The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-09-17
LINCOLN's HISTORIC TRIP.
The scotc-, Cap Story Exploded-The Ride
to Washington and How II Was Made.
Hon. f. B. Washburne in the North Amer


Hon. f. B. Washburne in the North Amer
lean Review.
As the 4th OF March drew near, what
occupied our most anxious thoughts
was how Mr.. Lincoln could get to
Washington and be inaugurated. An
other committee was formed, one from
each house. to look after that matter.
Gov. Seward was the senate member,
and | was put on on the part OF the
house, for the reason, perhaps, that |
was from Illinois, a known personal
friend of the president, and had been
in close correspondence with him all
winter. Associating ourselves togeth
er. we came to the conclusion that
everything must be edone with the most
profound secrecy. Governor Seward,
his son Frederick w. Seward,
subsequently, his assistant secre-
tary of state, and myself were the
only persons in Washington who had
any knowledge whatever OF Mr.. Lin
coins proposed movements. That
there was a conspiracy in Baltimore
to assassinate him as he should pass
through, there can be no reasonable
doubt. We hoped he might be able to
come through in the daytime from
Philadelphia, taking n train secretly
and cutting the wires, so that his de-
parture could not be known. But
Gen. Scott's detectives in Baltimore
had developed such a condition OF
things, that Governor Seward thought
that the President elect and his friends
in Philadelphia should be advised in
regard thereto, and on the night OF the
22d OF February he sent his son Fred
eric w. over to Philadelphia to con-
suit with them. Till now we had
believed the President would come
over from Philadelphia on the train
leaving there at noon OF the 23d. In
the meantime the President had prom
ised to run up to Harrisburg to attend
a reception OF the Pennsylvania Legis-
lature at l2 O'Clock on that day. Up
to this time the situation had been
fully discussed by the friends of Mr.
Lincoln, in the lii ght of OF all the infor-
nation received, but no particular
programme agreed upon. 1t was not
until the party started for Harrisburg
the next morning that the best method
OF getting to Washington was finally
talked over. Nj. Lincoln had previous
ly had Il conversation with the detect
i've, Pinkerton, and Mr.. Frederic w.
Seward i'll regard to the condition OF
things at Baltimore. The Hon. Nor
man B. Judd, OF Chicago, one OF the
most conspicuous and trusted friends
OF Mr.. Lincoln, who had accompanied
the party from Springfield, suggested a
plan, which, after full discussion by
Mr.. Lincoln and allhis friends present,
was agreed upon and successfully car
ried out. This plan, as Is generally
known, was that after the dinner
which Governor Curtin had rendered
to him had been finished, at 6
O'Clock in the afternoon, he should
take a special car and train from
Harrisburg for Philadelphia to in
tercept the train from New York to
Washington. The telegraph wires
from Harrisburg were all cut, so there
could beno possible telegra phic connec-
ton with the outside world. The
connection was made at Philadelphia.
Mr.. Lincoln was transferred to the
Washington train without observa-
ton, to arrive at his destination on
time the next morning without the
least miscarriage, as will be stated
! hereafter. On the afternoon of the
23d Mr.. Seward came to my seat in
the House of Representatives and
told me that he had no information
from his son nor amy one else it re-
spect to Mr.. Lincoln's movements,
nd tl,n{ l., 4
wires were all cut; but he thought it
very probable he would arrive in the
regular train from Philadelphia, and
he suggested that we should meet at
the depot to receive him. We We're
| promptly on hand; the train arrived
i'll time, and with strained eyes we
watched the descent of thepassengers.
But there was no Mr.. Lincoln among
them; though his arrival was by no
means certain, yet we We're much dis
appointed. But as there was no tele-
graphic connection, it was impossi-
Bile for us to have any information.
1t was no use to speculate; sad,
disappointed and under the en-.
pire OF conflicting emotions, we
separated to go to our respect
i've homes, but agreeing to be
ut the depot on the arrival OF the New
York train the next morning before
daylight, hoping either to see the
/ President Or get some information as
to his movements. was on hand in
season, but to my great d1sappoint-
ment Governor Seward did not APP
pear. l planted myself behind one OF
i the great pillars in the old Washington
and Baltimore depot, where | could
see and not be observed Presently
the train came rumbling in on time.
1t was a moment OF great anxiety to
me. There had been a great deal
! printed in the newspapers about Mr..
I Lincolns 8 arrival in Washington, and
about the Scotch cap" and "big
shawl he wore through Baltimore, etc,
etc, most of which is mere stuff
propose now to tell about his arrival
at Washington, from my own person
al knowledge-what l saw with my
own eyes and what heard with my
own ears, not the eyes and ears OF
some one else. AS l have stated,
stood behind the pillar awaiting
the arrival OF the train. When
1t came to q stop watched
with fear and trembling to see the
passengers descend. ] saw every cal
emptied, and there was no Mr.. Lin.
coin l was well-nigh in despair, and
when about to leave I saw slowly
emerge from the last sleeping-car three
persons. could not mistake the
long, lank form OF Mr.. Lincoln, and
my heart bounded with JOY and graft
tude. He had on q soft low crowned
hat, a muftler around his neck, and q
short bob-tailed overcoat. Anyone
who knew him at that time could not
have failed to recognize him at once
/ but / must confess he looked more like
q well.to-do farmer from one OF the