The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-07

arrived. His own half-dIstracted frame of
mind was intensified by the frantic en-
treaties of Miss Surratt., who, sobbing and
choking with grief. was clinging to him and
begging him TO do something.
But what could he do? In every avenue
that led toward the President there was
cleaning bayonet and behind the bayOnet
the stern bronzed face of a soldier Mr.
Brophy was at the verge Of despair when
suddenly fine carriage came dashing I'D
TO the White House entrance and out of il
hurried a richly-dressed and strikingly
handsome woman, the beautiful Mrs.
stephen A. Douglas, wife Of Lincoln's old
time rival out in Illinois. the Little Giant
DASHED ON BAYONETS.
Mrs. Douglas, too, had come to plead Mrs
Surratt's case. Mr. Brophy was by her side
In an instant telling her his errand and en-
treating her to get him access to the Presi-
dent. Mrs Douglas was a woman OF reso-
luton and furthermore a dazzlingly beau
tiful woman. She dashed straight at the
bayonets and they lowered almost I'm hon.
age before her.
The civilian guards beyond the bayonets
tried 10 stop her, but she swept them scorn-
fully aside with an imperious gesture. What
no one else in all that crucial forenoon
could do was precisely the thing which
Mrs. Douglas did She got to the Presi-
dent.
But there her triumph ceased She en-
tered the room with her face flushed with
energy and hope. Size came out of it with
bitter, hopeless disappointment in her ev-
cry feature and every movement. She
looked at the convulsed. tear-stained face
OF the young girl whose mothers life was
trembling in the balance and could only
shake her head
.".oh. don't give up sor' sobbed Miss Sur
raft Don't! Don't! Oh, do go TO him
again. He won't refuse YOU He can't.
Do go to him again.
Show him General Hartranft's note
again." cried Mr.. Brophy. ASK him if he
got the statement 1 sent him of WEIGH
mans confession TO me. Make another ap-
peal to him, Mrs. Douglas.
L VIII" said the spirited woman. 'I
Will; IL is of little use, though. 1 feel that
1t is Of little use."
THE FINAL FAILURE.
Past the bayonets, past the guards, she
once more forced her way to the Presi-
dents presence. But she had predicted
truly when she said that it was of little
use. There was no vacilliation in johnson
now. He firmly and positively refused to
intervene The statement of Welchman.
ne said, had come to him. 1t was wholly
without weight. With this reply Mrs.
Douglas came back.
we have done what we could. Miss
Surratt," said Mr.. Brophy to the half
oazed girl Come with me If you would
see your mother again while she lives"
30 INTO the army carriage waiting at the
door Miss Surratt and Mr.. Brophy got and
again there was mad gallop through the
washington streets. They were all but de-
serted. For all Of Washington at that hour
there was just one magnet-the arsenal.
Where Lincoln's murder was to be avenged.
Inc crowd that surged around the build
ing reached blocks away and was fmpene-
uaoie. Mr.. Brophys carriage was brought
up sharply at its outer borders. II was a
complete blockade. There was no budging
an inch.
Meantime. the minutes were flying. The
time which would mark the limit when
mother and daughter never would meet
again this side OF the grave was close at
hand. For Miss Surratt and her compan
ION II was a moment of agony as trying
as the long wait at the Presidents door.
Once more II seemed a case for sheer de-
SPAR and once more a carriage came DASH
Ing up to the rescue.
A TEAR-STAINED FACE.
There was Gathering OF horses hoofs
ana when Mr.. Brophy turned in the direc-
uon from which il came he saw a guard of
cavalry galloping on each side of a swiftly
approaching carriage. in which appeared
the handsome, soldierly face OF General
hancock, then the general in command at
washington. The general saw the confu-
sion about Brophy's carriage recognized
the army vehicle, and saw the tear-stained
distracted face of a woman
he brought his cavalcade to an instant
halt. he then left his own carriage. walked
10 that OF Miss Surratt, and, hat i'm hand
and with the chivalrous dignity which sat
SO well upon him, asked what the trouble
was and what he could do. Mr. Brophy
briefly explained that it was Miss Surratt
trying TO speak to her mother dice more
on earth. The soldiers face flushed. and
Mr.. Brophy is sure there was something
very like tears in his eyes as he grasped the
pathetic situation.
Poor child!' he said gently, and then
oeckoned an officer TO him and gave TO him
an order Then he returned to his own car
riage, and the squadron of cavalry formed
about both carriages. A lane through the
crowd was quickly cut, and Miss Surratt
reached the arsenal and her mothers side
In time to bid her last goodbye.
After the execution Miss Surratt went To
live with Mr.. and Mrs. Brophy, and was
married from their house some years after
ward
SOME AFTER EFFECTS.
When General Hancock was a candidate
for the Democratic nomination for the pres
idency many Southern delegates opposed
him, believing that he had been harsh I'm
his measures in reference to Mrs. Surratt
Mr.. Brophy went 10 General Hancock's
friends and volunteered to make a state
ment OF the Generals action above related
well as of the fact that on the morning
OF the execution the General had posted a
mounted cavalryman on every block be-
tween the arsenal and the White House.
with orders TO bear a reprieve, in case one
came for Mrs. Surratt. in relays and at top
speed to General Hartranft. With the pub
lication of this statement Southern opposi-
ton to General Hancock ceased.
Mrs. Surratt was Catholic. and when
General Hartranft ran for Governor of
Pennsylvania, the fact that he was the