The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1895-07-12
DEATH OF LINCOLN.
1oAH BROOKS REcoLLEcTloNS OF
THE GREAT TRAGEDY.
The President Did Not Want to Go to the
Theater, but Would Not Disappolnt the
Public-A sorrowing People Under a
Weeping Sky That April Morning.

Theater, but Would Not Disappoint the
Public-A sorrowing People Under n
Weeping Sky That April Morning.
The afternoon and evening of April
IA, 1865, were cold, raw and gusty.
Dark clouds enveloped the capital, and
lie air was chilly, with occasional show
nrs. Late in the afternoon filled an APP
ointment by calling on the president at
the White House, and was told by him
that he had had notion" of sending
Tor me to go to the theater that evening
with him and Mrs. Lincoln, but he add
ID that Mrs. Lincoln had already made
Up II party to take the place of General
nd Mrs. Grant, who had somewhat I'M
xpectedly left the city for Burlington,
v J. The party was originally planned
n the purpose of taking General and
,lrs. Grant to see "Our American Cous-
Il" at Ford's theater, and when Grant
ad decided to leave Washington he (the
uresident) had "felt inclined to give up
ne whole thing" but as it had been
nnounced in the morning papers that
his distinguished party would go to the
heater that night Mrs. Lincoln had
ather insisted that they ought to go in
rider that the expectant public should
rot be wholly disappointed.
On my way home l met Schuyler Col
lax, who was about leaving for Cali
'ornia, and who tarried with me ON the
idewalk a little while, talking about
he trip and the people whom | knew
san Francisco and Sacramento that
ie wished to meet. Mr. Lincoln had
iften talked with me about the possibil-
ties of his eventually taking up his res
dence in California after his term of
,fIice should he over He thought, he
aid, that that country would afford
letter opportunities for his two boys
han any Of the older states, and when
he heard that Colfax was going to Cali
fornia he was greatly interested in his
rip and said that he hoped that Colfax
would bring him back good report of
what his keen and practiced observation
would note in the country which he
tColfaX) was about TO see for the first
time.
The evening being inclement, staid
within doors to nurse Il violent cold with
which was afflicted, and my roommate,
McA., and | whiled away the time
chatting and playing cards About 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 rear
part of the house.
As | turned down the gas said tony
roommate; "Will, l have guessed the
cause of the chatter outside 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 bounced down upon the
president and has attempted to carry
him off. " OF course this was said To-
cosely and without the slightest thought
that the president was in any way in
danger, and my friend, in similar
spirit, banteringly replied, "What good
will that do the rebs unless they carry
lff Andy johnson also?" The next
morning was awakened in the early
lawn by loud and hurried knocking
IN my chamber door, and the voice of
Mr. Gardner, the landlord, crying:
Wake, wake. Mr.. Brooks have dread
full news. "
slipped out, turned the key of the
door, and Mr.. Gardner came in, pale
trembling and woe BECOME. like him
who drew Priam's curtain at the dead
Of night" and told his awful story. At
that time it was believed that the presi-
dent, Mr. Seward, Vice President John
son and other members of the govern
ment had been killed. and this was the
burden of the tale that was told to us.
! sank back into my bed, cold and shiv-
ering with horror, and for a time it
seemed as though the end Of all things
had come. was aroused by the loud
weeping of my comrade, who had not
left his bed in another part of the room.
When we had sufficiently collected
ourselves TO dress and go out Of doors in
the bleak and cherries April morning,
we found in the streets an extraordinary
spectacle. They We're suddenly crowded
with people-men, women and children
thronging the pavements and darkening
the thoroughfares. Itseemed as if every
body was in tears. Pale faces, streaming
eyes, with now and again an angry,
frowning countenance, were ON every
side. Men and women who were stran-
gers accosted one another with distressed
looks and fearful inquiries for the well
faro of the president and Mr.. Stewards
family The president still lived, but at
half past O'Clock in the morning the
tolling Of the bells announced 20 the la
people that he had ceased to |
breathe. His great and loving heart was
still The last official bulletin from the
war department stated that he died at
az minutes past 2 o'clock on the morn
ing of April 10.
Instantly flags were raised at half
mast all over the city, the bells tollad
and with incredible swiftness
went into deep, universal
All stores, government de-
)artments and private offices were
,losed, and everywhere, ON the most pre-
entious residences and ON the humblest
novels, were the black badges of grief
Nature seemed to sympathize in the gem
raj lamentation, and tears of rain fell
rom the moist and somber sky. The
Wind sighed mournfully through streets
rowded with sad faced people, and
road folds Of funeral drapery tapped
cavity in the wind over the decorations
{ the day before. Noah Brooks in Cen
ury.