The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1880-06-01
THE SPIRIT OF DEMOCRACY
TUESDAY, JUNE /, 1880.
LINCoLNs MARROW ESCAPE.
SOmnambulism Which Nightly
Helped Young Physician.
fSan Francisco Post.]

lSan Francisco Post
The annual recurrence OF Lincoln's
birthdsy sets adoss snewinyoicesA of an.
ecdotes of the great emancipator, the
majority of which are obviously smok-
ihg hetifom the pen of the hard.pushed
paragrapher. There, is nothing about
t.,em, however, so in,rinsically remarka-
be rs the fact that they are all reprinted
with painful solemnity, particularly in
the English papers, ny the readers OF
whom they are evidently regarded as
gospel verify. Willing to still further
enlighten the lsbors OF our transatlantic
brethren OF the shears, we.contribute the
following plausible incident to the gen.
sral, fund, merely asking Eastern con-
temporaries to cut 1T this preliminary
paragraph in reprinting, and send Us by
wire the editorial comment Of the first
L .ndon papers copying the story.
As is we'll known. the cares and anx-
ieties Of the great war go. weighed upon
President Lincoln's mind as to throw
his 9, stem into condition of nervous
seDsihility Of the most painful descrip-
tion. He found it almost impossible to
sleep. and, when slurnber Occasionally,
through sheer weakness, visited his rest.
less couch, he would arise and wander
about the house, his .mird still hnsy with
the questions of national expediency.-
In fact Lincoln became, in time, a con
1rmed somnambulist, and the most as.
sidnous care on the part of Mrs, LIN
coin and the attendants was necessary
to insure bic safety. One night, howey-
erejpst after the Fort Pillow, massacre,
they omitted to attach. the small jack
ehain with Which the ankle Of the Pres
iient vas usually fastened to the leg OF
his bed, and about 8. m. he was dis
covered to be missing For long time
tie jasxious search OF the distracted
household revealed nothing, until one
OF the gardeners happened to think OF
the roof, and there, sure enough, they
discovered "Father Abraham" as be
was affectionately called by those about
bimsreclining, ,at length on the'vefyHdge
of the cornice Of the west wing, at which
dizzy height from the ground he was
slumberingF peacefully. How be bad de-
scended: from the. roof coping above 10
his perilous position was one Of those
mysteries solved cnly in the land OF
dreams. 1t was evident ct q glance,
however, that it would be impossible to
reach the narrow ledge whereon he lay
without. touching the sleeper, and all
could see that the slightest change in tbe
centei Is grsvitv in awakening wonl re-
suk ininstsnt destrpctiohs The ne1s
6fthe Presidents terrible position spread
like Wildfire, even at that hour, and soon
q dense crowd ssthertd beneath xif the
gardens, awaiting the denouement Will
hated breath. By this time-a hook and
ladder company, which bad been sent
Ios, arrived. and began preparing theil
ladders for erection TO the wall heneatt
ihe new plainly revealed figure, although
how to place them against the building
without awakening the sleeper by the
jar was the uppermost thought. At thii
moment young. pale-faced regimental
surgeon appeared on the ROOT, and, mo.
tioning the crowd to even greater silencg
leaned over the edge and proceeded 10
gently lower over the face beneath Q
sring, suspended to which was large
sponge. This was filed With chloro-
form. In . few moments the oblivious
President was rendered still more uncon-
scious. and soon his rigid body was
safely approached and lowered to the
pavement. sS&A-AA 4 A-L A-A-
The next morning Git won't do to in-
ish this historical episode without q
pacific climax) the ready witted young
surgeon received the Presidents com.
mission as the Surgeou-General of the
United States Amy. Oh course We re-
fer to General Barnes