Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-04-21
TWENTY YEARS AGO.
Recalling the Assassination of Abraham
Lincoln.

Lincoln.
Saturday, April 10, on which Abraham
Lincoln died at an early hour, says Ben:
Perley Poore, was a dismal day, in har-
mony with the mournful occasion that
shrouded all hearts in gloom, and robed
the city and the country in weeds of woe.
II was day 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 univer-
sal gloom. If ever nature sympathized
with man since the time when the sun
was dark led and the dead walked the
streets Of Jerusalem and appeared to sur
viving 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 a 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 inconceiv-
able and the blow to the nation over
wheimIng. 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
new destinies-the one haleful and UNI
gOverGable, 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 beating in
our ears.
The transition from a city decorated for
victory to city hung with mourning 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 win
dow 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 if the
corpse lay in the house, ard punches of
| Grape were tied to the crazy shutters OF
the negro howell, where the inmates, per-
haps, robbed themselves of bread to pur
chase the sOrrOwful emblem. ShrOuded
portraits of the blunt, kindly face, side by
side with w ashingtOn's, were placed in
windows, and were looked on by eyes that
grew moist and ran over. The grief was
not nOisy-it was profound, unspeak-
able.
President Lincoln had occupied the
evening previous at FOrd's Theatre, two
boxes which had been thrown into one.
His party consisted of only four persons
himself and wife, Miss Harris and Mai.
Rathbone. But one Of the boxes was OccH-
pied. A man was observed by an officer
standing in the adjoining box for min
ute or two before the catastrophe. Mr..
Lincoln and his party were in fine spirits,
! chatting and observing the play. At a
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
1 that it was fired on the stage. So thought
/ Mai. Rathbone, until, looking around, he
| saw smoke and man with a drawn dag
! ger in his hand. The truth in6istinctly
/ flashed into his mind; he arose and seized
/ the unknown man with both hands by the
/ lappels of his coat. A momentary scuffle
ensued, in which the assassin made a
thrust at the Major, grazing his breast
! and piercing his left arm near the Shout
der. Something seemed to give way about
the mans coat collar; he got loose and
disappeared. The smoke prevented the
Major or Miss Harris from getting q fair
| view of the fellow, and Mrs. Lincoln did
] Her first impression was that it was her
/ husband who leaped out. This shows how
/ quickly the whole affair passed.
Meantime the assassin appeared on the
edge of the box, crying, "Sic Senlper I a.
YdnniS," and, fiourishing dagger, leaped
to the stage. He crossed the stage rap
/ idly. eXclaiming, 'Revengep and again
fiOurishing his dagger, disappeared, say
ing, Il have done itp'
Miss Laura Keene appeared on the
stage, and with great self-possession i'm
/ plOred 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
We're stripped from his shoulders, but no
wound was at first found. He was en-
tirely insensible. Further search re-
vealed the fact that he had been shot in
the head. Mai. Potter and Maj. Rath-
bone, assisted by others, carried the
President from the theatre, the blood
from the death-wOund falling upon the
floor, stairway and sidewalks as he was
borne to the nearest house opposite, which
was that Of Mr.. Ulke. Mrs. Lincoln was
assisted in crossing the street with the
President in a frantic condition, at the
same time uttering heartrending shrieks.
She was attended by Miss Laura Keene
and others. At the house, an army sur
geOn being at hand, called for a small
quantity Of brandy, which was admins
tered, and 10 was thereupOn announced to
the pressing and excited crowd that be
was alive. aud not dead. as Mrs. Lincoln,
in her agony, insisted. 1t was then found
that Mai. Rathbone bad received a wound
in the arm, which he had Intentionally
concealed 10 prevent excitement. He then
tainted.