Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-03-14
A Reminiseenee Of Mr. SIMMER.

In the monIh Of j une last. few DAYS prior to
the departur OF Mr.. Sunni n or his su miner
vacation in Massachusetts,, the writer of this
called upon him at his residence The Senator
was found in dressing gown and slippers, In the
room on the second floor which answered a his
ONCE and reception room. He was In unusu alIy
good spirit, and on being Intercepted relative
10 his health replied 81 feel almost as we'll as
ever did. turned the corner three weeks
sgo, and since that time have been steadily
improving. My physician prohibits anything
Ike exhaustive labor, but 1 can read a little
and write few brief letters without feeling any
injurious results" In speaking of the nature
OF his disease, lie referred to Ii being "the
suit OF the injury received fifteen years ago"
lie entered into q circumstsntial account Of the
manner in which IL had affected him, and said
the pain seemed to originate In the spinal col
umD, frequently extending from that to the
hack part Of the head, aud sometimes to the
region of the heart. "In such q case, )" said he,
1.-The only relief is morphine injected under the
skin. Ii works upon me like magic. Ii Is like
aeon mauder-in-chief who cries Haiti Nor
Ibine says to pain, 'StOpi' and IL stops
About q month since had a very severe attack.
! sitting in my Office when il came upon me
Almost instantly was racked with the most
eNcrueiating pain. 4 managed to crawl to nv
h q In the next room. IL was then about half
psss ten O'Clock IN the morning aud nv pnysi-
clan was due at eleven So great were nv suf-
ssrirgs that i at first thought of sending for
LIN at once finally concluded to brave it out
jor balf an hour, and did so, though suffering
DnutteTable agony. The doctor came promptly.
Cut came his Instruments and in a trice an in
eision was made and the morphine admins
tered. The effect was magical, and in a few
moments was in q sleep, from which I woke
feeling better. This injection always produces
similar effect upon me, although frequently
IL Is necessary to repeat the operation at brief
Intervals" "But am told, Mr.. Sumner that
this treatment. IL continued fer any length of
time, derauges the stomach, in fact interferes
with digestion" $50 1 understand" he re-
sponded, "but II has never had any pcrceptible
effect upon my general health. As for in
digestion, in the whole course of nv life T
have never known practically what 1t is"
After speaking of his expected visit to his
friend Longfellow at Nabant, and on several
other topics, the conversation turned upon the
assassination Of President Lincoln. and Mr..
sumner gave an exceedingly interesting de-
tailed account of his experience on that dread
iul night. 1t Is unnecessary here to rshearse
his narrative Suffice II to saw he was with
Mr. Lincoln all night, and in the morning saw
him breathe his last. "I had been terribly ex-
ercised all night" he said, Z" over the reports
In regard to Mr.. Seward, and desired to 20 to
him as soon possible. NV first duty how
ever, was TO the dying President. therefore
stsid by his side all night. When he drew his
Last breath, some one-I think Stsnton-calIed
upon chaplain who was present to offer prayer. I
had already taken my hat to go, but waited
until the prayer was concluded, when I left T.
hastily. On reaching the steps / saw Gen. Hal
leek had preceded me. Anxious to go to Mr.
Seward at once, asked Gen. Halleck il he .
would take me there IN his carriage which was 1
standing in the street Gen. II tlleck replied .
that he was going that way, and would
do 50 with pleasure. He added Il shall
have to ask You to wait for me At
the Krkwood House. as / want to see
Vice President johnson (who was stoppin,
there) moment" Then, {" said Mr Sumner,
''fcr the first time it flashed upon me like an
electric shock that Andrew johnson was Pres-
dent of the United States! So absorbing had
been my grief that it had not occurred TO me /
befpTe. Near ID street, think it was a rope /
GORDON, guarded by soldiers, had been stretched /
across 10th street, and a large crowd was col !
lected Recognizing Gen. Halle * and myself, !
a number Of voices said, Senator, how Is Mr. ]
lincoln?' General, Is Mr.. Lincoln still aliysP'
i responded in q low tone of voice but loud /
enough to be heard by sill, Gentlemen, Mr.. |
Lincoln has just died - the announcement being
received in sorTOvful silence. Arrived in front
of the kirkwOod, Gen. Hslleck alight4d, and
saying, Il shall be away but a moment passed
into the hotel Now, Gen. HaIleck was a pscu-.
liar msn-a man of few words, aud when a I
minute later be returned inquired, General,
what did you say to Mr.. Johnson 81 simply |
said, replied the General, Mr.. 10 Anson, dontgo
out Of the house ucithOat guard to-day "This,"
said MIR. Sumner, "was the way in which Mr. I
johnson was first informed OF the death of Mr. |
Lincoln, and made aware of the fact that ne
was President of the United States"