The times., 1899-07-09

President who was still looking sharply at
the stranger. Pendel trsquently refers to
the incident, and adds that when Mr.. Lin
coln reached the White House ne turned
and said: 'Pendel, do you know that |
received a letter last night warning me
against man who exactly answered the
description Of that fellow we met on the
stairs
After that Pendel maintained a sharper
lookout for fanatics than ever. and every
time he accompanied the President to the
front door of the White House he kept his
hand on the butt of his revolver.
Pendel was appointed deorkeeper of the
White House, succeeding Edward McMan-
us, on December 81, 1854 His commits
sion read "doorkeeper." but Pendel was in
reality an usher, which position he has
held ever since.
The Murder of Lincoln.
The most vivid picture retained in PEN
del's memory concerns the memorable eve
ming of the assassinatitsss
Il took the last carf.sto Mr.. Lincoln be-
fore he left for Fords Theatre that night, 4"
said he to reporter for The Times yes
terday. They were those of the Speaker
of the House, Colfax, afterward the Vice
President, and Mr.. Ashmun of Massachu-
ScAbor Iudll VI llit CoINtHllOI ludl
nominated Mr.. Lincoln. | was standing
outside the door of the Red Room while
they stood talking with Mr.. and Mrs. Lin
coin, who were within that pretty parlor.
Presently the President and Mrs. Lincoln
came out, and, passing through the front
door, stepped into the carriage waiting
there and drove away down town. Why,
was the last person to whom the President
ever said good night. Good night, Pen
DEL were his very words to me as
opened the front door for him as he went
out and down the walk on the way to his
DEATH
After that evrything happened. l was
on night duty. 1t was close upon 10
o'clock, l recall that l was sitting in one
of the big chairs in the alcove window
facing the lower part of the city, waiting
to open the door for the President and Mrs.
Lincoln when they should arrive from the
theatre, when l saw confused mass of
hurried lights approaching the White
House from the direction of the theatre.
They came struggling up the Avenue to
the Mansion. Then there came a sharp
ring at the bell. l was young then and
hurried to the door and opened it quickly.
THE person at the door was Senator
Charles Sumner of Massachusetts. He
looked pale and worried as he asked sharp
ly whether the President had returned.
When / said No he asked whether l had
heard that anything had happened. He
looked relieved when l sail had heard
nothing. He said he had heard some vague
rumor that something had happened to
Mr.. Lincoln. When the Senator and those
who were with him left | closed the door
and returned to my seat by the window.
felt sure something was impending.
Suddenly / heard quick footsteps COM
ing up the walk and then a violent ring
at the doorbell. The late caller was Isaac
Newton, Commissioner OF Agriculture. He
was pale, deathly so, and his eyes glitter
ed. His voice was strained and he blurted
out, hoarsely, My God, they've shot the
President
81 could say nothing I was horror
stricken and could hardly realize the sit
uation. Mr.. Newton stood near the door
with his hand over his eyes, and was shak-
ing and quivering with excitement and
grief. After minute ii occurred to me-
all at once, that the other occupants of the
house should be made acquainted with the
terrible news
Fastening along the upper corridor
came upon Capt. Robert Lincoln, the Pres
idents eldest son. He had not gone to bed
and l remember that he had medicine
bottle in one hand and spoon in the 9TH
er as though he We're measuring out some
medicine.
I'll never forget the expression that
overspread his face as / shrieked out the
fearful news. Unconsciously he let the
bottle drop from one hand and then the
spoon from the other. The medicine was
thick and black and gurgled out over the
carpet.
After minute Captain Lincoln recov-
cred some degree of command, and ordered
me to inform Major Hay, the Presidents
military ~ Of
whose room was further down the corridor
told Major Hay the news, and he hasten
ed down town with Captain Robert
'The news spread like lightning. Soon
everyone in the house crowded around me,
and with them came little Tad Lincoln,
the Presidents baby and the favorite of
the White House. He was twelve years
old and half dead with sleep and grief as
he put his arms around my neck and said:
%, Tom Pendel, they've killed my papa.
"All that night l watched and waited
until the President breathed his last. On
the next day l was appointed by Mrs. Lin
coin to be present at the post-mortem
examination
By special order of the War Department
Mr.. Pendel was one of the special guard
appointed to accompany the funeral train
to Springfield, where the martyred Presi-
dents remains were buried.
Posed for n Lincoln Portrait.
After the death of President Lincoln, in
response to the wishes of John A. Andrew,
the war Governor OF Massachusetts, Mr..
Pendel went to Boston, carrying the suit
last worn by Mr.. Lincoln, and posed In it
for the famous artist, William II. Hunt,
for portrait of Mr.. Lincoln. The painting
is said to have been destroyed in the great
Boston fire of 1872. Mr.. Pendel has letters
of recommendation from President and
Mrs. Grant, President Hayes, President
Arthur, and others who have occupied the
White House since Mr.. Lincoln's time.
Pendel was the last man who shook
hands with President Garfield when be left
the White House on the July morning in
1881 on which he was shot at the Sixth
Street station.