Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-07-06
LrNcoLNs NOMINATION.
How He Struggled with a Crowd After
the News was Received.
Springfeld lTH.l Letter % he PhiladelDhfE
Pgfss ~

SpriagfeId lTR.1 Letter % the PhiladslDhfa
Press. -
4 remember very well how Lincoln re-
ceived the news Of his first nomination as
President twenty-four years ago." said
Mr.. George NJ. Brinkerhof[, of this city,
few days ago while engaged in exchang-
ing political "reminiscences with a group
Of friends. .You are all familiar with the
story Of his abrupt departure from the
handbaH alley, where be. was having a
hOtly contested game with some Of his
particular friends, with the remark that
there is a little woman down on Ninth
street who is more interested in that than
] am and you must also remember the
reiOinder Of his loving spouse when she
heard the news. Il knew all the time
you'd get it-yOu old FOOL but did you
| ever hear Of the great ratification meet
I ing on August 5, 1860, at the old fair
/ grounds, which forms what is now the
! village Of West Springfield, or the West
Ends
Il was a young lad at the time,v began
the speaker, by way of preface, when as
sured that the story was new to his audi
/ ence, and that they all desired to hear the
recital Of it from one who took part in the
1 memorable eventin Lincoln's career, sand
/ was proud to be identified with the pub
/ lie gatherings of the party, so that, when
1 an immense public ratification of Mr..
/ Linc0ln's nomination was announced, |
/ was pleased to be allowed to take an ac-
| tive part in the management of 1t. There
were upwards of $1,000 strangers in the
/ city, and in those days that was a great
crowd to gather for a political affair.
4 Prominent speakers from all parts of the
I State and from other States were an
! nounced to be present, and the people
/ poured into the city from all directions in
1 every imaginable kind of vehicle, until
the procession 70 the grounds extended up
and down all the principal streets and
crossed backward and forward over line
/ several miles in length.
"When at length the grounds were
/ reached the crowd was 50 dense as to be
| almost impenetrable and everybody want
ed te see Mr.. Lincoln. He
was at home, and Robert
| Officer and l, who were acting as as
sistaE1 Marshals, were ordered to hasten
to his little brown house, which still
stands at the corner of Ninth and Jack
son streets, and bring him at once 10 the
I grounds. We MADE all possible speed to
the city, where we had no trouble in fad
ing the nominee, and made good time re-
turning to the grounds until we reached
6 spot near tho gate. Then it began to be
1Oised around shat Mr.. Lincoln had come,
and have never seen a crowd O. people
act so frandcally as they did. They
climbed upfatO the trees to get a good
view, until the branches seemed certain
to break ard precipitate their burdens to
the ground. Two young saplings were
bent down in front of the horses, so that
| further progress was impossible, and then
they gathered about the carriage, fright
ening the horses. so that the harness was
| broken.
The climbed up on the steps and even
on t0D of the carriage until it was cover
ed, and it seemed certain that Mr.. Lin
cOinsmust be smOthered unless he was in
| stSHtly removed. How to get away was a
serious question. We were entirely at
sea, as we could not move the carriage
one way or another and dared not take
VI. Lincoln into the crowd on foot, when
lUckily some person spied old man Crow
der on his saddle horse near by, and we
hurriedly hustled him off and led the
horse up to the back of the carriage.
Then we made Mr.. Lincoln crawl throug Oh
the back window Of the carriage over the
horses tail and into the saddle. Mr..
Officer and / then took the lead, and in
obedience to the commands of our superior
officers we pushed our way through the
crowd, beating the people back with our
/ wands, or sticks, which we carried to en-
force respect for our commands, and at
/ ter q eat deal fefert we succeeded In get
ting away. Crowds of people followed us
back to town, keeping up with the horse
which Mr.. Lincoln rode, but one by one
! Luey dropped Denlhd Dy the WaySlue' until
| only one was left. He never gave up, and
when we stopped st the door of AIr. Lin
coins house ne was standing on the-steps
waiting to welcome US and eagef to shake
hands with the man whose mere presence
had aroused so great flrore, well, my
man, where do you come frOmg asked
Mr.. Lincoln. I came down from Chicago
with my company was the reply.
'Well,' said Mr.. lincoln again, as he gave
the man a hearty shake of the hand, If
you will bring your company here to-
night l will shake hands with every one
of them;' then turning to us he said, Il
guess would have been smothered, boys,
if you had not got me out of there
wouldn't Ip~