Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-04-17

person, and in fact, believe did not open
his eyea. The blood troubled his breath
ing, often making it exceedingly difficult
He was watched with tender care and sll
that could be done was done.
Vice President Johnson visited the Presi-
dent during the night, but remained only
about an hour; in fact many Ct those who
had rushed to assist in taking care of the
President found that their presence OBJ
structed, rather than gave assistance, and
therefore left. Among these we're many
members of Congress and Western men.
The number present was reduced to but
few before he breathoQ his last. About five
o'clock this morning reached the house
where the President lay in his dying
sgoniea. He was lying upon the bed, sp-
parently breathing with great difficulty.
BE was entirely unconscious, as he had bean
ever since his assassination, his eyes pro-
trudiug from their sockets and sufused
with blood. Ia other respects his cOunten-
ance was unchanged. In the adjoining
room were Mrs. Lincoln, her son, Captain
Robert Lincoln, Miss Harris, who was with
Mr.. Lincoln at the time of the assassins-
ton of the President, Rufus F. Andrews,
and two lsdY friends of Mrs. Lincoln. Mrs.
Lincoln was under a great excitement and
agony, wringing her hands and ezclaim-
ing: aWhy did he not shoot me instead of
my husband hAve.tried to be SO careful
of him, fearing something would happen,
and his life seemed to be more precicus
now than ever 1 must go to him |" and
other expressions of like character. She
was constantly going back and forth to
the bedside of the President, exclsining in
great agony: "How can it be soT
The scene was heart-rending, and it is
impossible to portray it in its living light.
Captain Robert Lincoln bore himself
with great frmness, and constantly en-
deavored to assusge the grief OF his moth
er by telling her to put her trust il God
and al would be well. Occasionally, being
entirely overcome, hs would retire TO the
hall TO give vent to the most heart-rending
lamentations. He would recover himself |
and return to his mother, and with re-
markRble selfpossessiSn try to cheer her |
broken spirits and tighten her load of sor-
row. His conduct was most remarkable |
exhibition of cslmness in try ing hour |
that have ever seen. About a quarter |
of an hour before the President died his
breathing became very difficult, and in
many instances seemed to have to have |
entirely ceased, so that the surgeons who
holding ais pulse supposed him dead. He
would breathe with so great difficulty as to
be heard in almost every part of the house.
Mrs. Lincoln took her last leave Of him
about twenty minutes before he expired,
and was sebbng in an adjoining room
when it was announced to her that he was
dead, and when the announcement was
made she exclaimed, HOh why did you not
tell me he was dying"
The Surgeons and members of the Csbi-
net, Senator Sumner, Captain Robert Lin
coin, General Tod, Mr.. Field and Mr.. An
dreWs were standing at his bedside when
he breathed his last. Senator Sumner,
General Tod, Robert Lincoln and Rufus
Andrews stood leaning over the headboard
of the bed, watching every motion of the
breathing breast of the dying President.
Robert Lincoln was resting on the arm
of Senator Sumner. Members of the
Cabinet were standing by the bed side.
Secretary Stanton on the left of Mr.. An
drews and Mr.. Andrews was near the head
of Mr.. Lincoln, next to him was Mr.. Den
nison, and others were arranged along at
his left. The Surgeons were sitting upon
the side and foot of the bed, holding the
Presidents hands, with their watches OBJ
serving the slow declension of the pulse.
Such was the solemn stiffness for the space
of five minutes, that the ticking of the
watches could by heard in the room. At
twenty-five minutes past seven his mus
cles relaxed, and the spirit of Abraham
Lincoln fed from its earthly tabernacle to
that bourne from which no traveller re-
turns. .r-
The eountenance of the President was
scanning with that characteristic smile
which only those who have seen him in
his happiest moments can appreciate,
and, except blackness about his eyes,
his face appeared perfectly natural.
he died without struggle, and without
even 8 perceptible motion of limb, calm
and silent, this great and good man passed
away. The morning was calm and the |
rain was falling gently upon the roof of
the humble apartment where they laid |
him down to die.
Guards had been stationed to keep peo-
pie from the house, and no noise could be
heard in the streets save the footsteps of |
the sentry passing to and fro as he guard
Cd all that remained of Abraham Lincoln. |
All that we're present felt the awful So
lsmnity of the occasion, and no man could
have witnessed the touching scene without
melting to tears even Secretary Stanton,
whose GOODNESS were remarkable, could not
keep bgck the silent monitors which rolled
out from his eyes upon his checks.
Mrs. Lincoln remained but short time.
She was assisted into her carriage, and with
her son Robert and other friends, was
driven to the houss where, but last even
ing, she left for the last time with her bus-
band.
Secretary Stanton called on Mr. Seward
Just before IL o'clock. Mr.. Seward recog.
nized him at once, and asked why the
President had not called on him. Up TO
this time he had no knowledge that the as