Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1881-03-22


Farwell, who had long been on terms o
intimacy with him. The evening was
| warm and oppressive Both seemed t.
be in meditative and silent mood. Or
being ushered in by Mr.. Browning
Private Secretary to the Vice President
the Provost Marshal announced the
wishes and request of the Secretary o.
War that Mr.. johnson would proceed tl
the house on Tenth street where the
members ofthe Cabinet were sembled
Mr. johnson quickly assented,. and,
putting on his coat, announced to the
Provost Marshal that he was ready to
accompany him. When on the streot
the latter asked whether 1t would moi
be advisable to have the guard accom-
pany him as precaution in the excited
condition of affairs. A hidden danger
was supposed by every one to be lurking
In close proximity-onek knew not where
such was the unhinged condition of
everything among the populace. A sense
of insecurity existed on all sides. No
one could tell where a new calamity
might be found. To the provost guard
Mr.. johnson objected. He was then re-
quested to ride In the buggy of the Pro-
vost Marshal, as it would be more safe
than moving through the crowd, where
another assassin might be found who
would plunge knife into the back of
the Vice. President and easily kill him,
thus carrying out the apparently gen.
eral plan of leaving the Government
without its heads. Again, Mr.. John
son objected, and said he would prefer
to walk. A whispered conversation was
then held with him on the steps of the
Kirkwood House, then on the site of
the Shepherd building, intimating the
great danger possible and urging pro-
vision for safety. Mr.. johnson was
steadfast in declining to go otherwise
than alone, but asked the Provost Mar
shal if he had "any weapons" 70 this
he replied that he had q Colts navy re
volver, and. reaching to his breast
pocket. proposed to give it to Mr.. John
son. He said: No; l do not want it /;
but as you have that means ofprotection
1t will do should anything happen. y
Then, taking the arm of the Provost
Marshal, he proceeded coolly to walk
towards Tenth street by way of Pennsyl
vania avenue Both elbowed their way
through the crowd, and the remaining
head of the Government with his pro-
tector, was jOstled about here and there
among the throng. The Provost Mar
shal says he had great apprehension lest
Mr.. johnson should be recognized and
some
DESPERATE ATTEMPT HIS LIFE
while In his company. It was with a
great sense of relief that having elbowed
his way through the dense crowd on
Tenth street, above and below Ford's
Theatre (now the Army Medical Muse
um), he safely reached the house where
In, In 1T A.r4 4k<xL
him to the room where Secretary Stan
ton and the rest of the Cabinet we're
The doors were then closed, and the
situation calmly discussed to provide
for the future and contingencies. 1t
was resolved that as soon as possible af
ter the death of Mr. Lincoln, which was
considered foregone conclusion, Mr..
Johnson should be sworn in as Presi
dent. After looking at the still insen-
sible form of Mr.. Lincoln for few mo-
ments and without an expression of any
kind, which reticence he had observed
from the beginning, Mr. johnson sig
nified his readiness to return to his
rooms with the Provost Marshal. In
going or coming but few words were
spoken. Once, however, the Provost
Marshal, who felt deeply at the waning
condition of Mr.. Lincoln. his good
friend, ventured to remark that he
hoped now, that all kindness and for
bearance had proved unavailing. poli-
cy of severe and uncompromising pun
ishment would be visited upon the bad
men who were leading in the attempt
to destroy the nation. To this he re-
piled, "When you know more of me
you will think better of me-" To this
day the enigmatical words have never
been explained. Mr.. johnson safely
left at the hotel, the Provost Marshal
resumed his post at the side of Secretary
Stanton in the room where Mr.. Lincoln
was. Acting Acknowledgements q. s.
Taft and f. A. King, who had helped
DR.. Leale to carry Mr.. Lincoln out of
the theatre, were Joined by DR.. Robert
X. stone, Surgeon General Barnes and
Assistant. Surgeon .Gene.alC G. 81 Crane,
could to restore Mr.. Lincoln to COM
sciOusness;
BUT IN VAIN.
The speechless stupOr, preceding death
from brain-shocks, continued. Mr.. Lin
coin never spok again. He was insen.
sible to all that was passing about him.
DR.. Crane attimes held the pulse of the
great martyr, holding his watch in the
left hand and carefully noting the fast
weakening pulsations. General Augur,
commanding the Department General
Meigs, QuartermasterGen and 9th
er military and near friends of Mr. Lin
coin came in, and every one stood
speechless and with unfeigned sadness
about the room. General Meigs stood
in the door way, his towering form
blocked it, While acting as janitor. to
prevent the iDgress of those not having
special business or not of sufficient dis
tinction to warrant their presence
Throughout the awe-inspiring silence
which prevailed in the chamber of the
dying man through the night there was
but one event, which, painfully repeat
ed at intervals, transpire;t to break the
silent gloom of tho distinguished
mourners. This was when the incon
solable and distracted Mrs Lincoln
came in, attended by her faithful son
Robert. to look upon her dying hus-
band. Kneeling at the bedside, with
shrieks of piercing woe. she tore her
hair out by the handful, and would not
be comforted. 1t was with great diff
Guilty, snd only with the aid and per-
suasion of Mr. Robert Lincoln and Gen.
Meigs, that she could be removed, and
then she would insist upon remaining
to give way 10 ner sorrow In heart-
rending cries, and unanswered inter
rogatories to her unconscious husband
The scene affected every one present =
The tears of many blended with those
of the weeping wife, as her paroxysms
of grief became greater and more uure-
strained.
During the night Secretary Stanton,
with wonderful thoughtfulness, dlcta
ted, from time to time, a large number
Of messages to various sections of the
Union. He was remarkably calm
throughout, methodical and reflective.
betraying no evidence OF emotion, ex-
cept once or twice, when the breathing
of Mr.. Lincoln became less audible, and
1t was supposed that the last moments
of life had come. At these times he
turned almost involuntary from little
table at which he stood, heaved sigh,
reassured himself that death had not
supervened, and then. looking out
thoughtfully through the open window
into the starlit night, apparently gave
himself up to the business of refecfing
upon what was to be done next by the
| Administration to meet the emergency
and provide for the future.
Mr. Lincoln's respirations gradually
become inaudible as daylight appeared
i