Omaha daily bee., 1909-02-12

he did not see the stricken man tsl for
ward from the rocking chair in which he
was seated. But he had heard the shot
and a moment later he heard the sgonized
cry OF Mrs Lincoln for help
Realizing that the president had been
injured. II not killed. DR.. Lale forced his
way through the excited throng and into
the nsg-drsped box. out OF which Booth
only a moment before had lesped to the
stage nourishing a dagger and psusing
only for his melodramsuc cry OF sic
smper tyrannis!"
when the surgeon reached the side Of
Mrs. Lincoln he found her supporting the
head Of the dying man. He relieved her
OF that task and at once took charge OF
the ituanon at Mrs. Lincoln's request
Placing his patient prone upon bis back
on the floor OF the box. the surgeon made
a careful examination and then removed
the elot from the bullet wound in the back
OF Mr.. Lincoln's head. relieving thus the
pressure on the brain.
One OF the first to reach the presidential
box from the stage was Laura Keene, the
actress. who had been playing q star part
in the comedy. "our American Cousin"
She begged that she might be permitted
to pillow the head OF the wounded presi-
dent upon her lap. The surgeon demurred
at first lest the slightest movement might
hasten death. but. after having made a
more thorugh examination OF the wound,
he assisted Miss Keene. aud. as she sat
upon the floor. the presidents head was
gently lifted in such a way as to cause no
shock and was rested on her lap. There IL
remained until tender hands carried the
patient across Tenth street to the house
opposite the thester, which by the merest
chance was destined to become the set
ting for the final scene in a great career.
The Removal.
My first thought said DIT. Leale, re-
calling the memories OF the night, was
to get the president to some place OF safety.
All OF us thought there was a plot to blow
up the thester and we felt that the mine
might be fired at any moment One Of the
first things / said after having made a
superficial examination was, His wound is
mortal: he cannot recover Two other
physicians, DR.. Taft and DR.. H. z. A. King,
had come to my assistance, and the presi-
Dent was carried across the street. Several
army officers and soldiers with drawn
swords went in advance OF us and cleared
the way. The president was carried UP to
the second floor and placed on a bed. On
account Of his great stature. for he was six
feet four inches tall, Mr.. Lincoln was laid
on the bed diagonaIly.
ION our way over / was twice obliged TO
relieve the pressure on the patients brain
by again removing the clot Mr.. Lincoln
was shot at 1880 O'Clock and lived until
7:0 the next morning. Before his death the
| cabinet officers had time TO assemble, and
he died with his family at his bedside. As
his spirit passed away l was holding his
right hand"
AS DR.. Leale said this he took the hand
OF the writer in a firm but gentle grasp
and illustrated how he had held his index
finher on the pulse Of the radial artery
until it had ceased to beat.
Much that had occurred during those
nine hours while the presidents life was
slowly ebbing DR.. Leale holds OF too sacred
memory to repeat even now for publication.
Much that he himself did during those
| crucial hours he is too modest to repeat
lest he be thought by some who do not
know him to be indulging in personal ex-
ploitation. II was only at the urgent re-
quest OF his colleagues of the Military
Order Of the Loyal Legion that he finally
consented to read a paper at q recent me-
mortal dinner OF that organization at Del
monico's. embodying at some length his
reeoliections of the nations tragedy.
others have told. however. of the pres
ence of mind. skill and efficiency witl
which DR.. Leale stood to his post from
the first moment to the last throughout
the ordeal. Amid the confusion of the
emptying theater and the ever present
dread Of some further calamity he coolly
examined his illustrious patient and made
- RA EanUa for. ahA =
moval to a private house without unnee-
essary delay; he despatched the messen-
gers that soon brought hurrying to the
deathbed the son. Robert, then a captain
in the army, and Mr.. Lincoln's favorits
clergyman also.
AS one of the surgeons who had been
in attendance. DR.. Leale had a prominent
place during the funeral services in the
White House and at the capitol. stand
ing close TO the head of the casket while
the body of the president lay in state.
In the funeral procession he rode in the
carriage Immediately preceding the cata-
faloue, attired. of course. in his uniform
as a surgeon OF the army, He has never
worn that particular uniform since.
The sword which formed part of his
equipment, it's hnt knotted with a bow OF
black crepe. wa laid away and has never
been donned since that day.
DIT. Leale keeps 1t in . cabinet in his
home in Madison avenue among the relics
Of a busy life. Tenderly. almost revsr-
entity, he took IL from its resting phce
and showed 1t to the writer. its scab1ard
somewhat furnished by the years ard it's
s~hrunken. crumpled bow of mourning
crepe yet dropping from the HIT where
he bound IL on the morning when he had
followed his ohieftain TO the tomb.
Plaster Cast of LincOln's Hand.
From another cabinet Dr.. Leaie took q
plaster cast of the hand of Lincoln, made
during the presidents life. II showed q
remarkable hand. Strength wal written
enere in every line OF those corded sinews
and firmly cllnehed digits. The sams
hand" was DR.. Leale's comment, that
split the rails in his rugged pioneer days
and that inscribed later In the years OF
his fuIlness that strong. but delicate
~chirography in which he penned his
famous public documents; the hand that
wrote the emancipation Proelamation free
ing the slaves"
Laying the plaster replica carefully back
in SIS case. the surgeon pointed out the
5000 ,arsnr. hanEfuE m eha vail Of