The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-04-02
TIE HOUSE IN WHICH LINCOLN DIED.

death; which was officially announced at
$50 on the morning of April Is, by a
telegram from the Secretary to Maj
Gen. Dix, as follows:
abraham Lincoln died this morning at
% minutes after Z o'clock"
TIE notification to the Vice-President
was duly signed and communicated, as
recited in a subsequent telegram, as fol-
lows:
Official notice of the death of the late
President Abraham Lincoln, was given
by the Heads of Departments this morn
ing to Andrew johnson, Wee President,
upon whom the Constitution devoived the
Office of President. Mr.. Johnson. upon
receiving this notice, appeared before the
Hon Salmon p. Shase, Chief Justice of
the United States, and assumed its duties
and functions"
The Illuminate objects in this building
cause persons to rise wildly before me-
That bed, wherein the illustrious one
breathed his last; that sofa, which sup
ported the dazed and grief-strickea Wild
ow; that table, at which the Chief Jus
tice of the Supreme Court of the District
took evidence as to the assassin's work,
and another, wherein the War Minister
penned dispatches to convey to the Ma
ton information respecting the condition
of the dying President: and thar table,
on which was prepared the notification
10 the Vice-President that the man who
had chung fast to the hand OF the people
and moved calmly through the gloom of
war and strife" had passed away.
ANGUISH SAT ON EVERY coUNTENANCE.
and under its weight the footballs of his
toric men. in passing through these rooms,
were muffled, and all voices lowered to
wbiSnarS Marked silence wgS without
this building, although vast. densely con-
gregated crowds, with suffering hearts,
| filed the streets centering here. Thus
was evidenced the profound veneration,
| and sadness of feeling, which went out to
the departing President.
| The death-bed scenes were narrowing
| in the extreme. Surrounding and near
| the illustriOus one. who was insensible
| from the first, in consequence of his NOR
tai wound, from which his life's blood
was oozing, were the sobbing, grief
stricken wife, accompanied by her young
err son; the fervent minister; the watch
full Surgeon; all the members Of the Cab
met save Mr.. Seward, and others in civil
and military circles. AS the SIRE APP
proach of death was noticed, the deep
sad gloom increased, and. at the solemn
moment, it seemed that it had extended
| to Heaven to be from there promulgated
| back to Earth, through the agency of
deep sable clouds. The attendant drops
of rain seemed to have been sent to min
gle. sorrowfully, with the tears of the
Nation.
THE LAST PRAYER.
And. when the skill of Surgeons and
all other earthly means had been exhaust
ed. and the neverfailing claim of death
had been asserted. all was hushed in Gods
great presence, while to Him was offered
| the sympathetic minister's final prayer.
'"rhe automatic moaning which had con-
tinued during the night had ceased; look
of unspeakable peace rested upon the
dead Presidents worn features"
''Tenderly heroic the life had been all
through" and he who mad loved his coun-
try so welI-he "whose deeds cast lus.
ter around his head, to testify the great
ness that has embodied itself in his
name"-was, at the final instant, sealed
for preservation. in that repository of
abundance--the love of his countrymen
Soon after 8 O'clock the devoted War
Minister had ordered all to be arranged
for the removal of the body to the Execu.
tive Mansion, and then left me as his
| representative until after the transfer
Fshould take place. 1t was about this time
that, after pressing and smoothing the
eyes of the dead President, l placed coins
on them TO close them for q last long
slumber.
The Congress of the United States
with most affectionate form and state
commemorated Lincoln's birth on its an,
niversary day, Feb. II, 1866. In closing
my remarks, l may well quote George
Bancroft's fitting words on that occasion
HISTORIAN BANCRoFT's TRIBUTE.
"Where in the history of nations had
4 chief magistrate possessed more source.
of consolation and joy than Lincoln? Hi:
countrymen had shown their love By
choosing him to second term of service
The raging war that had divided th,
country had lulled and private grief wa.
hushed by the grandeur of the result. TIL,
Nation had its new birth of freedom, soor
to be secure forever by an amendment
to the Constitution. His persistent gen
tieness had conquered for him a kindIiel
feeling on the part Of the South. Hi.
scoffers, among the grandees of Europ,
began TO do him honor. The laborin.
classes everywhere saw in his advance
ment their own. All peoples sent hin
their benedictions. And Mt this mon,en
of the hight Of fame, to which his humili