The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-02-12

/ But he would smile occasionally as he ex-
changed kindly little jokes with his call
ers. Then his smile, transforming his
face suddenly, was as charming as the
famous smile Of Napoleon Bonaparte.
| NO man could have posed less than
| Lincoln The consciousness that he had
been suddenly advanced into the most alb
solute power perhaps, that any Amer1..
can has ever held was never suggested by
| a word or look. He knew how to disci-
pine with phrase. the most ma sterful
general. cabinet minister of foreign diplo-.
mat His manner always enforced re-
spect Yet it was the manner OF an
| 'every day" man. On being presented to
him you soon begin to think that you were
| meeting once more some old and in
/ innate friend
! Judge Ell Torrance, last year comman-l
der-in chief Of the Grand Army OF the Re-
public. as lieutenant Of the Ninety-se
enth Pennsylvania infantry, guarded the
body Of President Lincoln while 1t lay in
state in Baltimore on its way to Spring
/ field Judge Torrance tells the story of
scenes in Baltimore at that time as fol-
flows: y., ss1r S~<
During the months of March and
April 1865, / was on detached duty at
Baltimore Nd. Momentpus events foi-
lowed quickly in those days and men
often lived a life in a single day. When
it was announced that Petersburg had
been evacuated the entire city was thrown
into tumult Of excitement which was
greatly increased by the news of the fall
of Richmond and when it became known
that Lee had surrendered the situation
was indescribable. Bells rang from
steeples that had been silent for years,
cannon peaIed music filed the air, men
embraced each other in the streets alter
natey laughing and weeping. AT last
the sun Of peace fun-erbed, rose in the
eastern sky. The union was saved, the
da fri,
great armies a memory.
"As I looked out upon the countless
throng that filled the streets day and
night I could not but wonder at the
universal manifestation, of patriotic joy
in a city that four years before had re-
sisted unto blood the passage of union
troops through it's streets. But all this
was only a prelude to a dirge as deep
as the sea- Saturday. April 10. and about
/ / O'Clock in the morning. I was awakened
by sharp rap on the door OF my room
at the hotel where l was stopping and
the terrible news Of the presidents as
sassination was communicated to me in
whisper. Not only the president, but
many others high in authority were in
Guided in the dreadful news
Il at once reported to my commanding
officer and received orders to station my
men at the different railway depots and
wharves with instructions to permit no
one to pass. On the next day the city
that had been SO gayly' decked with flags
and bunting was transformed into a scene
of mourning and desolation. The flags
. were at half-mast and from the windows
Of thousands of buildings were displayed
the emblems of mourning. Men no long
err laughed or cheered, and in a night
faces grew old and furrowed with grief.
ION the following Friday the body of
the martyred president reached Baltimore
and lay in state in the Chamber of Com :
merce building. To me was assigned the
honor of guarding his body, and for four
hours stood at the side of the catafalque
and witnessed the great crowds of peo-
pie pass by and for the last time look
upon the silent. careworn face Of Abra
It ham Lincoln. The grief manifested was
10 sincere and profound. Those occupying
st the higrest positions and those in the
is humblest walks of life-men, women and
is children-passedi side by side through. the
s. rotunda of the great building with un
ii covered heads, tears streaming down
d their faces, and many giving expression
t. to their sorrow in piteous lamentations
d. It was a sight never to be forgotten"