Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-02-24
wHERE LINCOLN DIED.
SOME INTERESTING FACTS.

SOME INTERESTING FACTS.
The house in which Lincoln died, on 10th
street, opposite the Medical Museum, is one of
the old Washington houses linked with the ma
TONS history. Unlike the rest which, IL known.
are rarely visited, this house reyerberates fire.
quently the heels OF the sight-seer Although
it is yet private house the guide-books, with
out the sanction OF its owner Mr. Louis Schade.
bespeak for visitors the privilege of looking at
the room in which Lincoln died, and this cour-
tesy has been used and abused to such an ex-
tent that. as it can readily be imagined, these
constant intrusiOns on O private family have be-
come very unpleasant. Tourists from all parts of
the country are continually seeking this house in
their round of Sightseeing and their free criti-
clsms are something marvellous. They display
All Sorts OF bad manners. and act very much as
II they were inspecting public museum. Many
come with the mistaken idea that the Lincoln
room is kept as it was the night he died there,
and feel very much disappointed at finding
nothing suggestive of the scene. Most of them
are probably unaware that their permission to
enter the house rests entirely upon the accom-
modating spirit of the occupants. who have
always manifested the greatest courtesy towards
strangers. The desire to see the house seems
continually increasing, and 1t ia for this reason
that Mr.. Schade has entertained any notion of
disposng OF the property. as otherwise its loca-
tion and accommodations exactly suit his bust
ness and family. The house Is marked on the
outside by marble tablet. put up by Mr. Rous-
seau several years ago, after the custom of mark
ing European houses in which famous personapes
have lived or died. The interior is spacious.
there being fourteen rooms III all; the back
building In which most of the interest Of the
house centers having four rooms At the time
OF the assassination it was called the Peterson
mansion and was occupied by the family of that
name. The front parlOrs were probably rented,
and when the wounded President was brought
in he was taken along the passage into the first
available bed room on that floor in the back
building. This room suggests little now Of the
sad scenes witnessed within it's walls that night,
and over which the nation has mourned It
remains materially the same. except for the
repainting and papering necessary in that
length of time. In addition to the bracket gas
Jet which burned that night between the win
dows, the present occupant has had an addi-
tional central chandelier put up. The side
light is still in place. The room is now used as
the play room for the handsome fair haired
children OF Mr.. Schade, because the three win
dows facing south makes the brightest and
cheeriest apartment in the house.
BOOTHS VISIT TO THE HOUSE.
Like most OF the old boarding housesin Wash
iRgton, if the history of these rooms was looked
up, they have probably sheltered many historic
persons John G. Breckenridge once roOmed
in the front parlors, and it is said that previous
to the assassination, John Matthews the come
dian, had the same rooms. and used as o bed
room the one In which Lincoln died. An addi-
tional link in the chain is, that Booth coming to
see him one day, actually laid down on the very
bed on which his victim expired later It viii
be remembered that it was Matthews to whom
Booth cOn6ded In writing his confession on the
day OF the assassination. similar interest in
the events Of that night invests the front par
Tors. In the front room Mrs. Lincoln spent the
night during the intervals when she was away
from the Presidents bedside In the back par
Tor Andrew johnson sDent the night, coming
there directly after the futile attempt had been
made on his own life.
WHERE ANDREW JOHNSON WAS SWORN m
In this room, adjoining directly the room In
which Lincoln died, he took the oath of office
administered by Secretary Stanton and at the
latters suggestion. The impression has been
that Johnson took the oath the morning follow
ing the assassination. at the kirkwood house. on
pennsylvania avenue, where the Pension office
now stands: but a gentleman who visited the
house last summer told Mr.. Schade that when
Johnson emerged from that house in the morn
ing he was President. This gentleman, whose
name MIR. Schade forgets, was at that time sur
veyor of the port of New York. and was present
ali that night with other gentlemen in the room
with johnson and Stanton. He says the por-
tentious events of the night were talked over,
and Stanton advised the immediate taking of
the oath by Johnson, as a safe precaution and
observance OF that clause in the Constitution
permitting such aotioa-on account of the "ina-
bility" of the President. Stanton thought that
the awful scenes already happening were but
precursors of other deeds of assassination, and
by his advice Johnson took the oath of office
The gentleman from whom Mr. Schade CLEANED
this information also described the appearance
of the room and the location of each member OF
the group, affirming most positively that the
event as described occurred there
The house will probably be purchased by the
government. although the Legislation necessary
for its purchase progresses slowly. The plan Of
selling the house to the government did not
originate with Mr.. Schade, but was started by
Representative Henderson and seconded by
other members of the Illinois delegation 1t
has received the endorsement of Secretary Lin
coin and Senator David Davis. Last month
Mr.. Singleton reported on the action of the
committee on public buildings and grounds, and
recommended the appropriation of sum not
exceeding Si2 600 for its purchase
In the event of the government purchase, the
main floor will be utilized as museum. in which
articles belonging to Lincoln will be displayed,
and probably the original or reproductions of
the furniture of the back room will be placed in
it. The remaining ROOMS will be used for offices
by the government.