The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1885-06-18

by BEN: pERLEY pooRE.

Saturday, April 10. on which Abra-
ham Lincoln died at an early hour, was
a dismal day. in harmony with the
mournful 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 coL:rast with that
which preceded it as the feelings which
on the one animated and on the other
depressed the public mind. From
dawn till dark the weather was cheer
less, cold, damp, aud 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 CLEAN Of light that
penetrated the universal gloom. III
ever nature sympathized with man since
the time when the sun was darkened
and the dead walked the streets OF
Jerusalem and appeared 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
gnawed hungrily at mems hearts.
Stores were opened, but no buyers
went in, and none were wanted. The
shock had fallen with stunning effect
upon every honest bosom. The brutal
ity of the deed was inconceivable, and
the blow to the nation overwhelming.
The novelty of the crime in the repub-
lie made its deformity more heinous 1t
seemed as If we had turned over a new
page in history, and become suddenly
possessed of new natures and new
destinies-the one baleful and ungov-
ernable, and the other leading to ship
wreck-just as we were sailing into
port with every pennon futtering and
the sound OF joyous cannon still beat
ing in our ears.
The transition from a city decorated
for victory to city hung with mourn
ing had tragic effect that made the
reaction overpowering The flags were
furled in Grape, and festoons of sable
drapery, heavy as if with tears, crept
from window to window. The bells
which rang gayly the day before tolled
slower than mems sinking pulses. Ere
noon arrived the whole city was hung
in black. The blinds of the palace
were closed as if the corpse laid in the
house, and punches of Grape were tied
to the crazy shutters of the negro hovel,
where the inmates, perhaps, robbed
themselves of bread to purchase the
sorrowful emblem. Shrouded portraits
of the blunt, kindly face, side by side
with Washington's, were placed in win
dows, and were looked on by eyes that
grew moist and ran over. The giiet
was not noisy lit was profound, un-
speakable.
President Lincoln had occupied the
evening previous, at Fords Theater,
two boxes which had been thrown into
one. His party consisted of only four
persons-himself and wife, Miss Har-
ris, and Major Rathbone; but one OF
the boxes was occupied. A man was
observed by an officer standing IN the
adjoining box for minute or two be-
fore the catastrophe. Mr.. Lincoln and
his party were in fine spirits, chatting
and observing the play. AT moment
when the eyes of all four were fixed on
the stage, pistol shot was heard, and
the first imL ression Of every one was
that it was fired on the stage. g
thought Major Rathbone, until, look.
ing around, he saw smoke and man
with drawn dagger in his hand. The
truth indistinctly flashed into his mind
he arose and seized the unknown man
with both hands by the lapels of his
coat A momentary scuffle ensued, III
which the assassin made a thurst at the
Ma or grazing his breast and piercing
his lett arm near the shoulder. Some
thing seemed to give way about the
mans coat collar; he got loose and dis
appeared. The smoke prevented the
Major or Miss Harris from getting @
fair view of the fellow, and Mrs. Lin
coin did not see him until he leaped
out of the box. Her first impression
was that it was her husband who leaped
out. This shows how quickly the whole
affair passed.
Meantime the assassin appeared or
the edge of the box, crying, sic Sem
per Tyrannis, and, flourishing dag
ger, leaped to the stage. He crossed
the stage rapidly, exclaiming, "Re
venge" and, again fourishing his dag
ger, disappeared, saying, Il have done
itp
|. Miss Laura Keene appeared on the
stage, and, with great self-possession
implored the audience to be silent.
The President was seen to turn in his
seat, and persons leaped upon the stage
and clambered up to the box. His
clothes were stripped from his shoul