Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1865-04-21
Interesting Correspondeuce,

The deception Of The Ne'es ofgtc Presidents death
at Iopa city, Mtscdttne, dc. "A
MUscArISE, Iowa, April 10th, 1885,
DEAR HANK:--A Nation mourns as
Ia Nation never mourned before. When
I left Dubuque on Wednesday last loyal
i!men had not got over their rejoicings
Bover the surrender of Lee and his army.
6From Dubuque 1 went to Davenport,
land from there to Grinnell, and all along
the road Joy and rejoicing was the order
!, of the day. On Friday went to Iowa
Getty. The next morning while 1 was
standing in the post-ofIlce conversing
with Ex-Gov. Kirkwood, Judge Brain
Ierd, and others, gentleman stepped up
eand said that a report had reached Da-
svenport that President Lincoln and Sec
rotary Seward had been assassinated, =
the dispatch having been received just
Jas the train left for the west. The news
Sspread through the city like wild-fre.
i" Can it be ?" was the exclamation from
Jail. Where, how, by whom the deed
was done, could not be learned for Iowa
City has no telegraph, and no further
information could be had until Monday
noon. To wait until then without hear
ing the particulars was a suspense not
Ito be borne. A courier was started on
horseback for Muscatine for something
Ito relieve the intense excitement. Bust
ness was suspended, and all mourned as
,if they had lost near and dear friend.
i had business in Iowa City not yet at
tended to, but after hearing of the foul
,crucl and cowardly deed, I determined
Ito 60 down to Muscatine on the 4 o'clock
train. A large number of citizens who
would not wait went down on the train
ito Davenport. arrived in this city last
might at p. NJ, and found the report
too true. o never can forget the feel
iings that had when stepped from the
Tears and looking here and there saw the
flags at half mast and the stores and
dwellings dfaped in mourning. Hank,
1 stopped and gave vent to my feelings !;
the tear came, followed by many others.
Where can you find the true patriot that
ibid not weep? weep, yes, weep for the
great and noble man,--and as I passed
'along the streets of the city of Musca-
|tine it seemed to me as if the very stones
in the pavement were weeping. The
dreadful news was received here about
10 A. NJ. Saturday, when the stores We're
|closed, a public meeting was called att
Fremont Hall, and arrangements made|
ito observe the day. Minute guns We're
fired until shutdown, flags We're at half
mast, and Grape hung on all the doors.
IA procession was formed at . p. NJ. and
marched through the streets, halting at
the corner of Iowa Avenue while Rev.
r. M. Barrett offered fervent prayer,
which was followed by the singing of al
beautiful and solemn hymn appropriate
Ito the occasion.
/ write this at the beautiful residence
|of Hon. Suel Foster, situated OH one of
the pleasant knobs which surround
Muscatine, overlooking the mighty
Father OF Waters.
SUNDAY, DAM.
l could not rest last night. The terri
bic news unnervcs me. Icannot realizc|
it can it be so? Alas, it is too true
"A Nation mourns this morning, this
beautiful morning. There is mourning
i'm the song of the birds in the bursting
buds, in the blades of gro All nature
mourns. The waters of lie great Mis-
sissippi, rolling by, chant mournfuIl
dirge for the Nations Pride. The blow
is heavy; it fell like thunder-bolt on
the hearts of the people.
3P. MI went to the Congregational
Church this morning, and heard an ex
ccllent sermon from Rev. Mr.. Magoun
President of the Iowa College at Grin
nell. The house was dressed in the ha
biliments of mourning, and the exer-
cises We're impressive and appropriate
In the large audience there did not ap-
pear to be dry eye.
But few short months ago took thek
great good man by the hand at the
White House, and when I remember )
he warm reception he gave me, as well
Is the entire Iowa delegation to the Ma
,ional Convention at Baltimore, the
thought would arise, Can it be possible
hat he is dead? 1t seems but yesterday
hat he stood there in oil of his manl- >
hess and great goodness, with high
hopes of his country's future. And then !
again the recollection of that great con-
such an one as was never before
held, and the like of which will never
De seen again-sO harmonious and unan- /
NOUS for the great man. The scene{
will never be forgotten. But the tho'tE
,omes again, our idol has been takenS
rom us in an hour when we thought wei
could least afford to spare him. lGod, inf
His wisdom, has seen fit to permit thet
damnable act to be done, and we ought !
to feel our dependence on the Infinite, {
and pray that He who doeth all things!
well may be our guide through thisi
great tribulation.
Would to God that the hot wrath oil
the people might swing every man thatt
rcjoiccs at this calamity. Revenge! isl
my motto. Nj.
For the Cedar Falls Gazette.
Missionary Meeting.
NEW HARTFORD, April Is, 1885.
On Wednesday evening, April 10Th,