Southwest-sentinel. [volume] (Silver City, N.M.) 1883-189?, 1895-08-13
DEATH OF LINCOLN.
NOAH BROOKS REcoLLEcTloNs or
THE GREAT TRAGEDY.

The President Did Not Want to Go to ths
Theater, but would Not Disappoint the
Fubiio-A sorrowlng People Under
Weeping SKY That April Morning.
The afternoon and evening Of April
"a, 1865, were cold, raw and gusty.
Dark clouds enveloped the capital, and
the air WIS chilly, with occasional show
ers. Late in the afternoon Iflled an ap-
pointment by calling ON tho president at
the White House, and was told by him
that he "had had notion" Of sending
for me to go to the thoater that evening
with him and Mrs Lincoln, but he add
cd that Mrs. Lincoln had already made
up o party to take the place Of General
and Mrs. Grant, who had somewhat una
expeotedly left tho city for Burlington,
N. J. The party was originally planned
for the purpose of taking General and
Mrs. Grant to see "Our Amefcan Cous-
in" at Ford's theater, and when Grant
had decided TO leave Washington he (the
president) had "felt inclined to give up
the whole thing" but as IL had been
announced in the morning papers that
this distinguished party would go to the
theater that night Mrs Lincoln had
rather insisted that they ought to go in
order that the expectant public should
not be wholly disappointed.
On my way home met Schuyler Col
fax, who was about leaving for Cali
fornia, and who tarried with mo ON the
sidewalk q little while, talking about
the trip and the people whom knew
in San Francisco and Sacramento that
he wished to meet Mr.. Lincoln had
often talked with mo about the possibil-
tiles Of his eventually taking up his res
idence in California after his term Of
Office should be over. he thought, he
said, that thnt country would afford
better opportunities for his two boys
than any of the older states, and when
no heard that Colfax was going to Cali
fornia he was greatly interested in his
trip and said that he hoped that Colfax
would bring him back good report Of
what his keen and practiced observation
would noto in the country which he
(Colfax) was about to see for the first
time.
The evening being inclement, staid
within doors to nurse n violent cold with
which was afflicted, and my roommate,
McA, and 1 whiled away the time
chatting and playing cards Abont half
past 10 our attention was attracted to
the frequent galloping Of cavalry or the
mounted patrol past the house which
we occupied on New York avenue, near
the state department building. After
awhile quiet was restored, and we re-
tired to our sleeping room in the roar
part Of the house.
As / turned down tho gus said to my
roommate: "Will, have guessed the
cause Of tho clatter ltside tonight. You
know Wade Hampton has disappeared
with his cavalry somewhere in the
mountains Of Virginia Now, my theory
Of the racket is that he has raided Wash-
ington and has pounced down upon the
president and has attempted TO carry
him of. OF course this was said jo-
cosely and without the slightest thought
that the president was in any way in
danger, and my friend, in a similar
spirit, banteriugly replied, ''What good
win that do tho rebs unless they carry
of Andy johnson also?" The next
morning was awakened in the early
dawn by loud and hurried knocking
ON my chamber door, and tho voice Of
Mr.. Gardner, tho landlord, crying
wake. wake. Mr. Brooks 1 have dread
full news.
/ slipped out, turned tho key Of the
door, and Mr.. Gardner came in, pale,
trembling and woe begone. like him
who "drew Prialn's curtain at the dead
Of night, and told his awful story. AT
that time it was believed that the presi-
dent, Mr.. Seward, Vico President John
son and other mQmbers Of the govern
ment had been killed. and this was the
burden of the tale that was told to Us.
l sank back into my bed, cold and shiv-
ering with horror, and for a time II
seemed as though the end OF all things
had come. was aroused by the loud
weeping Of my comrade, who had mol
loft his bed in another part Of the room.
When we had sufficiently collected
ourselves TO dross and so out Of doors in
the bleak and cherries April morning
we fonnd In the streets an extraordinary
spectacle They were suddenly crowded
with. people-men, women and children
thronging the peyements and darkeninl
the thoroughfarea Itseemcd as II every
body was In tears Pale faces, streaming
/ eyes, with now and again an angry
frowning countenance, were on ever
/ Ia A.. ...a .r-,,,,o,, ~~I.o sa-o.o of,-n.t
gers accosted ono another with distresse,
looks and fearful inquiries for the wei
fare Of the president and Mr.. Seward'
family. Tho president still lived, but a
half past 2 O'Clock In the morning thl
tolling Of me bells announced to the Ia
menting people that he had ceased Il
breathe His great and loving heart wa
still Tho last official bulletin from tn
war department. stated that he died q
20 minutes past O'Clock on the morn
ing Of April 10.
Instantly flags were raised at hal
mast all over the city, the bells tollel
solemnly, and with incredible swiftnes
Warrington went into deep, universe
mourning All stores, government dc
partments and private Offices wor
closed, aud everywhere, ON the most pre-
tentious residences and on the humblea
novels, were the black badges Of grief
Nature seemed to sympothizo In the gen
eral lamantation, aud tears Of rain fol
from the moist and somber sky. IN
wind sighed mournfully through street
crowded with sad faced people, an
broad folds Of funereal drapery flappe
heavily in the wind over the decoration