Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1913-02-14
WHEN LINCOLN WENT TO WASH
INGTON.
Allan Pinkerton's Hitherto Unpublished
Story Of the First Attempt to As
sassinate Lincoln.

Allan PinkerSon s r1ItHoTto OVP1oi'S"s"
Story Of the First Attempt to As
s~assinate Lincoln.
The American Magazine for February
has got hold of a long letter written m
1866 by Allan Pink.rton. the famous detec-
| tive. in which Pinkerton tells to the world
| for the first time the story of his connec-
ton with the plot to assasslnate Lincoln
at Baltimore on his way to Washington
in February, 1861. Pinkcrton discovered
| the plot and saved l4incoln's life. He &C
| companied Lincoln from Philadelphia to
Washington. and of his experiences with
| Lincoln in the train he writes in part
MIR. Lincoln wore an overcoat thrown
loosely about his shoulders. without in
black Kossuth hat. which. he told me.
| some ardent supporter had presented to
him during the campaign. III. took a seat
with Mr.. l-amon and myself, Mr.. Ken
ney, the superintendent of the p. W. Il
r. railroad. sharing the seat with the
driver overhead. AS it was too early tor
us to approach the Y. w. & b. depot, Mr.;
J Kenney had the driver take us around
| the city until it was Just about time to
reach the depot five minutes after the
train was Que to leave. We left the car
the depot: and. Mr.. I.amon keeping a
little in the rear of Mr.. Lincoln and my
self. the latter leaning upon my arm, and
stoppong somewhat so as to diminish his
rapidly through the depot. entered the
sleeping car. and within two minutes
Mr.. Kcnney. meanwhile. having delivered
| the package of valuable papers to the
conductor. John Litzenburg-the train was
I'm motion, and we were speeding along
toward Baltimore. None of the party
return inside the car, after having been
out to see If my signals were all right. Mr..
Lincoln remarked: They say we ere at
Havre de Grace. and are moving along
we'll. understand we are on time
although Mr.. Lincoln did not sleep, he
was by no means restless. could not
then nor have 1 since been able to under
stand how anyone. under like cireum-
stances. could have manifested such COM
plete mental composure and cheerful
spirits as ne exhibited during the entire
journey. On arriving at the Baltimore 4
Ohio depot i'm Baltimore, We had a wait
of about half AN hour. Here 1 again left
the car, but remained outside only long
enough to satisfy myself that everything
When ! returned everybody in the car
seemed asleep hut our party. Presently
the train rolled out of the depot, and we
were at last bound for Washington. All
the night through Mr.. Lincoln. being un-
able to sleep. had been telling us jokes and
stories. of which he seemed to have all
endless store, in a voice SO low 40 one
heard him but I.amon and rne.
the train neared tho capital city ut
was then daylight, and we were making
the necessary preparations for our orderly
| appearance on our arrival at the WASH
lhgton depot, Mr.. Lincoln yawned. and,
turning toward Lamon and me. said with
a smile. Well, boys, thank God this pray
or meetings. over Thcn he told a story
to emphasize the fact that he was now
at the end of his perilous journey and no
longer needed our aid or conapanionship.
a sandbar In the river with such force
and became so deeply embedded in the
DESTRUCTION. 1t was found impossible. with
to move her. The only other remedy left
was to wait-and no one could tell how
long that would be-till the high waters
should come and float her away. Mean
while there happened to be a revival in
progress at the church In a village on
shore. opposite the point where the help
less vessel lay. Yielding to the entreaties
consented that a prayer meeting might
be held in the cabin or large room of the
boat. The meeting had not progressed
very far until the vessel, Welding to the
movements of the crowd and the addition
al weight at one end. began to lurch
slightly. and presently slid off the Offend
moment an old brother. with eyes closed,
was on his knees sending up q long and
fervent petition to the Almighty. The
captains joy knew no bounds. without
waiting for the good brother to finish his
prayer. the former mounted q chair, and
cried out at the top of his voice, Get off
this boat, every id one of you; this
prayer meetings ended
AT the depot, awaiting us as the train
rolled in. were Mr.. Washburn, of Illinois,
and Senator Seward. We then proceeded
at once to Wizards hotel. where Mr.. Lin
coin registered his own name and that of
Mi. Lamon and myself. and was assigned
rooms, though not those he expected he
would have, as he had arrived somewhat
In advance of the appointed time. Dur
ing. the morning after the news of his
arrival had spread. there was more or
less excited talk. Few men were willing
to believe he had actually reached the
city. and many We're the vile and bitter
imprecations / heard heaped upon his
head while mingling with the crowds in
the hotels and public places of hat re-
bellious city. Its people, as q rule, ap-
peared scarcely more favorable to the
union than in Baltimore. Mrs. Lincoln,
accompanied by Mr.. Judd and the rest of
the party, followed in due time. Before
they left Harrisburg, the news had been
~telegraphed all over the country of the
safe arrival Of the president-elect in
Washington. In passing through Balti-
more. they met with anything but a cor
dial reception. At Mr.. Lincoln's sugges-
ton. / returned to Baltimore that after
noon for the purpose of learning whether
those who sought his life in that city
might not amend their plot so as to at
tempt to destroy him on the day Of his
inauguration: and ] accordingly remained
there till after the latter event had taken
place"