The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-08-01
. sa%e Il Fss!!kf.fisIs; s. Te' 9 E'sssslS s g
ANOTHER LINCOLN INCIDENT.
Tho Trip through Baltimore While
the AssasIns Watched.



Mr.. Lincoln, as unsuspecting as every
one OF his constituents who was not
fully informed, left Springfield on the
18th Of February for Washington; and,
after the inevitable series Of congratttla-
tions and speech-makipgs on the route,
arrived ut Philadelphia on the 21st OF
the month. There he first learned the
designs upon his life from the detective
who had been principally instrumental
in discovering them In Baltimore. Late
In the evening Of the same day q special
messenger from General Scott and Mr..
Scward-Mr. Sewsrd'sson-roused him
from his bed with an earnest warning.
Deeply impressed as Mr.. Lincoln was
by such moniti0ns, received through
such channels. he yet refused to abandon
nm engagement to be present at Indepen-
dchce llsli In Philadelphia on the norm
ing Of the next day --Washington's
birrhday-and one to meet the Legis-
lature OF Pennsylvania at Harrisburg in
the afternoon. but, these fulfilled, he
consented TO abandon his original plan,
and go Immediately and privately to
Washington. Inc day passed off with
out any Incident worthy OF remark, ex-
cept that some attention was attracted
by Mr.. Lincoln's declaration In his
speech at Independence Hall that, rather
than abandon the principles Of the De-
claration Of Independence, ne would be
''assasinated upon that spot" But this
was regarded merely as q strong and
not very happily phrssed asscveration.
The interview at Harrisburg with the
Legislature Of PennsylvaEia being over,
Mr.. Lincoln placed himself In the hands
of bis friends, and retired to his hotel,
assuming, by advice, an air of extreme
fatigue, which his constant traveiing
and speaking made very natural. At
about 8 o'clock in. tho evening he was
conveyed In . close carriage to q special
train, which started instantly for Phila-
delphia, and at the same time all the
telegraph wires leading from the city
were cut. With him the president OF
the road sent a trusty and Intelligent
confidential agent known q George"
whose authority was recognized by all
the servants Of the company, and who
bore with him q large package of ''dis-
patches about which he seemed very
anxious, and which was the alleged rea-
son of sending the special train. At
Philadelphia the party took the regular
train, which they found waiting, and
into which they quietly stepped Just ~
Il was starting. The detective was on
the train, but &C George still considered
himself In charge, and was astounded
and alarmed soon after the train was
under way by being accosted reproach-
fully by the englne-driver for not tell
ing him that "Lincoln was on board"
George instantly saw that his only way
was to trust his friend, and replied,
Eyes, he Is on board" We'll" said
the other, with q look Of serious appre-
hension and determination, now we
have him, we must put him through"
His own observation had led him to
suspect the designs Of the people along
the road, and he felt that he carried
Cesar and his fortunes. Oddly enough,
however, the man whom he supposed
to be the President elect was not he,
but quite another person. The train
passed swiftly through the perils pre-
pared for the morrow, and Mr.. Lincoln
arrived at Washington about daybreak
on the 28d of February. The telegraph
wires had been united again, and
George sent back the message, "The
dispatches have arrived, and are safely
delivered" (From Karper's Pictorial His
tsry II tho Civil War;