Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1866-06-09
ar. Ltncoln,s First Assassination Plot -
His Own Account OF his Flight.

Wnle IN w dsntnBtOn Clty, early IN be'
eember, 1854, the writer called on the
President, with isaac N. Arnold, member
of Congress from Chicago, one Of Mr.. Lin
coln's most trusted personal friends. We
found him alone in the room wherein the
Cabinet meetings are held (iU the White
House. whose window overlooks the Po-
,omso and the Washington monument.
AT the request OF the writer, the president
related the circumstances of bis clandestlne
journey between Philadelphia and Wash
iDgton. The narrative is here given SUBJ
stantially In his owu words. as follows:
l arrived at Philadelphia on the 2lss.
l agreed to stop over night, and on the
following morning hoist the flag over lnde-
pendence Hall. In the evening there was
great crowd where received my friends,
at the Continental Hotel. Mr.. Judd, a
warm personal friend from Chicago, sent
for me to come to his room. went, and
found there Mr.. Pinkerton, skilful police
detective, also from Chicago, who bad
been employed for some days In Baltimore,
watching or searching for suspicious per-
sons there. Pinkerton informed me that q
plan bad been laid for my assassination, the
exact time when ! expected to go through
Baltimore being publicly knosn. He was
well informed as to the plan, bnt did not
know that the conspiratOrs would have
pluck enough to execute il. He urged me
to go right through with him to Washing
ton that night. didn't like that j had
made engagements to visit Harrisburg aud
go from there TO Baltimore, and l resolved
to do so. / could not believe that there
was plot to murder me- made arrange
ments, however, with Mr.. Judd for my
return TO Philadelphia the next night, If /
should be CONVINCED that there was danger
in going through Baltimore. told him
that II / should meet at Harrisburg, as l
had at other places, delegation TO go with
me to the next place (.hen Baltimore), J,
should feel safe, and 60 on. -. .',,.,. (
When I was making my way back to my
room, through crowds of people, met
Frederick Seward. Wen. together to my
room, when be told me that be had been
sent, at the instance of his father and Gen.
eral Scott, to inform me that their detec'
tives 10 Baltimere bad discovered plot
there to assasSinate me. They knew moth
ing of Pinkerton's movements. now be-
lisved such plot to be iD existence.
The next morning raised the flag over
independence Hall, aud then went 20 Har.
risburg with Mr. Sumner, Major (now
General) Hunter, Mr.. Judd, Mr. Lamon
and others. There met the Legislature
and people, dined, and waited until the ap-
pointed time for me to leave In the mean
time, Mr. Judd had so secured the telegraph
that no communication could pass to Bal.
timore and give the conspirators know ledge
of change in my plans.
In New York some friend had given me
new beaver hat In box, and in it had
placed soft wool hat. had never worn
one Of the latter iu my life. Having in
formed very few friends Of the secret of
nv new movements. and the cause, put
on on old overcoat had with me, and put
ting the soft hat in my pocket, walked
out OF the house at a back door, barehead-
ed. without exciting any special curiosity.
Then put on the soft hat and Joined my
friends without being recognized by stran-
gers, for was not the same man. Sum
ner and Hunter wished to accompany me.
1 said no;you are known, and your presence
might betray me. l will only take Lanon
(now marshal of this distric!) whom no
body knew. and Mr.. Judd, Sumner and
Hunter felt hurt.
We vent back to Philadelphia. and
found message there from Piukerton
(who had returned to Baltimore) ta4t the
censpirators had held their final meeting
that evening, and it was doubtful whether
they had the nerve to attempt the execu-
tiou Of their purpose. l went on, however
as the arrangements had been made, in
special train. We were long in the station
at Baltimore. / heard the people talking
around, but no one particularly observed
me. At an early hour on Saturday morn.
ing, at about the time was expected to
leave Harrisburg, l arrived in Washing
ton.
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