Arizona republican., 1892-01-20
UNPUBLISHED HISTORY.
AN IMPORTANT INCIDENT IN THE CAREER OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

An Extraordinary Illustration of One
 Method In Which Newspaper Fiction Is
 Made to Pass for Truth-uow Near Mir.
 Lincoln Came to Death in 1861.
 Nearly all the late President Lincoln's biographers, writing of his journey from Springfield, Ills, to Washington, have surrounded that trip with many details which had an existence only in their maginations. While the trip was un- doubtedly eventful, and of very great moment to the nation, it lacked many of the elements of sensationalism that have been ascribed to it, as l have reason to know from my personal experience.
 In the winter of 1861 was in business in Philadelphia, and one cold stormy morning in February was startled by knock at the office door. Calls at a. m. were not frequent, and this was quickly attended to by the night clerk, who found stout, able looking man standing there, who inquired for me. As he entered recognized the voice of Allan Pinkerton, the famous detective and founder of the agency named after him. Mir. Pinkerton, in his usual de- cisive way, said: Il have business of importance on hand. I want you to assist me in very grave and important matter-one in which there must be no mistake" As had been interested with and subordinate to Mir Pinkerton in another case of some magnitude, which was brought to satisfactory conclusion, | DniNG1xy understood ,,-h., hn I l services.
 He further said: 'I want you to take small package of papers to my assist ant in Baltimore without delay, remain with him until they are read and copied, then return to this city by the afternoon train, wait in the Philadelphia, Will mington and Baltimore station until you see MrS. Blank, of the female part of my staff, and to whom you will hand the papers; she will give you further instruc- tions from me on a matter of the gravest importance, an affair that will require the most prompt and cautious attention from you"
 Mir. Pinkerton then left the office, and all arrangements were quickly made to do my part in having his instructions faithfully carried out, and the trip to Baltimore was properly attended to.
 On my return the same evening l found Mrs. Blank waiting for me in the ladies room of the station. The papers were handed to her without delay, and was ready for such further instructions as had been given to her for me. She then said that Mir. Pinkerton was going through to Washington that night with the newly elected president, Mr. Lin coin, and his friend, Mir. Lamon, and that she expected to accompany them on the trip. It had been arranged that was to purchase the necessary passage and sleeping berth tickets, place Mrs Blank in the car, then keep a sharp lookout for MT. Pinkerton and his party and see that they were conducted to their sleeping berths as quickly, quietly and safely as possible.
 The daily papers at that time were full of the possibilities of danger to the presi- dent elect on his journey through Balti- more to Washington, and the public mind was in state of grave apprehen- sion and excitement regarding Mir. Lin coln's personal safety. Under these cir cumstances l naturally felt that the greatest care on my part should be exer- cised, and as the ticket office was not yet open l went to the train for the purpose of examination and looking through it, first going to the sleeper. On entering the car l was somewhat surprised at being confronted by a group of six or eight men. Their appearance and speech gave very decided indications of their being southerners.
 Instinctively realized that this party would bear looking after closely; they eyed me keenly, and it took fully a min ute to push my way through them. On getting past walked slowly down the aisle to the rear end of the car; after pausing few moments for reflection I retraced my steps and found almost the same difficulty in getting by them and out of the car as l had in getting into it.
 After a short walk up and down the platform my mind was made up to plan of operation, which I trusted would cir cumvent any evil act of the party then in the front end of the sleeper, for felt as certain as that was living man that they had no good purpose toward the newly elected president and the persons who were making this journey with him for his protection.
 This sleeping car was the last car in the train, and my plan was if possible to get key to the rear door of the sleep CT, which was always kept locked. To get a key was, in my mind, to make me master of the situation. After some diff culty succeeded in obtaining key to this car, and with this important factor in my possession l returned to Mrs. Blank and related the circumstances to her, on my assurance that the plan of operation as devised by me was the only one possible by which Mir. Pinkerton's wishes as to the safety of himself and party could be carried out. To this she acquiesced, saying she was perfectly sat isfed that my arrangements would prove correct
 The ticket office then being open, | purchased the necessary tickets, taking | care to engage the two rear sections of | the car for Mir. Lincoln and his party. Mrs. Blank and myself then started for the front end of the sleeping car; the same group of men still remained at their posts, but as lady was with me they | did not scrutiniZe us closely, but moved |