The evening times., 1896-07-23
Government Will Own Lin
coins Last Habitation.
CONGRESS HAS so DIRECTED
Sum of Thirty Thousand Dollars Ap-
propriated-House Now the DEPOSIT
tory Of the OIdroyd Collection of
Reilcs-Three Thousand Articles
Commemorate the "Rail splitter"

recent session OF Congress, provides ..for
the purchase of Tie house ON Tenth street
northwest, between Z and streets. where
| Abraham Lincoln died. and for that pur-
| pose the sum OF $40 600, oil so much thereof
as may be necessary, is appropriated. For
repair of the building after purchase an
additional sum OF 81 ,OCO is made availa BILE.
II Is plain, unpretcntious structure,
four stories high. with winding flight Of
steps leading from the sidewalk to the
narrow front door, and above the entrance
in the number Sig.
To the railing which surrounds the porch
at the doorway is attached u white board
bearing in black letters the announcement:
This house, in which Lincoln died, con-
taiDs over 5000 relics OF the martyred
President
Over the way is Ford's Thcater, with
Its worldwide rotoriety as the scene OF
that awful tragedy which robbed a ooun-
Try OF its ruler Il building, too, that had
second baptism of horror in 1898, when
its floors went down with their freight of
human lives.
1t is scarcely necessary to recall, except
briefly, the assassination, in words. The
memory OF 1t lives with those who little
over thirty years ago were witnesses OF
the sacrifice and its immediate results and
To all others the story as it has teen told
over and over and in SO many forms needs
no establishment. The last days events
even 10 the Presidents preparation for his
evening out. the last note he penned and
the last words spoken by him proir to leav-
ing the White House for The ttheater are
duly chronicied.
HIS LAST NOTE.
Allow Mr.. Asiimun and friend to come
Ia me at a. IN. tomorrow was hastily
penned by Mr.. Lincoln Just before he en-
tered his carriage, and these were he last
words ever Written by his hand. and the
name "A Lincoln in his weil-known
chirograply, was the last time his signa-
ture WIS ever attached to a document, Of
fetal or unofficial.
Subsequent 10 the writing Of this brief
note. which inade an appointment with the
Hon. George AshmuD, OF Massachusetts,
for the morrow which never came, Mr..
Lincoln, with a touch of huinOr, remarked
10 Mr.. Culfax, afterward Vice President:
Mr.. sumner (the SENATOR has the gavel
of the Confederate Congress, which he got
War, but insisted that he must give it TO
you, and you tell him for me TO hand it
over
When, finally, the time came for the
departure OF the party from the Executive
Mansion-a number Of statesmen being pres
ent-Messrs. AslImun and CoIfax accom-
panied the President and Mrs. Lincoln To
their carriage, declining the invitation to
attend the performance, and after a pleas
ant "goOd-bye'' had been exchanged the
driver received his orders, and drove hastily
away. When be was next housed within
the walls OF the White House mourning muI-
titudes were there, grieving over the ma
tons great loss.
As soon as it was discovered that the
President was shot the surgeon general of
the army and other physicians were at once
summoned, and their skill exhausted in the
efforts to restore him. Preparations were
at once made to remove him, and he was
conveyed TO the residence which Congress
has at last concluded to purchase. No. SIG
Tenth street, then occupied by Mr.. Peter
sen.
The President was carried to the room
at the rear of the hallway, and placed upon
the bed, the only evidence OF life in him be
ing an occasional nervous twitching OF the
hand and his heavy breathing.
WHERE HE DIED.
There, surrounded by his family and by
numerous prominent civilians and soldiers,
in cramped little apartment. scarcely
large enough for single occupant, the illus
trious President breatbed his last. There
were present, besides his family and men,
bers of his Cabinet, Senator Summer, Gen.
Todd, a cousin of Mrs. Lincoln; Major Hay,
NJ. b. Field, Gen. Halleck. Major Gen.
Meigs, Rev. DR.. Guriey, the surgeons, Mr..
Rufus Andre ws and others, and history does
not record a parallel of the scene that trans
pired there.
For years each successive attempt to
dispose of the property was more disco1r-
aging than the others, and finally the ef
fort was apparently abandoned. 1t was at
one time suggested that the house be pur-
chased by the government, and with it
the theater. and that both buildings be
torn down, leaving the space on either
side as a memorial parking The PROPOSE
ton embraced plan for the erection Of u
tablet on each space, and the improvement
of the grounds by the introduction Of
mounds and ornamental squares, with
flowers to adorn 1t all.
This plan found but little favor, and the
outcome of the agitation is that Congress
has ordered the purchase in order that the
building may be perpetuated in its pres
ent form. 1t will be repaired, but not
changed in any essential particular. No
widening of hallway, nor raising of ceiling,
nor alteration of the design In either in
terror or exterior will be permitted nor
attempted. 1t is to remain for all time,
so far as present Intentions are concerned,
in form and semblance throughout, ''the
house in which President Lincoln died"
There is slight hitch in the matter OF
transfer, and Notwithstanding the bill
passed on the 1th OF June. there has been
so far no move made, apparently toward
eftecting the change OF ownership. The
title to the property is vested in Mr.. Louis
Schade, prominent resident of Washing
ton. Nevertheless, it is stated that the
papers must be sent to Paris for a sigma
ture in order to pass the ownership.
OUT OF REPAIR.
The building contains fourteen rooms. 1t
needs repair in every apartment. but the
basement story rooms are said to be in the
most dilapidated condition Of them all.
The money appropriated for improvements
will doubtless be needed and perhaps more,
TO put the house1n thorough condition.
II will be perpetual memorial, and its
rooms will be Stored with suitable relics,
reminders of the iIlustrious American and
OF the times in which he was u commanding
figure.
Four OF the fourteen rooms in this future
memorial building, are, as the announce