Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1885-05-19
LINCOLN,S pEATh.
Recollections of the sad Event Which
Plunged "a Nation in Mourning.

Saturday, April 10, on which Abra-
ham Line In died at an early hour, was |
a dismal day, in harmony with the
occasion that shrouded all
hearts in gloom, and robed the city and
The country in weeds of woe. 1t was a
day in as marked contrast with that
which preceded it as the feelings which
on the one animated and on the other
the public mind. From dawn
til dark the weather was cherries,
cold, damp and drizzly. The heavens
were hung with black. A faint tinge of
roseate light flushed the western sky as
the sun went down. and that was the
only gleam of light that penetrated the
universal gloom. If ever nature SYM
pathiZed with man since the time when
the sun was darkened and the dead
walked the streets of Jerusalem and APP
peared to surviving friends, it certainly
seemed to do so on the memorable day
which ushered in the saddest news that
ever fell upon the ears of the American
people.
The hush Of profound detection hung
over the city, and weight of grief
enawed hungrily at mems hearts.
Stores were opened, but no buyers went
in, and none were wanted. The shock
had fallen with stunning effect upon
c;ery honest tosom. The brutality Of
the deed was inconceivable, and the
blow to the Nation overwhelming. The
novelty of the crime in the republic
made its deformity more hideOus. 1t
seemed as if we had turned over new
page in history, and become suddenly
possessed of new natures and rev des
tines the one baleful and ungoverna-
pie, and the other leading to ship
wreck-just as we were sailing into
port with every pennon tluttering and
the sound of joyous cannon still beating
in our ears.
The transition from city decorated
for victory to city hung with mourn
ing, had tragic effect that made the
reaction overpowering. The flags were
furl ID in Grape, and festoons OF sable
drapery, heavy as if with tears, crept
from window to window. The bell,
which rang gaily the day before tolled
slower than mems sinking pulses Ere
noon arrived the whole city was hung
in black. The blinds of the pa ace were
closed as if the corpse lay in the house,
and punches of Grape were tied TO til
crazy shutters of the negro howell, where
the inmates, perhaps, robbed them
selves of bread TO purchase the sorrJw-
full emblem. Shrouded portraits of the
blunt, kindly face, side by SIDE with
Washington's, were placed in windows,
and We're looked on with eyes that grew
mo 5 and ran over The grief was not
noisy-it was profound, unspeakab'e.
President Lincoln had occupied the
evening previous at Ford's Theater, two
boxes VIII CHI had been thrown into one.
His party consisted of only four per-
sons--himself and wife, Miss Harris and
VA or Rathbone; but one of the boxes
was occupied. A man was Observed
b. an officer standing in the adjoining
box for a minute Or two before the CT.
tastrophe. Mr.. Lincoln and his party
we're in fine spirits, chatting and OBJ
serving the play. At moment when
the eyes of all four were fixed on the
lage pistol-shot was heard, and the
Ii st impression of every one was that
it was fired on the stage. So thought
Major Rathbone, until, looking around,
ne saw smoke and n man with drawn
dagger in his hand. The truth inds.
tinctly flashed in his mind; he arose anC
seized the unknown man wit boil
hands by the lappels Of his coat. A
mementary scuffle ensued, in which the
assassin made thrust at the Maj 0r
grazing his breast and piercing his lief
arm near the shoulder. Something
S emed to give way about the man,
coat collar; he got loose and disap
pcAred. The smoke prevented tn,
Major or Miss Harris from getting fal
view of the fellow, and Mrs. Lincoln
did not see him until he leaped out o.
the box. Her first impression was thai
it was her husband who leaped out
This shows how quickly the whole af
fair passed.
Meantime, the assassin appeared OIL
the edge OF the box, crying: Isl
Semper TyranniS," and fiourshing
dagger, leaped 10 the stage. IL
crossed the stage rapidly, exclaming
Reyenge!' and again tlourishing HI
dagger, disappeared, saying: IL hav,
done it,
Miss Laura Keene appeared on tn
stage, and, with great self-possession
implored the audience to be Silent.
The President was seen to turn in hi
seat, and persons leaped upon the stag
and clambcred up to the box. Hi
clothes were stripped from his shoul
ders, but no wound was at frs found
He was entirely insonsb,e. Fur.he
search revealed the fact that he ha
been shot in the head. Major Potte
and Major Rathbone. assisted b
others, carried the President from th
theater, the blood from the death
wound falling upon the foor, stair-wa
and sidewalks, as he was borne to III
nearest house opposite, which was tia
Of Mr.. Ulke Mrs. Lincoln wa3 rs
sisted in crossing the street with III
| D,o,;Jon1 10, n f,o N tic n0nHtlinn M iL