Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1895-06-06


evening with him and Mrs. Lincoln;
but he added that Mrs. Lincoln had al
ready made up party to take the place
of Gen. and Mrs. Grant, who had some
what unexpectedly left the city for
Burlington, New Jersey, writes Noah
Brooks. The party was originally
planned for the purpose Of taking Gen.
and Mrs. Grant to see "0ur American
Cousin" at Ford's Theater, and when
Grant had decided to leave Washing
cllned to give up the whole thing"
but as 1t 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 l met
Schuyler ColfaX, who was about leav-
ing for California, and who tarried
with me on the sidewalk little while,
talking about the trip and the people
whom / knew in San Francisco and
Sacramento whom he wished to meet.
Mr.. Lincoln had often talked with me
about the possibilities of his taking up
his residence in California after his
term of office should be over. He
thought, he said, that that country
would afford 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
interested 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 violent
cold with which was afflicted; and my
roommate McA-- and l whiled away
the time chatting and playing cards.
About half-past ten 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 while quiet was re-
stored, and we retired to our sleeping
room in the rear part of the house. AS
turned down the gas, said to my
roommate: will, l have guessed the
cause of the clatter outside tonight.
You know Wade Hampton has disap-
peared with his cavalry somewhere in
the mountains of Virginia. Now, my
theory of the racket is that he has raid
ed Washington, and has bounced down
upon the President, and has attempted
to carry him Off" OF course this was
said loosely and without the slightest
thought that the President was in any
way in danger; and my friend, in sim
liar spirit, banteringly replied: What |
good will that do the rebs unless they
carry off Andy Johnson also?" The
next morning l was awakened in the
early dawn by a loud and hurried |
knocking on my chamber door, and the
voice of MIR. Gardner, the landlord, |
crying, Wake, wake, Mr. Brooks! |
have dreadful news" I slipped out, |
turned the key of the door, and Mr..
Gardner came In, pale, trembling, and |
woebegone, like him who drew
Priam's curtain at the dead of night"
and told his awful story. At that time |
1t was believed that the President, Mr..
Seward, Vice-President Johnson, and
other members Of the government had
been killed; and this was the burden
Of the tale that was told to us. sank
back into my bed, cold and shivering
with horror and for a time it seemed
as though the end of all things had
come. was aroused by the loud weep
ing of my comrade, who had not left
his bed in another part Of the room.
When we had sufficiently collected our
selves to dress and go out of doors in
the bleak and cheerless April morning.
we found in the streets an extraordi-
nary spectacle. They were suddenly
crowded with people-men, women,
and children thronging the pavements
and darkening the thoroughfares. 1t
seemed as if everybody was in tears.
Pale faces, streaming eyes, with now
and again an angry, frowning coun-
tenance, were on every side. Men and
women who were strangers accosted
one another with distressed looks and
fearful inquiries for the welfare of the
President and Mr.. Stewards family. The
President still lived, but at half-past
seven O'Clock in the morning the tolling
Iof the bells announced to the lamenting
people that he had ceased to breathe.
His great and loving heart was still.
The last official bulletin from the war
stated that he died at twen-
Ity-two minutes past seven o'clock on
the morning Of April Is. Instantly
flags were raised at half-mast all over
the city, the bells tolled solemnly, and
with incredible swlftness Washington
went into deep, universal mourning
All stores, government departments,
and private offices were closed, and
everywhere, on the most pretentious
residences and on the humblest novels,
were the black badges of grief. Nature
seemed to sympathize in the general
lamentation, and tears of rain fell from
the moist and sombre sky. The wind ,