Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-08-23
IlNCOLNN LAST NICur

LlNCoLNS LAST NIGHT
A Letter Written BY a Lady Member of His
Party in the Theatre.
In 1865 sixteen page letter. written
that year by Miss Harris, who was in the
theatre box with the Lincoln party when
the president wss shot, was given me bv ,
friend who had just received il from Mrs.
Stowe. OF this letter Mrs. Stowe remark.
ed that under the circumstances it would
one day be regarded as historically yslu-
aole aud of natioasl interest. At all
events, IN 1t Intelligent and reliable test
lmony Is borne to the domestic virtues of
one of the gentlest, best, and wisest of
men. 1t Is sad TO know that other tragic
events followed the party, for Miss Harris
who stterSard married her stepbrother,
Major Rssheone, was killed by him in
Germany, and Rs:hbone, l believe is at
present the inmate of lupatic ASYLUM.
Following is the letter:
WASHINGTON April %.
Ny Dear NJ: was Very glad to hear
from you sgsin, your letter proving that
IN slt the events of your ma rouly life our
old friendship Is not forgotten.
You may well say that We have been
passing through scenes sad indeed. That
>NNA~-N AANss AkS AAN ls W uS YET almost
like some dreadful vision. have been
very intimate with Mrs. Lincoln and the
family ever since our mutual residence in
Washington, which begsp at the same
time, and We have been constantly il the
habit of driving and going to the opera
and theatre together. 1t wss the only
amusement, with the exception of receiv-
ing at their own house, in which the presi
dent and Mrs. Lincoln were permitted,
according to customs, to indulge, and to
escape from the crowds who constantly
thronged TO see them, mere than from any
decided taste for such things. They were
in the habit of going very often To hear
Forrest, Booth, HacSett, and such sectors
when playing in Washington.
The night before the murder was that of
the general illumination here, and they
drove all through the streets 70 see il: q
less calculating villain might have taken
that opportunity for his crime, or the mig ht
before, when the white house alone wss
orllilantly illuminated and the figure of the
president stood out in full relief to the i'm
mense crowd below, who stood in the dark
ness to listen to his speech, He smoke
from the second window of the executive
mansion. | had been invited to pass the
evening there and stood at the window of
an adjoining room with Mrs. Lincoln
watching the crowd below as they listened
and cheered. OF course Booth was there,
Watching his chance l wonder that he
did not choose that occasion, but probably
he knew better opportunity would be
offered. After the speech was over we
went into Mr.. Lincoln's room; he was ly-
ing on the sofa, quite exhausted; but he
talked of the events of the past fortnight,
of his viset to Richmond, of the euthusi-
asm everywhere felt through the country;
and Mrs. Lincoln declared the past few
days to have been the hBppiest of her life
Their prospects indeed seemed fair
peace dawnlng upon our land and four
years of happy and honored rule before
one of the gentlest, best, and loveliest
men | ever knew. | never saw him out OF
temper-Ghe kindest husband, TIE tender
est fsther, the truest friend, as well as the
wisest statesman. soar Beloved Presi-
dent"-when | think that | shall never
again stand in his gentle presence, that l
have lost his friendship SO tried and true,
| feel like putting on the robe of mourning
which the country wears.
My own dear father was deeply attached
20 Mr.. Lincoln; they thoroughly sympa
thized in many things, and Mr.. Lincoln
perhaps being able to discern In him an
honest, unselfsh natlre, in that akin to
his own, was wont with him to throw of
the restraints of the politician and talk
over things as with an old friend.
The shock has been a terrible one to
him; he feels his death to be a deep per
sonal affl lotion.
You are right in supposing the Major
Rathbone who was with us to be the
"Henery" you knew in Albany.
We four composed the party that even
ing. They drove to our door in the gay.
est spirits, chatting on the way-and the
president was received with the greatest
enthusiasm
They say that we were watched by the
assassina; aye, as we alighted from the
carriage. Oh, how could any one be sc
cruel as 80 strike that dear, kind, honest
faceY And when 1 think of that fien3 bar
ring in himself along with us, my blood
runs cold. My dress is saturated with
blood; my hands and face were covered.
You may imagine what soene and 50,
all through that dreadful night wAen We
stood by that dying bed. Poor Mrs. Lin
coin was and is almost crazy.
Henry narrowly escaped with his life
The knife was struck at his heart with all
uiiV iol oo VI u pi aSuicou anu pu"'fA III drul
he fortunately parried the blow, and re.
ceived a wound in his arr1, extending
along the bone from the elbow nearly to
the shoulder. He concealed it for some
time, but was finally carried home in a
SwooD; the loss of blood had been so great
from the artery snd veins severed. He
Is now getting quite well, but cannot yet
use his arm.
hope you will pardon me this dreadful
ly long letter. 1 did not realize how much
L was writing. L have been quite i'll, and
have as yet answered scarcely any of the
numerous letters | have received in the
last two weeks,
X X
Ever yours sincerely,