rigid lips never parted, those
eyes never looked upon her, for he never
regained consciousness, even for q mo-
ment. There he lay, and with each rise
and fall of his chest, there issued one of
the most dismal, mournful, moaning noises
I ever heard, and which I never shall
forget. sat...92 err &t.., III. .'...'.
But the last moments OF Abraham Lin
coin were drawing to q close, and about
half an hour before he died Mr.. Stan1np
was summoned to the bedside Of his fi1kd
and chief a9 'E@ PR, =. ''.-t =, ~ u
Mrs. Lincoln had had her last int . view
with her loved husband some time bsfore,
an interview fraught with the most agoniz-
ing emotions. Grief seemed to deprive
her of almost every Vita function, and she
could but call in humble duplication to
the God OF the widow to help her in her
terrible affection. "Ohs why did he not
shoot me2" she cried, as she entered the
house, "my life would willingly have been
given !" And during the whole previous
and last interview with the honored part
ner of her joys and sorrows, she had utter
ed loving appeals for recognition which
had wrung every heart, and left not dry
eye in the room.
The final parting was terrible, and after
bestowing one long lingering kiss upon his
pale brow, she fell back almost Sc >eless
in the arms of her friend, Mis- ;.rris.
| The heart-broken woman was e, led
from the room, crying in piteous accents,
"My God! and have given up my hus-
band to diet" She did not see him after
ward, her friends deeming it best to spare
| her as much as possible from the exciting
effects of her interview with her dying
husband, especially as Mr.. Lincoln had
remained in state of Inconsistencies
from the first firing of the murderous slot,
though suffering the most intense . my.
1t is now apparent to all that Mr. Lin
coins great q good career was drawing
rapidly to close. His eldest SOD, Capt
Robert Lincoln, stood at the head of the
bed, bis hand resting on the head piece of
the bed, and his head bowed upon Mr..
Summers shoulder, bis head slightly turn
ed away from the dread scene tanspiring,
and weeping audibly. The Surgeon Gem
eral P. K. Barnes, stood Immediately next
to Mr.. Robert Lincoln, holding the Presi-
dents hand in his two hands. Back of
him stood Gen. Halleck. By the bedside
leaned Secretary Stanton, his face pale
and immovable, but exhibiting traces of
the fearful emotions through which he had
SO lately and was still doomed to pass
through. DR.. Stone stood at Mr.. Stan.
tons right; while Secretary Welles, bow.
ed down and grief-stricken, stood at the
foot OF the bed. Around were mass Of
Cabinet officers, and anxious sorrowing
friends The final moment of dissolution,
when that great soul was to leave its earth
" tenement to assume the robes of eternal
light, had arrived. Each moment the
breathing faded softer and softer away,
and at length ceased. The man who had
eve. kept so much of the child about him,
died as sweetly and peacefully as an in
FAINT.