The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1909-02-10
LINCOLN WAS
L|ON|zEO HERE
48 YEARS AGO
Postmaster Hays and u. S. Com
missioner BigelOw Tell How
Newark Went Wild.
CHEERING THOUSANDS
LINED BROAD STREET
Emancipation in Open BarOuCfe
With Essex Men-President's
Kind Act for DR.. Roden.

The face of the sorrowful President
whose centennial is celebrated tomor-
row is fresh in the minds eye of many
Newarkers. Forty-elght years ago, al
most to the day, he visited this city
while the nation was in the throes of
political travail which gave birth to
the Civil War two months later. AT
that time, he lowered head and shout
ders above every other leader in the
country. just as his giant frame and
sinewy form topped, physically, the
figures of his colleagues. He was the
central figure in the gathering storm,
to whom all eyes in the North were
turned, and because of the peculiar
conditions which surrounded his visit
to Newark he is well remembered by
Newarkers who as boys ran beside his
carriage as it passed through Broad
street.
One of those who's privilege it was
to see Lincoln at close range on this
visit was Samuel F. Bigelow. now a
United States Commissioner and
white-haired, but then a young man
in the twenties.
ut was a great day in Newark" said
Mr.. Bigelow. Mr.. Lincoln rode in an
open barouehe to the home OF his
friend, Mr.. Halsey. The weather was
fine and Broad street was lined with
people anxious to get a sight of the
DISTINGUISHED man. I was especially
impressed by the occasion because my
father had the honor of sitting beside
Mr.. Lincoln. With many hundreds of
other persons I stood at the corner of
Broad and Market streets n saw the
President-elect drive past. l recall
now that I paid especial attention to
his appearance. because my father was
sitting beside him and I knew I could
see him at any time. Lincoln was x
tremely homely. but his face was lit
up by the kindly eyes which seemed to
beam a sad greeting to everyone.
Newark Ride a Continuous Ovation.
''Those were the days when coachmen
were not in livery, n there was no
footman to sit beside the coachman.
The open barouche Of the old days has
pretty nearly passed out of existence
now, but | can still clearly see that lit
tie party driving along Broad street
with a coachman wearing no livery and
no footman to open the carriage door.
"Mr. Lincoln and my father occupied
the rear seat of the barouche. Facing
k them was Colonel Ellsworth, afterwards
the Presidents body-guard. There
we're cheers all along the line of the
crowds in the streets. and h small
police force made no effort to prevent
the youngsters from trailing beside and
in the rear of the carriage
One of the boys who ran beside the
carriag e of the martyred President ran
away from home and enlisted as a
drummer boy in the Seventh New Jer-
sey Regiment. After the glamor of the
life had worn off, he pinned for the sight
Of a familiar face, but was refused a
~transfer to the regiment in which his
brother was serving. because of a prank
he had played on the colonel,
When the Seventh New Jersey was
stationed near Washington, the drum
mer boy got leave of absence to go to
Washington to purchase shoes. He
sought out the President, told him his
story. The President gave him a note
to his colonel. talked with him, and
babe him an affectionate good-by. The
note follows:
1.-THE bearer of this, Hugh Roden,
says that he is a drummer boy in
the Seventh Regiment, New Jersey
Volunteers. and wishes to be trans
ferred to the Second New Jersey
Volunteers, to be with his brother.
who is in the latter regiment. If
this can be done without seriously
injuring the service, | shall he
obliged to you if you will have the
transfer made.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN,
president"
DR.. Hugh P. RIDDEN, of 346 Washing
ton street, is that drummer boy.
Postmaster James l.. Hays was on
the committee that welcomed Lincoln
to Newark, and tells of the manifest
sadness of the great man.
HE was not morose. he was sorrow
rul. and his homely face was made ex-
uuisitely soft by the look of sadness in
the deep-set eyes. Though there was
no mistaking his sorrow, he conversed
In cheerful vein"
No better instance of the former rail-
splitter's humor can be cited than his
business card. F. j. Miller. for thirty
six years chief clerk in the office of