Southwest-sentinel. [volume] (Silver City, N.M.) 1883-189?, 1895-10-01

The President Did Not want - Go 20 ths
Thsutsr. bat would Net Dlsappoiua ths
rubIIe-A sOrrOwlnE People Undsr .
Weeping shy That April Morning.
The afternoon and evening Of April
"a, 1865, were cold, raw and gusty.
Dark clouds enveloped the capital, and
the air was chilly, with occasional show
era. Late in the afternoon Ihlled an ap-
pointment by calling on the president at
the White House, and was told by him
that he had had q notion" Of sending
for me 70 go TO the theater that evening
with him and Mrs. Lincoln, but he add.
cd that MrS Lincoln had already made
up party to take the place Of General
and Mira Grant, who had somewhat un.
expcctedly left the city for Burlington,
N. J. The party was originally planned
for the purpose Of taking General and
AlHA Grant to sec Our American Cous-
IN" at Ford's theater, and when Grant
had decided TO leave Washington no (the
presidont) had "felt inclined to give up
The whole thing" but as it had been
announced in the morning papers that
this distinguished party would 60 TO the
theater that night Mrs. Lincoln had
rather insisted that they ought to 90 in
order that the expectant public should
not be wholly disappointed.
On my way home met Schuy ylor Col.
fax, who was about leaving for Cali
fornia, and who tarried with me ON the
sidewalk q little while, talking about
tho trip and tho people whom knew
in San Francisco and sacramento that
he wished to meet Mr.. Lincoln had
often talked with me 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 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 Cali
fcrnia no was greatly Interested in his
trip and said that he hoped that Colfax
would bring him back a good report Of
what his keon and practiced observation
would note In tho country which he
(Oolfax) was about to see for the first
time
The evening being inclemcnt, I staid
within doors to nurse a violent cold with
which ] was afflicted, and my roommate,
MoA., and 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 rear
part Of tho house.
As turned down the Eas / said to my
roommate; "Will, / have guessed the
cause Of the Clatter outside tonight You
know Wado 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 tha
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 n similar
spirit, banteringly replied, what good
will that do tho rebs unless they carry
of Andy johnson nlso?" The next
morning was awakened In the early
dawn by loud and hurried knocking
on my chamber door, and the voice Of
Mr.. Gardner, tho landlord, crying;
Wake. wake. Mr.. Brooks / have dread
ful nows. {"
slipped out, turned tho key Of the
door, and Mr.. Gardner cnmo in, pale,
aInIf ue,H IL.
who drew Priam's curtain at tho 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 mcypbers Of the govern
mont 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 time &c
seemed as though tho end Of all things
had come was aroused by tho loud
weeping Of my comrade, who had not
loft hts bed IN another part Of tho room.
When we had sufficiently collected
ourselves 70 dress and go out OF doors In
the bleak and choerless April morning,
We found In tho streets an extraordinary
spectacle They were suddenly crowded
with pooplo-men, women and children
throngtng tho pavements and darkening
tho thoroughfares. Itscomed as II every
body was IN tears. Pale facos, streaming
eyes, with now aud again an angry,
trowning countcnance, were on every
side. Men aud women who were stran-
gers aooosted one another with distressed
looks and fearful inquiries Tor the vel
fare Of the president and Mr.. Seward g
family. The president still lived, but at
half past O'Clock IN the morning the
tolling nf the bolls announced to the la
menting people that he had ceased 70
breathe His great and loving heart was
still The last official bulletin from tho
war department stated that he died at
20 minutes past O'Clock on the morn
ing Of April 10.
Instantly dags were raised at half
mast all over tho city, tho bells tolled
solemnly, and with incredible swiftness
Washington won't into deep. universgl
mourning. All stores. government do
partments and private Offices were
closed, aud everywhere, on tho most pro-
tentious residences and on the humblest
novels. were tho black badges Of grief
Nature seemed 10 sympathizo In the gem
oral lanontation, aud tears of rain fell
from the moist and sombor sky. The
wind sighed mournfully through streets
crowded with sad faced people, and
broad folds Of funereal dEapery tapped
heavily In the wind over the decorations
Of tho day teforo Noah Brooks IN Gem
tury.