The Leon reporter., 1900-02-08

capped. Horror bred rumor, and Secre-
tary Stanton, too, was reported wound
ed, while later it was said that Grant
had been killed on his way north.
Dread seized the town. "Rumors are
SO thick" wrote the editor of the
National lntelligencer, at 2 o'clock in
the morning, "the excitement of this
hour is SO intense that we rely entire
ly upon our reporters to advise the
public of the details and result of this
night Of horrors. Evidently conspira-
tors are among US. To what extent
does the conspiracy exist? This is
terrible question. When a spirit so
horrible as this Is abroad, what man
Is safe? We can only advise the Ut
most vigilance and the most prompt
measures by the authorities. We can
only pray God to shield us. his worthy
people. from further calamities like
these"
The civil and military authorities
prepared for attack from within and
without. Martial law was at once
established. The long roll was beaten;
exery exit from the city was guarded;
outgoing trains we're stopped; mount
ed police and cavalry clattered up and
down the street; the forts were or
dered on the alert; guns were manned.
In the meantime there had gathered
in the house on Tenth street, where
the president lay, his family physician
and intimate friends, as well as many
prominent officials. Before they
reached him it was known there was
no hope, that the wound was fatal.
They grouped themselves about the
bedside or in the adjoining rooms, try
ing to comfort the weeping wife, or
listening awe-stricken to the steady
moaning and labored breathing of the
unconscious man, which at times could
be heard all over the house. Stanton
alone seemed able to act methodically.
No man felt the tragedy more than the
great war secretary, for no one in the
cabinet was by greatness of heart and
intellect go well able to comprehend
the worth of the dying president, but
no man in that distracted night acted
with greater energy or calm. Sum-
moning the assistant secretary, c. A.
Dana, and stenographer, he began
debating orders to the authorities on
all sides, notifying them of the trag-
edy, directing them what precautions
to take, what persons to arrest. Grant,
now returning to Washington, he d.
rected, should be warned to keep close
watch on all persons who came close
to him in the cars and to see that an
engine be sent in front of his train.
He sent out. too, an official account OF
the assassination. Today the best
brief account of the nights awful work
remains the one which Secretary Stan
ton dictated within sound of the moan
ing of the dying president.
And SO the hours changed without
perceptible change in the presidents
condition, and with only slight shift
ing of the scene around him. The tes-
timony of those who had witnessed the
murder began to be taken in an ad-
joining room. Occasionally the figures
at the bedside changed. Mrs. Lincoln
came in at intervals, sobbing out her
grief, and then was led away. This
man went, another took his place. 1t
was not until daylight that there came
perceptible change. Then the breath
ing grew quieter, the face became more
calm. The doctors at Lincoln's side
knew that dissolution was near. Their
bulletin of o'clock read: Pulse fall
ing" that of $3.50. "Still falling" that
of z, Symptoms OF immediate dissolu-
tton." and then at 1920, in the presence
Of his son Robert. Secretaries Stanton,
Welles and Usher, Atty.-Gen. Speed.
Senator Sumner, Private Secretary
Hay, DR.. Gurley, his pastor and several
physicians and friends, Abraham Lin
coin died. There was a prayer, and
then the solemn voice of Stanton
broke the stiffness. Nov he belongs
to the ages"
Two hours later the body Of the
president, wrapped In an American
nag, was borne from the house IN
Tenth street and carried through the