The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1910-09-30
A. the neath-Bed of Lincoln.

H oriaant Lincoln Was LdlhIAS Will
%~ binet about expected news from
ID 81 Sherman, he said that this
r,orI surely come, and 1T would
M em9 ,,o,r. nt for the night before ne
5raam. the same dream that had
au q nearly every important
at of the war On being asked
rlt u vrs he said that he seemed to
in some strange indescribable yes
ranidlv approaching an indefinite
Ill., a.a ~ had" the President re-
nrHod this strange dream again
iast night. and we SHALL Judging from
tbp mast, have great news very soon.
link il must be from Sherman. My
tboughts ARE in that direction, as are
.n nost nj vonrs." Among those who
n"rd these words was Gideon Welles,
noaro+arv of the Navy, whose diary
\ now appearing in The Atlantic
M Lontb1v md before long he had oc-
nacion to find in them sad slgn1h-
oonco Great events did indeed fol-
III, for within few nours the good
M ina gentle, as we'll as truly great man
ubo narrated his dream, closed for
ever his earthly career.
IN his diary Secretary Welles re-
MI ,ordod his own impressions Of the
events of that tragic night and the
dsvs Immediately following. TO
N quote a,s -
ION on the evening Of the 14th ot
Anil and was just getting asleep,
VIXEN Mrs. Welles, my wife, said some
on ana was at our door. Sitting up in
Nod heard voice twice call to
Tohn NV son, whose sleeping-room
vas on the second floor directly over
The front entrance. L arose at once
hand raised a window, when my mes
seneer, James Smith, called to me
that Mr. Lincoln, the President, had
heen shot. and said Secretary Seward
and his son. Assistant Secretary Fred
erick Seward, were aSsaSSlnated
lanes was much alarmed and excited.
I told him his story was very 1nco-
berent and improbable, that he was
associating men who were not TO-
gpthpr and liable to attack at the
same time. Where, I inquired, was
the President when shot. James said
he was at Ford's Theater On Tenth
Street. Well" said I, secretary
Seward is an invalid in bed In his
house yonder on Fifteenth Street" "
James said he had been there-stOpt
in at the house to make inquiry before
alarming me.
Immediately dresc myself, and
against the earnest rG-nonstrance and
appeals OF my wife went directly 70
Mr. Stewards, whose residence was on
the east side Of the square, mine be-
ngon the north / asked for the
Secretary,s room, which she pointed
Out-the southwest room. AS l en-
tered, | met Miss Fannie Seward with
whom | exchanged single word,
and proceeded to the foot of the bed
DR.. Verdi and, | think, two others
were there.
The bed was saturated with blood.
The Secretary was lying on his back
the upper part Of his head covered
with a cloth which extended down
over his eyes. His mouth was open
the lower jaw dropping down A
exchanged a few words with pr.
Verdi Secretary Stanton, who
came alter, but almost simultaneous
ly with me, made inquiries i'm loud
er tone till admonished by a word
from one of the physicians. We al
most Immediately withdrew, and went
into an adjoining room where lay
Frederick Seward, His eyes were
open. but be did not move them, nor
limb, nor did he speak. DR.. White,
who was i'm attendance, told me he
was unconscious and more danger
ously injured than his father.
AS we descended the stairs, l asked
Stanton what he had heard in regard
TO the president, that was reliable.
lie said the President was shot at
Ford's Theater-that he had seen
man who was present and witnessed
the occurrence. / said would 60
immediately to the White House.
Stanton told me the President was
rot there
The president had been carried
across the street from the theater to
the house of a Mr.. Preston We en-
tered by ascending a flight OF steps
above the basement, and passing
through long hall TO the rear, where
me President lay extended on a bed,
breathing heavily. Several surgeons
were present; at least six, I should
mink more; among them i was glad
10 observe DR.. Hale who, however,
soon left. ! inquired Of DR.. Hale az
J. entered the true condition of the
PRESIDENT. He replied the President
was dead to all intents, altho he
might live three hours or perhaps
longer.
The giant sufferer lay extended
across the bed, which was not long
enough for him. He had been strip
pea OF his clothes. His large arms,
winch were occasionally exposed,
were OF size which one would
scarce have expected from his spare
appearance. His slow, full respira-
Ion lifted the clothes with each
breath that he took. His features
we're calm and striking. I had never
seen them appear to better advantage
Inan for the first hour, perhaps that
! was there. After that, his right eye
Desan TO swell, and that part of his
lace became discolored. ..
"A door which opened upon a porch
NJ gallery, and also the windows,
were kept open for fresh air. The
ISM Vas dark, cloudy and damp, and
d9out six It began to rain. I remain
~ In the room without sitting Oh
leaylng 1t-when, there being a va
E E chair which some one left at tn
Ioot OF ne bed, occupied It for near
" TWO hours, listening To the heavy
Swans, and witnessing the wasting
LIle of the good and great man who
was expiring before me.
ABOUT y a. M, I experienced feel
aas ~ faintness and for the first time
a ai.er entering the room a little past
tleVen, left it and the house. and
w uouh snort walk Ia the open air. 1T
was dark end UInnrrv ,,,aryirc .nd