Cañon City record., 1898-11-24
HIS SECOND INAueuRATIoN.

HIS SECOND INAUGURATION.
B,sass - Cl.sa
Ex-0overnor Thomas A. Osborn
was present At the second inausura-
tioa Of Abraham Lincoln - one Of
TIE escort to tho president. He was
associated with General Ward H.
Lamon. along with IL other United
etatss marshals from different parts
| 4 the northern states.
People who are able to refresh
their mcln6ry." Governor Osborn
said in . recent interview, Twill re-
member with what a,ixiety the in
ausuration was approached. 1t was
believed that an assault OK some
character would be attempted upon
the president. The government de-
tsctives had been able to gain =
vague sort Of information about .
conspiracy against the presidents
life, but there was nothing tangible
enough to enaLle them to make ar
rests. That their suspicious were
well grounded was well determined
Just 40 days later, when the presi-
dent wae shot down by Booth and
the conspiracy came to light.
President Lincoln was rather
dispoaed to poohpooh the idea of
danger. He refused to have himself
surrounded with soldiers at the in
augural exercises, but finally con-
sented that Ward ii. Lamon. who
was then marshal of the District of
Columbia, should take such steps as
he deemed necessary, stipulatine.
however, that there should be no
ostentatious display of arms or
force. General Lamon at once sum-
moned Is United States marshals
from different parts of the country.
selecting those who. in his opinion,
were brave, loyal. athletic and
shrewd. was one of the Is. fact
which ] have always attributed to
the general renown OF Kansas men
as fighters rather than to any per
s0nal prowees was known 20 pos
sess.
II ehall never forget the consults-
tion held between these 8 marshals
At the house of General Lamon on
the night preceding inauguration
day II was explained to us by Gen
eral Lamon that an assault on the
president was feared. He believed
that an attempt would be made to
abdnct him to the SOUTH Some
feared assassination. ! remember
that several of the marshaIs rug
gcsted the possibility of an attempt
upon the presidents life with an
airgun. We were duly impressed
with the gravity of the situation
and prepared plan Of action which
was fully earned out ON the follow
ing day
When the hour approached for
the president to proceed 10 the cap
itol to take the oath OF Office, we
rode in body on horseback from
Willard's hotel to the White House
and surrounded the presidents car
riage. remember that the presi-
dent appeared to be considerably
annoyed at our solicitude, for We
kept in close order about the car
riaee all the way to the capitol. All
lot MS carried p;<tols beneath our
cuats, while In oar hands Ne held
baton. similar 10 those carried by
| lpplicemen. Arriving At tbs cspitol.
ws remained on the steps Of the east
front while the president entered
the senate chamber and took the
| oath Of ONCE. When he reappeared
ON the steps to deliver his inaugural
address. we closed in. around him
and remained 40 until the end, after
which we escorted his carriage back
to. the White House in the same
manner that we had escorted It to
the capitol. We saw no evidence Of
. contemplated abduction or assas-
sination anywhere along the route.
though. Of course. no indications
could have been expected until the
actual assault took place.
THAT 4th day Of March, 1855, was
the worst day have ever seen in
Warrington. It was dark and
| gloomy and the air was filled with
NOW and rain. The bedraggled
lplumes and sccouterments to be seen
In the military procession which
followed the presidents carriage
wero = sorry sight indeed. The
| president sat bolt upright in his car
riaae with his splendid face barred
to the storm. though now and again
be smiled and bent his head in re-
sponee to . burst Of cheers from the
spectators along Pennsylvania ave-
nue..
II have had many honors bestow-
Cd upon me by my indulgent fellow
citinens, !" said ex-Governo. Osborn
In conclusion, hut none of them
made me prouder than my appoint
ment ~ one Of the escort to mar
tyred Abraham Lincoln. Topeka
capital.
Wealanr HART nin-