Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-05-12
LAMON GAVE HIM WARNING.
Disregard Of II Led Lincoln to His
Death.

Disregard Of IL Led Lincoln to His
Death.
Just as wildly as if it were yester-
day do l remember the night on
which President Lincoln was shot,
writes DR.. r. Reyburn in the Wash
ington Post. It should be remember
ed that there were many rumors cur
rent, toward the close of the war; of
plots to assassinate President Lincoln
Among others, Mr.. Ward II. Lamon
was especially anxious on his ac-
count. On the eve of his departure
for Richmond he urged upon Mr..
Usher, the secretary of the interior,
to persuade Mr.. Lincoln to exercise
extreme caution, and to go out as
little as possible while he was absent.
Mr.. Usher went with him to see Mr..
Lincoln, and when about to leave he
asked him If he would make him a
promise. He asked what it was, and
said that he thought he could VEN
ture to say that he would. He wanted
Mr.. Lincoln to promise him that he
would not go out after night while he
was gone, particularly to the theater.
Lincoln turned to Mr.. Usher and said:
Usher, this boy is a mono-maniac on
the subject of my safety. I can hear
him or hear of his being around at all
times of the night, to prevent some.
body from numbering me. He thinks
shall be killed, and we think he is
going crazy" He then added: What
does anyone want to assassinate me
Tor? If any one wants to do so he
can do it any day or night, II he is
ready to give his life for mine. It is
nonsense"
Mr.. Usher then said: "Mr. Lin.
coin, 1T is well to listen and give heed
to Lamon. He is thrown among peo-
pie that give him opportunities to
know more about such matters than
we can know"
He then renewed his request, stand.
ing WIN MS nat in his hand, ready to
depart.
We'll" said Mr.. Lincoln, II prom.
Use to do the best | can toward it,"
lie then cordially shook hands and
said, "Good-by. God bless you." That
was the last time he ever saw his
friend.
The night Of the 14th of April, 1866,
was chilly, misty, foggy evening Of
early spring. ] was on duty at that
time as surgeon-in-chief of the de-
lenses north of the Potomac, which
were under the command of General
=. M. Hardin. About II p. m. on the
above date | was hastily summoned
by General Hardin to the headquar-
tiers of the defenses, Nineteenth
street and Pennsylvania avenue, with
the news that President Lincoln had
just been assassinated at Ford's
theater.
Dreary was the time we passed at
headquarters that night. The spirit
OF murder seemed to be in the yery
air, and the widest rumors were prev.
alent AT one time we heard that
Vice President johnson, Secretary
stanton and General Grant had been
murdered. The rumors came that
other members of the cabinet had
been attacked, followed by the news
which we speedily authenticated of
the wounding of Secretary Seward
and the members of his household.
Men looked at each other in dsmay,
wondering what dreadful news we
would hear next.
The troops in the city of Washing
ton were all under arms that night,
no one knowing what military ext
gency might arise requiring their SER
vices. President Lincoln was carried
from Ford's theater, on Tenth street
near Z street, where he had been
shot, to a house Immediately opposite,
winch is now used as museum of
relics OF Abraham Lincoln. During
all the night Surgeon General Barnes,
Or. Stone, Colonel Crane, Assistant
Surgeons Woodward, Curtis and Not.
SON. Acting Assistant Surgeon Taft
and Others endeavored to give such
medical assistance as was possible.
out without avail. President Lin
coin was wounded at 1920 D. M.
April IA, 1866, and died at 1922 a. m.'
April Is, 1866.
The body Of President Lincoln was
then removed from the house oppo- |
site Ford's theater, where he died. to |
the north room on the second story
OF the White House.
On Sunday, April 16, 1866, l was or.
dered with two other staff officers to
accompany General Hardin for duty
in guarding the body of our martyred
president. We reported for duty at
. P. m. Sunday, April l6, 1866. Gener.
al DeRussy, with three of his staff
onlcers. was also detailed for this
service, and we remained on duty
during the twenty-four hours ending
at p. m. on Monday, April II, 1865
Our chief duty during the day was
the conducting of members Of the
cabinet and senator's, with their
wives, to view the remains of the
murdered president. 1t was a most
Affecting and painful scene. well
remember the unfeigned grief dis
played by Mrs. Stanton, and especi.
ally OF Secretary Stanton. The tears
streamed down his cheeks as he look.
"a on the body Of his old friend and
companion, who had with him shared
lSah e dreadful burden imposed upon
Them OF our great civil war.
II was especially noticeable to us
Ill who were present for Secretary
stanton was habitually so stern a
man that we, in common with all