The Red Cloud chief., 1885-05-08
oeATH


llNCOlN'S DEATH.
e-eesu.esso.s Of the SD Evsa. whseA
Plunged . Nssios In Mesruiag.
Saturday. April Is. on which Abrs-
ham Lincoln died At an early hour. vas
3 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 II was 3
day in as marked contrast with that
which preceded i, as the feelings which
On the one animated and on the other
depressed the public mind From dawn
till dark the weather was cherries.
cold. damp and drizzly. The heavens
were hung with black 4 faint tinge Of
rosesbe light flushed the western sky As
the sun went down. and that was the
only CLEAN Of Light that penetrated the
universal gloom II ever naiure YIN
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 thst
ever fell upon :he ears Of the American
people.
The hush Of profound detection hung
Over the city. and q weight Of gric;
gnawed hungrIly .; 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 brutality Of
the deed was uncomfortable. and the
blow 10 the Nation overwhelming. The
novelty Of the crime in the republic
made its deformity more hideous. 1t
seemed Us il We had turned over a new
page in history. and become suddenly
possessed Of new nature, and Few des-
TIMES the one baleful and ungovernx-
Die, and the other leading ~ ship
wreck-just A. We were saihng into
port with every pennon fluttering aud
the sound Of joyous cannon still beating
in our ears.
The transition from a city decorated
for victory u a city hung with u
ing. had a tragic effect tina; made the
reaction Ove-pOwering. The flags were
furlcd in Grape. and festOOns III sable
drapcry. heavy As if with tears. crept
from window to window. The bells
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 palace were
closed as il the corpse lay in the house,
and punches Of Grape were tied to the
crazy shutters of the negro howell. where
the inmates, perhaps. robbed them
selves Of bread to purchase the sorrow-
full emblem. Shrouded portraits of the
blunt, kindly face. side by SIDE with
Washington's, were placed in windows.
and were looked on with eyes that grew
most and ran over The grief was not
nOisy-it was profound. unspeakable.
President Lincoln had occupied the
evening previous at FOrd's Thcatcr, two
boxes VIII CHI had been thrown into one
His party consisted Of only four per-
sOnS--himself and wife. Miss Harris and
Major Rathbone; but one of the boxes
was occupied. A man was observed
By an officer standing in the adjoining
box for q minute or two before the ca
t~astrophc. Mr.. Lincoln and his party
were in fine spirits. chatting and OBJ
serving the play. At n moment when
the eyes of all four were fixed on the
stage u pistol-shot was heard. and the
first impression of every n Wa that
it was fired on the stage. So thought
Major Rathbone. until. looking around.
NJ saw smoke and a man with q drawn
dagger in his hand. The truth indis-
tinctly flashed in his mind; he arose and
seized the unknown man with both
hands by the lappcls of his coat. A
assassin made a thrust at the Major.
grazing his breast and piercing his left
arm near the shoulder. Something
seemed to give way about the mans
coat collar; he got loose aud disap-
peared. The smoke prevented tnc
Major or Miss Harris from getting q fair
view Of the fellow. and Mr.. Lincoln
did not see him until he leaped out Of
the box. Her first impression was that
it WAS her husband who leapeo ont.
This shows how quickly the whole At
fair passed.
Meantime. the assassin appeared on
the edge OF the box. crying: sic
Semper 7yrannis." and flour.shing a
dagger. leapei 10 the stage. He
crossed the stage rapidly. exc!aiming:
Revenge" and again flourishing his
dagger. disappeared, saying: e have
done it,
Miss Laura keene appeared on the
stage. and. with great self-possessiOn.
implor,-d the audience to lie silent.
The President was seen Ia turn in his
seat. and persons leaped upon the stage
and ciambered up t. the box. HIS
clothes were stripped from his shout
dcr>. but no wound Was at firSs found.
He was entirely inscusib.e. Further
search revealed the fact that ne had
been shot in the head. Major Potter
aud Major Rathbone. assisted BY
others, carried the President from che
theater. the blood from the desth-
wound falling upon the floor. stairway
and sidewalks. rs he was borne to the
nearest house opposite. which was that
If Mr.. like. Mrs. Lincoln Wa as
sisted in crossing the street with the
President in 4 frantic condition. at the
same time uttering he~ari-rcndinc
>hr.eks. She was attended BY Miss
Laura kccne and Others. A; thu house.
an army surgeon b,ing At hand. called
for n Email quantity of brandy. which
WAS administered. and il wa> til rcupon
ANNOUNCED To the pressing and excited
crowd that he wa alive. and not dead.
as Mrs. Lincoln. in her ::agony. ins .tcd.
Ii was then fOnnd tha. Major Ra,h51n.
had received n wound in the arm.
which be nal Intentionally concealed
To prevent excitement He then IA ut
ed.-Eta. Ter,ey P6ore.