Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-02-06
DEATH OF LINCOLN.
NOAH BROOKS RecoLLEcTloNs OF
THE GREAT TRAGEDY.


The afternoon and evening Of April
IA, 1865, were cold, raw and gusty.
Dark clouds enveloped the capital. and
the air was chilly, with occasional show
ers. Late in the afternoon filed an ap-
pointment by calling on the president at
the White House, and was told by him
that he had had a notion" of sending
for me to go to the theater that evening
with him and Mrs. Lincoln, but he add
ed that Mrs. Lincoln had already made
up party to take the place of General
and Mrs. Grant, who had somewhat un-
expectedly left the city for Burlington.
N. J. The party was originally planned
for the purpose ct taking General and
Mrs. Grant to see "Our American 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 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 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 me ON the
sidewalk little while, talking about
the trip and the people whom I 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
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 note in the country which he
(Colfax) was about to see for the first
time.
The evening being inclement, staid
within doors to nurse violent cold with
which was afflicted, and my roommate,
McA., and I 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 to my
roommate: Twill, have guessed the
cause of the clatter 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 jo-
cosely and without the slightest thought
that the president was in any way in
danger, and my friend, in a similar
spirit, banteringly replied, ''What good
will that do the rebs unless they carry
off Andy johnson also?" The next
morning I was awakened in the early
dawn by loud and hurried knocking
on my chamber door, and the voice Of
Mr.. Gardner, the landlord, crying:
wake, wake, Mr.. Brooks I have dread
full news"
I slipped out, turned the key Of the
door, and Mr.. Gardner came in, pale,
trembling and woe begone, 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 i'll 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 were 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 wei.
fare Of the president and Mr.. Stewards
family. The president still lived, but al
half past o'clock in the morning the
tolling of the bells announced to the Ia
menting people that he had ceased tt
breathe. His great and loving heart wa
still The last official bulletin from the
war department stated that he died a,
% minutes past 2 O'Clock on the morn
ing of April Is.
Instantly flags were raised at hal
mast all over the city, the bells tollet
solemnly, and with incredible swiftnes
Washington went into deep, universe
mourning. All stores, government de
partments and private Offices wer'
closed, and everywhere, on the most pre-
tentious residences and on the humbles
novels, were the black badges of grief
Nature seemed to sympathize in the gen
eral lamentation, and tears Of rain fel