The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-02-03

( and | most earnestly advised Mr.. Lincoln
should go to Washington privately that
night in the sleeping car. Mr.. Judd fully
entered into the plan, and said he would
urge Mr.. Lincoln to adopt it on his COM
municating with Mr.. Lincoln. After the
services of the evening were over he
answered that he had engaged to go to
Harrisburg and speak the next day, and he
would not break his engagement even in
the face OF such peril, but that after he had
| fulfilled the engagement he would follow
such advice as we might give him in refer
ence to his journey to Washington. 1t was
then arranged that he would go to Harris
burg the next day and make his address,
| after which he was to apparently return to
Governor Curtin's house for the night, but
in reality to go to point about two miles
out of Harrisburg, where an extra car and
engine awaited to take him to Philadelphia.
At the time of his returning the telegraph
lines east, west, north, and south were cut
SO that no message as 10 his movements
could be sent off in any direction. Mr.
Lincoln could not possibly arrive in season
for our regular train that left at eleven P.
NJ, and did not dare to send him by an
extra for fear of its being found out or sus-
pected that he was on the road; so it became
necessary for me to devise some excuse for
the detention of the train. But three or
four on the road knew the plan. One of
these I sent by an earlier train, to say to
the people of the Washington branch road
that had an important package l was get
ting ready for the eleven p. NJ. train; that
it was necessary that should have this
package delivered in Washington early the
next morning, without fail; that l was
straining every nerve to get it ready by
eleven o'clock, but in case did not sue
coed l should delay the train until it was
ready; probably not more than half an
hour; and wished as personal favor that
the Washington train should await the
coming of ours from Philadelphia before
leaving. This request was willingly COM
piled with by the managers of the Wash
ington branch, and the man whom | had
sent to Baltimore so informed me by tele
graph in cypher. The second person in
the secret sent to West Philadelphia in a
carriage, to await the coming of Mr.. Lin
coin. gave him package of old rail
road reports, done up with great care, with
great seal attached to it, and directed, in
fair round,hand, to a person at Wizards.
| marked it, Every important. To be
delivered, without fail, by eleven o'clock
train endorsing my own name upon the
package.
Mr.. Lincoln arrived INVEST Philadelphia, |
and was Immediately taken into the car
riage and driven within square of our
station, where my man with the package |
jumped off and waited till he saw the car
riage driven up to the door and Mr.. Lincoln |
and the detective get out and go into the |
station. He then came up and gave the |
package to the conductor, whe was wait
ing at the door to receive it, in company |
with a police officer Tickets had been |
bought beforehand for Mr.. Lincoln and ,
party to Washington, including tier of /
berths in the sleeping-car. He passed he
tween the conductor and the police officer !
at the door, and neither suspected who he |
was. The conductor remarked as he passed. |
swell, old fellow, it was lucky for you
that our president detained the train to |
send a package by it, or you would have
been left Mr.. Lincoln and the detective
he safely ensconced in the sleepingcar, and
my package safely in the hands of the con-
ductor, the train started for Baltimore
nearly fifteen minutes behind time. Our
man No. 3, George -, started with the
train to go to Baltimore. and hand it over
with its contents to man No. 1, who awaited
it's arrival in Baltimore. Before the train
reached Gray's Ferry Bridge, and before
Mr.. Lincoln had resigned himself to SUM
Der, the conductor came to our man George,
and accosting him, said, George, thought
you and were old friends; and why did
you not tell me we had Old Abe on board?"
George, thinking the conductor had in
some way become possessed of the secret,
answered, "John, we are friends; and, as
you have found it out, Old Abe is on board;
anu we Will Stlii Dc lTieuUS, anu SEE LlIu |
safely through" John Answered, eyes,
if it costs me my life, he shall have safe
passage And so George stuck to one
end of the car and the conductor to the
other passengers would admit of it. 1t
turned out, however, that the conductor
was mistaken in his man. A man strongly
resembling Mr.. Lincoln had come down to
the train, about half an hour before it left,
and bought ticket to Washington for the
seeping-car. The conductor had seen him
and concluded he was the veritable Old
Abe. George delivered the sleeping car
and train over to William in Baltimore, as
had been previously arranged, who took
his place at the brake, and rode to Wash
iugton, where he arrived at six A. NJ, on
time, and saw Mr.. Lincoln in the hands of
friend, safely delivered at Wizards,
where he secretly calculated, "God be
prased"' He also saw the package of rail
road reports, marked " important,' safely
delivered into the hands for which it was
intended. This being done, he performed
his morning additions in peace and quiet,
and enjoyed with unusual zest his break
fast. At eight o'clock, the time agreed
upon, the telegraph wires were joined; and
the first message flashed across the line
was. Your package has arrived safely,
and been delivered. Signed, William"
Then there went up from the writer of
this shout of JOY and devout thanks
giving to Him from whom all blessings
How: and the few who were in the secret
joined in a heartfelt amen. Thus began
and ended chapter in the history of the
rebellion that has been never before writ
ten, but about which there have been
many hints, entitled "a Scotch Cap and
Riding cloak" &c, neither of which had
any foundation in truth, as Mr.. Lincoln
travelled in his ordinary dress. Mr.. Lin
coin was safely inaugurated after which l
discharged our detective force, and also t
the scmi-miltary whitewashers, and all
was quiet and serene again on the railroad. ;