Sharp County record., 1885-05-14
LINCOLN'S DEATH.
Recollections Of the Sad Event "uch
Plunged Nation in Mourning


Plunged a Nation in Mourning
Saturday, April Is, on which Abra'
ham Lincoln died at an early hour, was
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
dav in as marked contrast 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 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 CLEAN 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 ap-
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
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 brutality OF
the deed was inconceivable, and the
blow to the Nation overwhelming The
novelty of the crime in the republic
made it's deformity more hideouS. 1t
seemed as if we had turned over a new
page in history, and become suddenly
possessed of new natures and rev des-
tinies--the one baleful and ungoverna-
ole, and the other leading to ship
wreck-just as we were sailing into
port with every pennon fluttering and
the sound of joyous cannon still beating
in our ears.
The transition from a city decorated
for victory to a city hung with mourn
ing, had a 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 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 the
crazy shutters of the negro hovel, where
the inmate, perhaps, robbed them
selves of bread to purchase the Sorrow-
full emblem. Shrouded portraits of the
blunt, kindly face, side by sde 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, unspeakabe.
President Lincoln had occupied the
evening previo9ggat sESord's Theater, two
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 a minute or two before the ca
tastrophe. Mr. Lincoln and his party
were in fine spirits, chatting and OBJ
serving the play. At moment when
the eyes of all four were fixed on the
stage a pistol-shot was heard, and the
first impression of every one was that
it was fired on the stage So thought
Major Rathbone, until, looking around,
he saw smoke and a man with 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 lappels of his coat. A
mementary scuffle enSued, in which the
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 man
coat collar; he got loose and diSap-
peared. The smoke prevented the
Major or Miss Harris from getting fair
view of the fellow, and Mrs. Lincoln
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 al
fair passed.
Meantime, the assassin appeared on
the edge of the box, CRYING: Sic
tSemper Tyrannis," and fourishing a
dagger, leaped to the stage. He
crossed the stage rapidly, exclatming
O. povopooi5 ond ooroip Horric ino his