The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-08-14
HER VISIT TO LINCOLN.
A New Story Of the Martyred
President and a Woman.
The Great Mans Thoughtful Atten-
tion to an Unpretentious Woman.

Tnis paper, concerning President Lin-
coin, has never been made public.
In the month Of October, 1854, went
from Fairmount, Mo-, to Washington city
in behalf of Daniel Hayden Of Scotland
county, who had been captured at Helena,
Ark, Is months before, and who was then
confined In the old Alton Qlls.) peni-
tentiary, which had been turned into
military prison.
On tho train I met Colonel Thomas
Turner Of Freeport, Ills, and Colonel
Hancock Of Chicago, president Of the board
of trade. Colonel Turner, who was "A long
timo friend, informed me that they were
going TO Washington on most delightful
mission. The Union league Of Chicago
had passed very complimentary resolutions
in favor Of Mr.. Lincoln upon his renom-
ination, and these two gentlemen had been
chosen by tho league to present them in
person TO the president
We arrived in Washington on the fourth
day of the month The city was crowded
to overfiowing with guests of every class
and people of every and-and- Cline
mothers, wives, daughters, sisters and
sympathizing friends on different missions
of mercy. Officers and soldiers thronged
the streets; the hotels were filed with Off
GERS and their wives. Such a oommotion as
there was throughout the whole town!
And TO crown it all, Sheridan and Early
were fighting in the Shenandoah valley.
At the White House people sat waiting,
day in and day out, for an audience with
tho president. One could scarcely get
around through the eagerly expectant
crowd many of whom told me they had
been there for weeks. The cards had been
taken in, and they were impatiently wait
ing their turn.
On the afternoon Of tho 9TH / did no.
reach the White House until after o'clock.
At the entrance l met an old man, a clerk
In the department. of the commissary gen.
eral of prisoncrs-C Colonel William Hoff-
mans department. l had accidentally
met and conyersed with the plain old fell
low, who proved my salvation at this
time.
The moment he met me he said "Have
you seen the president cets"
replied IN the negative He then ad
vised me to go right up. He said: 1T Is
now past office hours have just left the
president; went In to get these papers
signed Tomorrow the cabinet meets;
the next day is Sunday. Monday is al
ways busy day, SO you cannot hope to
see him before Tuesday evening, even
though you were FIRST on the list, and there
are hundreds ahead of you"
certainly felt that the old man S advice
was good, but IL also occurred Ia me that
would be running a great risk 10 walk
into the private Office of President Lincoln
unannounced and uncalled for / was
only green young woman from the back
woods Of Missouri What would l do If
he should order me out or something OF
that kinds My case would surely be hope
less and L undone. But the thought of
the poor old father who was paying my
expenses and the advice OF the clerk whom
met made mo somewhat desperate, and,
after getting up ell the courage possible, 1
made my way up stairs and TO the door OF
the Office. i could feel my heart beating
In an unusual manner, and was actual
ly trembling from head to foot At last
i took hold OF the doorknob, hesitated n
moment, then turned it and walked in.
Mr.. Lincoln was all alone, sitting beside
very plain table, resting his elbow on
the tablo and his head upon his hand.
When / entered, he raised his tired eyes
oh, SO tired-and with worn look / can
never, never forget. AS l advanced and
before he spoke i said, 'Mr. Lincoln, you
must pardon this intrusion, but / just
could not wait any longer to see you.
The sanity man then reached out his
friendly hand and said: 'No intrusion at
all, not the least. Sit down, my child, sit
down, and let mo know what can do
for you" ! suggested that probably he
was too tired He replied, II am tired,
but am waiting TO say goodby to two
friends from Chicago, who are going on
the train ut ~
briefly explained to him the case before
me, saying that Hayden had been in prison
10 months; that he was Union man,
forced from his home by the rebels, etc;
that his wife had died since he had been
in prison, leaving five little children with
his very aged mother, who had lately lost
her eyesight. had besides large envel-
ope filled with letters of recommendation
from different officers of the department of
Missouri; also petition drawn DIP by my
self, signed by the Union neighbors OF Mr..
Hayden; appended To II certificate of
their loyalty, signed by the county clerk,
Wallace Pcrmott, who had affixed the seal
of the county court To all the above SEN
ator John B. Henderson had added an in
dorscmcnt for myself in strong, impressive
language.
dent, he didn't touch them, but said, with
out raising hand: Now, suppose you
read them over for me. Your eyes arc
younger than mine. Besides, as told you,
i am very, very tired. " BY accident the
petition was the first thing / took up.
When l came To John B. Henderson's
name he reached out and said quickly,
"Let me SEQ that" AS he glanced over it
to the bottom he laid the paper down,
slapped his hand upon the table and ex-
claimed: Plague on inc, If that ain John
Honderson's signature. Well, III release
this man just because John Henderson
asks me to do 1t. know he wouldn't ask
me If IL wasn't right nor send any one
here that would do anything detrimental
10 our government Come in tomorrow Mt
o'clock--mird, ct o'clock precisely.
Bring that petition with John Henderson S
name on IL and ! II fix you so you can get
this man out 9f prison" He then seemed
interested and asked me several questions
about men and matters in northeast Mis-
souri,.
Ait. .lo .l,o, ,y,pnI ord