The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-04-16

"Reminiscences of a sad Scene Occurring
Nineteen Years Ago.
Washington Letter in Cleveland Leader

Washington Letter in Cleveland Leader
Just nineteen years ago to-day. at exactly
722 4. NJ, President Lincoln, shot by John
Wilkes Booth expired. Mr.. Fred Peterson, the
boy who sat up with Lincoln during his last
hours, says: AT 6 o'clock the President was
breathing heavily. You could have heard him
i'll any part of the house. His face had become
death-like in its pallor and his Jaw had fallen
down upon his breast. showing his teeth. SO ne
remained until he died. There are no correct
paintings of the scene at this time | have
seen some in which Mrs. Lincoln is painted as
kneeng by his bedside but she was not in the
room at the death. The Cabinet were all
present and all were weeping. Charles Sumner
was standing with his arm around Robert Lin
coins shoulders, and Robert Lincolns head was
on his breast Both were CRYING and Robert
Lincoln sobbing violently | do not think
Andrew johnson was present. and it is a mistake
to say that he sworn i'll in house The
oath was, | think administered to him at the
Kirkwood House. where he boarded. Shortly
afterward Mr.. Lincoln removed from our
house. His body was wrapped in couple of
blankets, and was taken to the embalmer's on
the morning he died, and the same hands who
embalmed his son Willie performed the rites for
him. He was then removed to the west chamber
of the White House. and afterward laid out in
state in the East Room"
And these said 1, picking up again. the
blood stained pillow cases. will soon be all that
is left to evidence the sufferings Of Abraham
Iincolns last hours.
Yes" was the reply: the room in which he
died has itself been changed. We sold the house
to its present owner Mr.. Louis Schade for
81, 800 He bought it for a speculation. and
am told the government has offered him $I2, 600
for it a museum. He wanted more, and re-
fused the offer These mementoes | have of
Lincoln | seldom show, and | would sell them to
no one but the government. The other furni-
ture of the room has become scattered We
sold the bed upon which the President died for
$50 and think it is now i'll Syracuse, n. Y.
No! No one has slept under that coverlid since
that memorable day in April, 1860 1t
would be sac1ilege TO use it. 1t is wonder
full, though, the rage people have for
collecting "elics of President Lincoln. After the
death many came to see the room i'll which he
died. and these took anything they could lay
their hands on. They cut the furniture slyly,
pulled paper from the walls, shipped the cur
tains stole the spoons. and even carried away
the mustard pasters we used that night. On the
doorsteps of brown stone leading up to the en-
trance after the President brought in, there
were seen a few drops of blood Some of it may
have been that of Lincoln. but the most was
from the arm Of Major Rathbone whom Booth
stabbed Into the blood men and boys dipped
little pieces Of paper, and carried them away to
preserve as mementoes Of the occasion. The
world seemed to have gone wild, and the next
day, which was Sunday Washington was draped
with black, and from every pulpit in the city
funeral sermon was preached over the dead
President.