The Opelousas courier., 1895-06-15
ASSASSINATION OF LINCOLN.
The President Did Not Want to Disappoinf
tna pnhliO,

ASSASSINATION OF LINCOLN
| Tho President Did Not wasn't to Disappoin'
tine Public .
The afternoon and evening OF Aprl
IA, 1865, were cold, raw and gusty
Dark clouds enveloped the capital
and the air was chilly with Occasional
showers. Late In the afternoon ]
filled all appointment by calling on
the president at the white house, anc
was told by him that he 'had had &
notion of sendihg for me to go to the
theater that evening With him and
Mrs. lincoln; but he added that Mrs
Lincoln had already made up a party
to take the place Of Gen. and Mrs.
Grant, who had somewhat unexpected
ly left the city for Burlington, N. J.
The party was originally planned for
the purpose of taking Gen. and Mrs,
Grant to see Our American Cousin
at Ford's theatet, and when Grant had
decided to 1eavs Washington, he (he
president) had ''fe1t Inclined to give
up the whole thing but as it 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 tc
go, in order that the ~expectant public
should not be wholly disappointed.
On my way home l met Schuyler Col,
fax, who was about leaving for Califor'
MIA, andwho tarried with ME on the side
walk a little while, talking about the
trip, and the people whom l kTUy,in
San Francisco and Sacramento whom
he wished to meet. Mr.. tineol had
often talked with me about the ,tossi-
bilities Of his eventually taking lip his
residence in California after his Term
of office should be over. He thought.
he said, that that country would'hf-
ford better opportunities for his two
boys than any of the older states; and
when he heard that Colfax was going
to California, he was greatly inter
ested in his trip, and said that he
hoped that Colfax would bring him
back a good report of what his keen
and practiced observation would note
in the country which he (Colfax) was
about to see for the first time.
The evening being inclement, /
stayed within doors to nurse a violent
cold with which / was afflicted; and
my roommate McA-- and | whiled
away the time chatting and playing
cards About half, tst ten our atten-
ton was attracted to the frequent gal.
Looping of cavalry or the mounted pa
troll past the house which we occupied
on New York avenue, ear the state
department building. After awhile
quiet was restored, and we retired to
our sleeping-room in the rear part of
the house.
AS l turned down the gas, I said to
my room mate: Twill, I have guessed
the cause of the clatter outside to-
You know Wade Hampton has
with his cavalry some.
in the mountains of Virginia.
Now, my theory of the racket is that
he has raided Washington, and has
bounced down upon the president, and
has attempted to carry him Off" OF
course this was said loosely and with
out the slightest thought that the
president was in any way in danger;
and my friend, in a similar spirit, ban
5eringly replied: "What good will
do the rebs unless they carry off
Andy johnson also?" The next morn
ng | was awakened in the early dawn
by a loud and hurried knocking on my
chamber door, and the voice of Mr.
fardner, the landlord, crying: Wake,
wake, Mr.. Brooks! l have dreadful
slipped out, turned the key of the
loor, and Mr.. Gardner came in, pale, !
rembling, and woebegone, like him
Who drew Priam's curtain at the dead
# night and told his awful story.
1t that time it vas believed that the
resident, Mr.. Seward, Vice President
'ohnson and other members of the
had been killed; and this
the burden Of the tale that was
old to us. sank back into my bed,
old and %shivering with horror, and
Or a time it seemed as though the end
f all things had come. l was aroused
y the loud weeping of my comrade,
Who had not left his bed in another
art of the room.
When we had sufficiently collected
urselves to dress and go out of doors
. the bleak and cherries April morn
IS, we found in the streets an extra
rdinary spectacle. They were sud-
emily crowded with people men,
and children thronging the
avements and darkening the thorough
ires. 1t seemed as if everybody was
/ tears. Pale faces, streaming eyes,
18th now and then an angry, frown-
countenance. were on every side.
len and women who were strangers
one another with distressed
'oks and fearful inquiries for the well
ire of the president and Mr.. Stewards
lmily. The president still lived, but
/ half-past seven o'clock in the MORN
g the tolling of the bells announced
the lamenting people that he had
'ased to breathe. His great and low
g heart was still. The last official
alletin from the war department
ated that he died at twenty-five
lnutes past seven o'clock on the
orning of April Is.
Instantly flags we're raised at half
asst all over the city, the bells tolled
'lemnly, and with incredible swift
ass Washington went into deep, uni
'rsal mourning. All stores, govern
ent departments and private offices
ere closed, and everywhere, on the
ost Pretentious residences and on the
lmblest novels, were the black badges
grief. Nature seemed to sympa- |
lze in the general lamentation, and /
ars of rain fell from the moist and