The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-03-01

who countenanced it, and who were IN
the counter plot to defeat il. In fact,
the four men who were named to watch
every movement made by Mr.. Tilden
are all alive at this day, and at leas,
three of them are holding Government
positions.
OF course the most thrilling plot to
! assassinate a President-elect was that
which Allan Pinkerton unearthed in
the stirring days of 1861. An English.
man named Webster and the ex-Jesuit
priest Howard were the two men who
assisted Mr.. Pinkerton throughout the
long search for facts concerning this
most appalling conspiracy. The facts I
am going to tell you are from the lips
of the men who foiled the Baltimore
conspirators.
II was early In February that Allan
Pinkerton was sent from the West TO
look after the interests Of the Philadel.
phia, Wilmington & Baltimore Rood
He arrived in the Maryland metropolis
early in February, 1851, and among the
first men he met was a well-known
detective TO whom he had often given
employment in the West. knowing
what an ardent Lincoln man Pinkerton
was he informed him that while
rounding" with the Baltimore "bloods"
the night before he had heard young
Southerner announce himself as one of
ten or more who would willingly as
sassinate Lincoln.
Pinkerton had felt the pulse of that
Southern city, and he knew that the
sentiment there was ripe for the forma-
ton OF a conspiracy to assassinate
Lincoln, He put Webster on the track
in one direction, Mrs. Warn in still
another, but the real work was given
to Howard, the ex-Jesuit priest, a man
OF splendid attainments and absolutely
reliable. Howard went into the work
with the right spirit. He was for the
time being the most vindictive South
erner to be found in Baltimore. and
soon got into the good graces of the
most spirited of the young soldiers of
that city. He joined their military
companies, their clubs, and he was soon
head over heels in the conspiracy. A
Captain Fernandina, at this time very
Influential in Baltimore, proved the
head and front of the dastardly under
taking. Q Howard soon enmeshed him
and the Captain was introduced TO
Pinkerton, the latter posing as the
head of gang of would-be assassins
from New Orleans. Pinkerton has put
down the words that Fernandina used,
and they show how desperate these
men were. Lincoln" said he, shall
never be President My life is of no
/ will sell my life for
his as Orsini gave his for Italy. You
might as well try to blow down the
Washington Monument with your
breath as to change our purpose Die
he must and shall" 1t then developed
that Colonel Kane, the Chief of Police.
was in the conspiracy. Lincoln was to
enter Baltimore from Harrisburg on
February 23, via the North Central
Road. The conspirators We're to kill |
him while going from the Calvert Street |
Station to the Washington Depot, and |
as there would be little or no police
EASY" as they put it. They had even
a plot to kill him on the
ferryboat should he come via Havre !
ie Grace. On the 18th day of February
Webster and Howard were two of
twenty men who were in the 'darkened
room session." The plan was simple.
announced that there were
nineteen white ballots and one red bal
ot in box before him. The man who
irew the red ballot was to do the kill
ng. No one was to know who drew
1aIr a. a |
IF his ballot a secret from even the CO.
Then the pledge was
AIKEN with hands on the box and on
he Captains stiletto, which lay by its
ide on small deal table. Suddenly
he room was darkened and the drawing
'egan. Each left the room after taking
ballet. Webster and Howard took
evious byways 10 the Pinkerton head
entering about the same time.
Zach drew out his ballot. They were
9th red! Here was a climax. Had the
known who they were all
he time? The next two days sufficed
D clear the mystery. Fernandina, to
rake sure of the death of Lincoln, had
ut eight red ballots into the box So
here were six men on duty to do the
illing.
Pinkerton felt 10 was high time TO
arm Lincoln. The latter had left his
linois home on February IL. and at this
me he was in Philadelphia. There
inkerton met Mr.. Lincoln and Judd,
nd all the facts were laid before them.
r. Lincoln was a fearless man, and
'fused TO change his plans.
81 will raise the flag on Independence
all tomorrow, and speak to the Penn
'lvania Legislature at Harrisburg the
,xt day" On the following day news
me from Seward and General Scott
nting at a conspiracy in Baltimore
neon was finally inuuced Ia act. and
the evening of February 30 he sat
iatting in the hotel with a number of