New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-02-01
A STORY or LLNCOLNS FIRMNEsS.
From The CiereIand Herald.

On raw gloomy afternoon IN he winter OF 1909,
Colonel Senter ana the writer had an appointment
with President Lincoln on business connecteu Win
the protection of the commerce OF the laKes: Inc
war was at the time the almost exclusive subJect OF
publio though: or private conversation. Inc
streets of Washington were hlled win soldiers and
Army officers. and the whole city was apparently
nothing hut Il great camp, 10 and nom Whlch the
members of the Army and Navy were constantly
going and leaving. The ante-rOOms OF the " bite
Uouse were nlled daily from morning untl evening
with members of Congress, soldiers, sailors men
and women of every age and nation, all bent upon
getting personal interview with the President.
Sometimes the rush of visitors was so great they
could not be accommodated IL the corridors Oh the
White House, aud the order would De gwen 20
admit no one except privileged persons INTO Inc
building.
he ushered into the private room of the President,
MIR IA well-known lawyer from Ohio, seized
both of us somewhat roughly by the shoulders ana
begged us in earnest tones for the love o. God ud
humanity, TO ask Mr. Lincoln 10 see him and ms
ct;ent IL only for one moment. All day" he said,
1--WE have tramped YEARLY by the door, hopingin
vain the President would reent and give us near
IN Look for mercys sake" be continued. at
that noble white head and lettering ilgure. with
the bands tightly clasped nerNonSly before nm:
That old man Is father; ms ohN son, . la'i 81
nineteen, Is t. be shot this afternoon at O'Clock
unless tie President interieres. stanton ms az
proved the sentence; Lincoln has declined 20 inter-
fere ne wiz not see me. ana unless we can -et tie
ear OF the President the by viii be shot and th,s
old man and his wife will to- mauiacs.'
The father of thc boy at tins moment came TOR
"A "
falling upon his shoulders. His face was ono of the
saddest sights ever saw. the grief and anNi,N 80
pIainlv written upon il showed the torture hr W
suffering We took the old man kindly ~ Tire hare,
told him we would Big the President 90 see A..n,
and hid HIM hope for the best. Mr. Lincoln W Ia
thc gavest of hnmors, something special funny
having taken place in interview just closed with
a large committee from Baltimore and lac recued
the whole matter in the mcrrIest manner, accom-
nsnied with shouts of laughter For an hour Mr..
lincoln gave himself up to relaxation and lest, tell
ING the usher to bring him no cards tll he rang has
bell.
Al the end of this time John G. Nicolay. then pri-
yate secretary, now marshal of the supreme COlit,
came quietly into the room, leaned over the iresi-
dents chair and whispered some words OF private
conversation IN his In an instant the Prrsiaenh
ceased speaking his face became calm and solemn IN
compos,re and he appeared TO reflect graveiy ior
moment before replying. Quietly looking BACK oyer
his chair he SAID slowly and distinctly lei Mr.
- will not see him. 1 cannot. Don't ask me
again Tell him nave read the papers in the case,
an of them fully, word for word. The boy deserted
three times, the last time when on guard at wash
ipgion and he cannot be pardoned. VIII not IN
terfere He must DC shot" Mr. Nlcolay at once
left the ROOM and Mr.. Lincoln again renewed the
conversation at the point where he had broken on.
NE made no alusion TO the Interruption. and evi-
IDENTIFY did not wish either of to speak OF the SUB,
;ect in any manner. 1t was plain that his mind
was made ND and his decision irrevocable