Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1880-07-14
Gartield's Power-A Thrilling Incl
dent in NsW York,
From the Cincinnati Gazette. I

Garneld's power during the greateet crisis
The country ever passed through, has been
furnished us by distinguished gentle
man who was present, and shows the in.
tellectual and moral power of the Repub-
lican nominee tor the Presidency over a
surging and msddened crowd:
81 shall never forget the first time saw
General Garfield 1t was the morning
after President Lincolns assassination
The country was excited to its utmost ten
sion, and New York city seemed ready
for the scenes Of the French Revolution.
The intelligence of Lincoln's murder b d
been flashed by the wires over the whole
land The newspaper headlines were set
up IN the largest tyre, and the high crime
was on every ones tongue. Fear TOOK
possession OF mems minds as to the fate
fate OF the Government, for in few hours
the news came on that Scward's throat
was cut and that attempts had been made
upon the lives of others of the Govern
ment officers Posters were stuck up
everywhere, in great back letters, calling
upon the loyal citizens of New York,
Brooklyn, Jersey City and neighboring
places, to meet around the Wall street Elk.
change and give expression to their senti.
ments. 1t was dark and terrible hour.
What might come next no one could tell,
and men spoke with bsted breath. The
wrath OF the worktngmeD was simply IN
contrOllable, and revolvers and knives
were In the bands of thousands of Lin
coins friends, ready at the first opportu.
nifty to take the law into their own hands
and avepge the death of the martyred
President upon any and all who dared 10
utter q W rd against him."
ELEVEN O'Clock A. NJ. was the hour set
for the rendezvous. Fifty thousand peo-
pie crowded around the Exchange Build
ing, cramming and jamming the streets,
and wedged in tight as men could stand
| together. With few to whom special
favor was extended, | went over from
Brooklyn, at 8 A M, and, even then,
with the utmost diff Guilty, found way to
the reception room for the speakers in the
front of the Exchange Building, and look
ing out upon the high and N assive bal
cony, whose front. was protected by
heavy iron railing. We sat in solemnity
and silence, waiting for General Butler,
who, 1t was announced, had started from
Washington and was either already in the
city, or expected every moment. Nearly
a hundred generals, judges, statesmen,
lawyers, editors, clergymen and others
were in that room waiting Buffers ar
Aval. We stepped out to the balcony to
WntCA tuC lCdIIullt SWdylug
mass OF people. Not hurrah was heard,
but for the most part dead silence, or a
deep, ominous mUttering ran like a rising
wave up the street toward Broadway, and
again down toward the river on the right.
"At length the batOns of the police
were seen swinging in the air. far up on
the left, parting the crowd and pressing
1t back to make way for a carriage that
moved slowly and with diff culi joys,
through the compact multitude. Sud
denly the silence was broken, and the cry
of Butler ButlerT Butlerp rang out
with tremendous and thrilling effect, and
was taken up by the people. But not
hurrah! Not oncel It was the cry of
great people, asking to know how their
President died. The blood bounded in
our veins, and the tears ran like streams
down our faces. How it was done l for
get, but Butler was pulled through and
pulled up, and entered the room, where
we had just walked back to meet him. &
broad Grape, yard long, hung from his
LETT arm-terrlble contrast with the count
less flags that were waving the nations
victory In the breeze. We first realized
then the truth OF the sad news that Lin
coin was dead When Butler entered the
room we shook hands. Some spoke,
some couldn't All were In tears The
only word Butler had for US all at the
first break of the silence was: Gentle
men, he died in the fulness of his fsmel'
and as he spoke it his lips quivered, and
the tears ran fast down his cheeks.
"Then, after few moments, came the
speaking. And you can imagine the eff
fect as the Grape fu.tered in the wind,
while his arm was uplifted Dickinson,
of New York State, was fairly wild. The
old man leaped over the iron railing of
the balcony, and stood on the very edge
overhanging the crowd, gesticulating in
the most vehement manner, and next
thing to bidding the crows burn up the
rebel, seed, root and branch, while by
stander held on to his coat-tails to keep
him from falling over. By this time the
wave of popular indignation had swelled
to its crest. Two men lay bleeding on
| one of the side streets, the one dead, the
other next to dying; one on the pave.
m ent, the other In the gutter. They had
said moment before that Lincoln ought
to have been shot long ago! They were
not allowed to say it again! Soon two
long pieces of scantling stood out above
the heads OF he crowd, crossed at the top
like the letter x, and lcoped halter
pendent from the junction, dozen men
following its slow motion through the
! masses, while 'Vengeancep was the cry.
Con the right. suddenly, the shout rose,
THE World! The Worldp The office of
The WorldH sWortdt 'World!' and
movement of perhaps 5000 or 10000
turning their faces 10 the direction of
that building began to be executed. 1t
was critical moment. What might
come NO one could tell, did that crowd
get in front of that office. Police and
military would have svailed little or been
too late. A telegram had just been read
from Washington, Seward is dying
Just then, as that jnncture, man stepped
| forward with small flag in his han6,
and beckoned to the crowd. Another
telegram from Washington And then,
In the awful stiffness OF the crisis, taking
advantage of the hesitation of the crowd,
whose steps had been arrested moment,
a right arm was lifted skyward, and a
voice clear and steady, loud and distinct,
spoke out; Fellow citizens! Clouds and
darkness are round about Him! His