National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-07-08
LINCoLN's NOMINATION.
How He struggled with Crowd
Aftcr the Nowh WAS Received.
swinwFlid lW) Correspondence.

Springfoid CH) Correspondence.
"T remember very well how Lincoln
received the news of his first nomination
as president twenty.four years ago. said
Mr. George NJ Brinkerhofl, OF this city,
few days ago while engaged in ex-
changing political "reminiscences with n
group of friends. you arc all familiar
with the story Of his abrupt departure
from tho haudball alley. whore he was
having hotly contested game with some
oi his particular friends, with tho remark
that there Is little woman down IN
Ninth street who Is more interested in
that than | am and you must also
remember the rcjoindcr of his loving
spouse when she heard the nows. j knew
all the time you'd get IL, you old fool
but did you ever hear of the great ratifi-
cation meeting OH the Sth of August, 1860,
at the old fair grounds, which forms what
is now the village of West Springfield, or
tho West End?
II was a young lad at the time" began
the speaker, by way of preface, when
assuScd that the story was new to his au-
dionco, and that they all desired to hear
the recital of IL from one who took part
| in tho memorable event in LincOln's
career, "and was proud to be identified
with the public gatherings Of the party,
SO that, when an immense public ratitica-
| tion of Mr. Lincoln's nom nation was
announced, | was pleased to be allowed 10
! take an active part in tho management
| of it. There were upwards of $4,000
| strangers in the city, and in those days
/ that was great crowd to gather for a
| political affair. Prominent speakers from
all parts OF the state aud from other states
] nnnnnnppI N In nrpgput mud thu
people poured into the city from all di.
rcctions in every imaginable kind of
vehicle. until the procession to the
grounds extended up and down all tho
principal streets and crossed backward
and forward over line several miles in
length.
"When at length the grounds were
reached the crowd was so dense ms to be
almost impenetrable, and everybody
wanted TO see Mr.. Lincoln. He was at
home and Robert officer and l., who were
acting as assistant marshals, were ordered
to hasten to his little brown house, which
still stands at the, corner of Ninth and
Jackson streets, and bring him at once to
the grounds. We made all possiblespeed
to the city, where we had no trouble In
finding the nominee, and made good timt
returning to the grounds until we reached
| - oiub HtdT Eilc' ihou ~ DCkUh w w
nosed around that Mr. Lincoln had come
and have never seen crowd of people
act so frantically as they did. They
climbed up into the trees to get a goot
view, until the branches seemed certain
to break and precipitate their burdens tc
the ground. Two young saplings wcr,
bent down in front of the horses, so tina
further progress was impossible, and ther
they gathered about the carriage. fright
ening the horses so that the harness wa
broken.
"They climbed up on the steps and ever
on top of the carriage until IL was GOV
cred, and it seemed certain that Mr.. Lin
coin must he smothered unless he was in
stantly removed. How to get away wa
serious question. We were entirely 81
sea, as we could not move the carriagt
one way or another, and dared not take
Mr.. Lincoln into the crowd on foot, wher
luckily soIno person spied old maj
Crowder on his saddle horse near by. and
we hurredly hustled him of and led the
horse up to tho back of tho carriage
Then we made Mr.. Lincoln crawl through
the back window of the carriage over tn
horses tail and into tho saddle. Mr.. of
fcer and l then took the lead, and IL
obedience to the commands Of our superio
officers we pushed our way through th
crowd, beating the people back with ou
wands or sticks, which we carried to On
force respect for our commands, aud afte
great deal of effort we succeeded II
getting away. Crowds of people followe
us back to to town, keeping up with tn
horse which Mr.. Lincoln rode, but on
by one they dropped behind the wayBid
until only one was left. He never CAV
up, aud when we stopped at the door Q
, Mr Llncoln's house he was standing o
) the steps waiting to welcome us, and cage
to shake hands with tho man whose mer
presence had aroused so great furort
We'll, my man, where do you come from
asked Mr.. Lincoln. i came down fror
: Chicago with my company was the reply
WELL said Mr.. Lincoln again, as he CAV
the man hearty shake OF the hand, 4
you will bring your company here tc
night | will shake hands with every on
of them then, turning to us, he said,
guess | would have been smothered, boy
if you had not got me out of there
wouldn't [ p"