Evening star., 1897-02-13

deserters from the rebel army. Occasional
ly, in fact, frequently, there would be heard
demand for their determination. A voice
would ring out: Let's kill every one Of
them; no loyal man Is safe with these
traitors In the city, But thousand times
that night desperate acts and violent meas
ures were prevented by some one saying
to the excited person who counseled bloody
deeds:
"'Step! What would Lincoln say IL he
could speak?
That was effective The use of the name
of the man who lay dying on 10th street
saved the city and the nation.
Amidst the excitement, amidst the
clamor for revenge and the bitter feeling
against the perpetrators OF the foul deed
was also a profound sorrow. l saw more
men weep that night than in all the years
OF my life. Lincoln was familiar to the
people; he was their friend. They felt that
they had lost one like father. But above
and beyond all there was fear as to the
effect upon the nation. Fear of what was
to come made the night horrible to men
who loved their country. 1t was a night
OF terror
The Next Day.
A most interesting feature of the remi-
niscence by Senator Stewart was the swear
ing in of Andrew Johnson as President
After restless night. a night of such in
tensity as was never experienced in the
nations capital, not even during the dark
est times of war, the morning dawned.
Lincoln was dead!
The nation was without ruler.
Immediate action was necessary or an
archy would soon reign rampant. Solomon
Foote, a senator from Vermont, was Presi-
dent PRO tempore of the Senate. He had
presided over that body since the inaugu-
ration, Johnson being absent about all the
time In the mist of an April morning
Senator Foote drove down Pennsylvania
avenue in a carriage much the worse for
wear and covered with mud. Mud on the
wheels, mud on every part of it. Penn
sylvania avenue. now a smooth paved thor
oughfare, was little better than a quag-
mire. The carriage lurched into ruts and
mud holes, the driver whipping the jaded
horses and vigorously urging them into a
semblance OF trot. In front of Willard's S
Hotel Senator Stewart was standing. Sen
ator Foote directed the driver to stop at
the curb.
Lincoln is dead.' said Foote 1--WE must
swear in johnson al once. There must be
q head to the government" Stewart got
into the carriage, and together they drove
to the residence of Chief Justice Chase. He
Joined them when their errand was explain
cd. and the three drove to the Kirk wood
kirkwood was at the corner of Pennsyl-
vania avenue and 10Th street; the Raleigh
now stands on the same site.
we want to see Mr.. Johnson" said Sem
ator Stewart. mo need of sending up
cards; just tell US where his rooms are and
We will find him."
How johnson Was Sworn In.
johnson occupied two small rooms at the
head of the stairs. These were pointed out
TO the chief justice and the senators. After
rapping sharply on the door the Vice Presi-
dent came sleepily to it and admitted them.
we have come to administer the oath
of office to you as President of the United
States, said Chase. Johnson mumbled
something and went back to his bed room.
he appeared after time with his panta-
looms and vest on and was putting on his
coat. He did not make a very presentable
appearance. He was not just the kind of
a man that would have been picked out
then for Lincoln's successor. But he had
been selected long ago for the emergency
which now arose, and there was nothing
but to swear him as soon as possible and
give him the reins of power. Under the
Constitution he was the man to take the
office.
In solemn tones the chief justice admin
istered the oath which made Johnson
President. After this ceremony he seemed
little doubtful as to what he should do.
The title Mr.. President" by which he
was addressed, seemed to dsconcert him
somewhat.
Get over to the White House as soon as
possible, urged Chase. 1t is important
that you should be there soon; the head
of the government should be in his Office
in this great crisis"
johnson said he would go at once, and
the men who had participated in the cere-
mony left him. Later in the day Senator
Stewart saw him at the White House and
he presented a different appearance, as
changed a man would be who has had
bath. shave and donned a new suit of
clothes. When 1t was known that the new
President had assumed the Office quiet was
somewhat restored. The people had worn
themselves out in the long weary night.
No more assassinations were anticipated.
The conspirators were fleeing for their
lives. and were being pursued in every
direction.
The government lived but the nation
mourned. ARTHUR W. DUNN.