The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1881-07-19

passage through the mass Of people
These men formed two lines through
which We walked, the gfards presenting
arms to the President as We bore him
along. When we reached the street if
was as densely packed as the theatre,
the news having already spread like
wildfire, and captain of cavalry came
to me and asked for instructions.
asked him to clear the street go that the
President could be carried to Mr.. Pat
terson's house across the street. The
crcwd was quiet and the passage was
easily made. We took the President
into room and placed him In bed As
be was very tall, the bed was too short
for him and we had to lay him diaeonal-
ly across it end the obstructing boards
at the foot Of the bed were broken of.
He was covered with warm blankets,
bottles Of hot water were placed at his
extremities, and other restoratives and
remedies we're used. All this happened
in twenty minutes from the time OF the
assassination.
"Mr. Lincoln was now breathing more
regularly, but this regularity decreased
whenever blood was allowed to coagu-
late at the volume. Iremoved the clots
when these sy nptoms occurred, and tho
Presidents extremities we're constantly
rubbed. BY this time DR.. Stone, the
family physician, arrived; he Was fol-
lowed by DR.. Barnes, the Surgeon. Gen.
eral, and his assistant, DR.. Crane. All
that was done for the President during
the rest Of the night was just what I
have described to you.
Il have frequently been asked il the
President ever regained consciousness.
He was never conscious for q moment
from the time he was shot until tine last,
and he never spoke. During the night
the Cabinet arrived, all bat Secretary
Seward. Charles Sumner came soon
after the President was removed from
the theatre and remained until after he
died. Secretary of War Stanton came
early In the evening and Immediately
established his Office in room adjoin-
ing the Presidents. He kept his order.
lies running all night long bearing the
news Of the Presidents condition to the
people and telegraphing it all over the
country. A strong guard was stationed
in front. Of the house and only people
having business there were admitted -
Mrs. Lincoln was in the room all night
long, except when she was forci5ly
taken away. Two or three times she
was taken out in q fainting condition
and throughout she suffered terribly
Several times she called for their little
son Tad to be brought from the White
House to see bis father before he died.
Mrs. Lincoln was kindly cared for by
Mrs. Dixson, wife Of the Senator from
Connecticut Robert Lincoln, now Sec
retary of War, came in after his father
was removed to Mr. Patterson's house.
He bore up we'll during the painful night.
Very early it became apparent that the
President could not recover. As nearly
as / remember those who visited the
deathbed were Secretary Of the Navy
Welles, Governor Farwell, Secretary
McCulloch, Governor Farnsworth, Vice.
President Johnson, Speaker Colfax, Dr..
Stone, Postmaster General Dennison,
Private Secretary Major John Hay. Sur
geon G. S Taft, Attorney General James
Speed, Surgeon-General Barnes, DR..
Crane. Secretary Usher, General Hal
leck, General Augur, Secretary Stanton,
General Meigs and the Rev. Dr.. Gurley,
the Presidents pastor. At the time that
death seemed to be impending the Rev.
DR.. Gurlev offered q solemn prayer as
the few of us who remained in the room
knelt around the bedside. This was
only short time before the last mo-
ment. Mrs. Lincoln was carried from
the room fainting; think Robert Lin
coin had also left the room. At the
moment Of death Surgeon-Genl Barnes
was sitting on the bedside, with his fin
ger on the Presidents carotid artery;
was feeling the pulse at his right wrist.
As death was announced l closed the
Presidents eyes, and again We all knelt
around the bed while DR.. Gurley Offer
ed az impressive prayer for the distract
ed family and for the bereaved end af-
ficted country