The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1910-09-30
At the Death.Bed Of Lincoln.

news woull surely come, and 1t would
be important, for the night before he
had a dream, the same dream that had
preceded nearly every important
event of the war. On being asked
what IL WIS he said that he seemed to
be in some strange indescribable yes
sci. RAPIDLY approaching an indefinite
shore. Il had," the President re-
marked, this strange dream again
last night, end we shall. judging from
the past, have great news very soon.
| think II must be from Sherman. Ny
thoughts are In that direction, as arc
most of yours" Among those who
heard these words was Gideon Welles.
Secretary of the Navy. whose diary
is now appearing in The Atlantic
monthly. and before long he had &C
casion to find in them sad signifl-
canoe. Great events did indeed fol
low, for within a fe~ hours the good
and gentle. rs well as truly great man
who narrated his dream, closed for
ever his earthly career
In his diary Secretary Welles re
corded his own impressions OF The
events of thai tragic night and The
days Immediately following. To
quote
had retired to bed about half-paat
ten on the evening Of the 18th Of
April, and WAS just getting asleep.
when Mrs Welles, M wife, said some
one was at our door Sitting up in
bed. | heard a voice twice call 10
John. my gon, whose Bleeping-foom
was on the second floor directly ofef
the front entrance. | arose at once
and raised 4 window, when my mes
senger, James Smith. called 10 ne
that MIR. Lincoln, the President. md
been shot. and said Secretary Seward
and his gan. Assistant Secretary Fred
erick Seward, were assasslna1sd
James was much ala fmHd and excited.
told him his story as very inee=
herent and improbable that he saa
associatinE men who we're not %
eetber and liable 10 attack at Tie
same time Where, | inquired. ~
The President when shot. James sid
he was at Ford's Theater on Tenth
Street. Well" SAID I. Secretary
Seward Is an invalid II bed IN lis
house Wonder on Fifteenth Street
James said he had been there==aIopt
IN at the house to make inquiry before
alarming me.
Immediately dies myself md
AGAINST the earnest rr:aonstrance md
appeals Of my wife went directly II
Mr. Stewards. whose residence vas On
the east side of the square, mine be
ingon the north. asked To- ne
seeretaryts room. which she pointed
ont-the southwest room. As | en-
tered, / mel Miss Fannie Seward With
whom / exchanged 3 single word,
and proceeded TO the foat Of the bed.
Or. Verdi and, I think. two others
we're there
The bed was saturated with blood
The Secretary was lying on his back
the upper part of his head covered
with cloth which extended down
over his eyes His mouth was open
the lower Jaw dropping down.
exchanged few words With Dr.
Verdi Secretary Stanton, who
came after. but almost Simultaneous
y with me. made inquiries in loud
er tone til admonished by a Wofd
from one of the physicians, We al
most Immediately withdrew, and vent
Into~an adjoining room where lay
Frederick Seward lis eyes we're
open, but he did not move them. nor
limb. nor did he speak Dr. White.
who was n atten 4anee. told M n
WIS unconscious and more danger
ously Injured than hiz father
As we descended the stairs, ! asked
Stanton what he had heard In regard
10 the president thai was reliable.
lie said fhe President was shot At
Ford's Thaater--that he had seen n
man who WA present and witnessed
the occurrence. said ! would 90
Immediately To the White House.
stfnton told me the President vas
not there.
The president had been carried
across the street from the theater 10
the house Of Mr.. Preston. We en-
tered by ascending q fight OF steps
Above the basement. and passing
Through long hall 10 the rear where
the President lay extended on bed,
breathing heavily. Several surgeons
we're present. at least six, | should
think more. among them was glad
10 observe Dr. Hale Who, however,
soon left. inquired Of DIR. Hale as
/ 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
ped of his clothes. His large arms
which were occasionally exposed
we're of 4 size which one would
scarce have expected from his spare
appearance. His slow. full resnIra-
ton lifted the clothes with eaeh
breath that he took. His features
were calm and striking. | had never
seen them appear to better advantage
than for the first hour, perhaps that
| was there. After that, his right eye
began 10 swell, and that part of his
face became discolored.
A door which opened upon a porch
Or gallery. and also the windows
we're kept open for fresh air The
night was dark, cloudy and damp, and
about six Il began to rain remain
ed in the room without sitting OF
leaving iI=-Nhen, there being Va
cant chair which some one left at tn
foot of the bed, occupied IL for near
" two hours, listening to the heavy
groans, and witnessing the wasting
life of the good and great man who
was expiring before me-
About D. M, / experienced O feel
ing of faiaIneas and for the first time
after entering the room a little past
eleven, left it and Ihe house. and
took a short walk In the open air. II
was a dark and gloomy morning. and
rain set n before ! returned to the
house, come fifteen minutes later
Large groups of people were gather
ed every few rods. II anxious md