The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-08-10
Stanton VS.. Lincoln.
G. a. Dana in McClure's.

G. A.. Dana in McClure's.
1t vas one OF my duties in the war
department to receive the reports If
the officers of the secret service In
every part of the country. The after
noon Of the 14th-Good Friday-I got
a telegram from the provost marshal
in Portland. Me-, saying:
Il have positive information that
Jacob Thompson will pass through
Portland tonight. in order to AXE a
steamer for England. What are your
orders?"
Jacob Thompson of Mississippi had
been secretary OF the interior in Pres
ident B~uchanan's administration. He
was a conspicuous s~ecessionist, and for
some time had been employed in Can
ada as a semi-diplomatic agent of the
confederate government, organizing all
sorts of troubles and getting up raids
Of which the notorious attack on st.
Adams. VT. was a specimen. 1 took
the telegram and went down and read
1t to Mr.. Stanton. His order was
prompt: Arrest him." But as I was
going out the door he called TO me
and said: mo: wait. Better go over
and see the president"
At the white house all business was
over, and ] went into the presidents
business room without meeting any
one. Opening the door. there seemed
10 be no one in the room. but as I was
turning to go out Mr.. Lincoln called
to me from a little side room. where he
vas washing his hands:
Hello. Danar' said he. What Is
IL? What's up?"
Then / read him the telegram.
VIVA does Stanton say?" he asked.
He says arrest him. but that I
should refer the question to you"
We'll" said he slowly. wiping his
hands; mo: l rather think not. When
you have got an elephant by the hind
leg and he trying to run away. it's
best TO let him run"
With this direction I returned to the
war department.
We'll. what says he?" asked Mr..
Stanton.
He says that when you have got an
elephant by the hind leg and he's try
ing to run away, it's best to let him
run"
"oh, stuff!" said Stanton.
That night I was awakened from a
ound sleep with the news that Mr..
Lincoln had been shot and that the Sec
rotary wanted me at a house on Tenth
street. / found the president with a
bullet wound in the head. lying uncon-
sclous. though breathing heavily, on a
bed in a small side room, while all the
members of the abine and the chief
justice with them, were gathered in the
adjoining parlor. They seemed to be
almost as much paralyzed as the I'M
conscious sufferer within the little
chamber. Mr.. Stanton alone was in full
activity.
"Sit down here" said he. IT want
you"
Then he began and dictated orders,
one after another, which I wrote out
and sent swiftly to the telegraph. All
those orders were designed to keep the
business of the governmental full mo-
ton until the crisis should be over. 1t
seemed as IL Mr.. Stanton thought Of
everything. and there was a great deal
to be thought of that night. The sx-
tent OF the coespiracy was OF course
unknown, and the horrible beginning
which had been made naturally led us
to suspect the worst. The safety of
Washington must be looked after. Com
manders all over the country had been
ordered to take extra precautions. The
people must be notified OF the tragedy.
The assassins must be captured. The
GOODNESS and clear-headedness OF Mr..
Stanton under these circumstances
were remarkable. I remember that one
of his first kilograms was to General
Dix, the military commander of New
York. notifying him of what had hap
pened. No clearer brief account of the
tragedy exists to-day than this, written
scarcely three hours after the scene in
Ford's theater. on a little stand in the
room where. a few feet away. Mr.. Lin
COIN lay dying.
I remained with Mr.. Stanton until
perhaps 3 o'clock in the morning. Then
he said. That's enough: now you may
CO."
When I left the president was still
alive, breathing very heavily and reg
uarly, though, of course. quite uncon-
scious. 1 went home and to bed. About
s o'clock I was awakened by a rapping
on the lower window. 1t was Colonel
Pelouze Of the adtutant generals Of
flee. who said: MI. Dana, the presi-
lent is dead and Mr.. Stanton directs
you to arrest Jacob Thompson"