Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-01-24
That
Has Never
Been Told
ALLAN PINKERTON'S HITHERTO
UNPUBLISHED STORY OF THE
FIRST ATTEMPT TO ASSASSIN.
ATE LINCOLN.

The American Magazine for Febru-
ary has got hold of a long letter writ |
ten in 1866 by Allan Pinkerton, the
famous detective, in which Pinkerton
tells to the world for the first time
the story Of his cOnectiOn with the
plot to assassinate Lincoln at Balt-
more on his way to Washington in
February, 1861. Pinkerton discovered
the plot and saved Lincoln's life He
accompanied Lincoln from Phlladel-
phia to Washington, and Of his expert
ences with Lincoln on the train he
wyrites in part:
"Mr. Lincoln wore an overcoat
thrown loosely about his shoulders,
without inserting his arms in the
sleeves, and a black Kossuth hat,
which, he told me, some ardent sup
porter had presented to him during
the campaign. He took a seat with
Mr.. Lamon and myself, Mr.. Kenney,
the superintendent Of the p w. e. b.
Railroad sharing the seat with the
driver overhead. AS it was too early
for us to approach the P. W., & B,
depot. Mr., 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 due to
leave We left the carriage at a dark
spot a short distance from the depot;
and, Mr.. Lamon keeping a little in
the rear Of Mr.. Lincoln and myself,
the latter leaning upon my arm and
STOPPING somewhat so as to diminish
his height as much as possible, we
passed rapidly through the depot, en-
tered the sleeping car and within two
minutes -- Mr.. Kenney, meanwhile,
having delivered the package of valu-
able papers to the conductor, John
Litzonburg-the train was in motion,
and we were speeding along toward
Baltimore. None of the party slept
any At Havre de Grace, on my re-
turn inside the car, after having been
out to see If my signals were all
right, Mr.. Lincoln remarked: They
say we are at Havre de Grace, and
are moving along "ell. l understand
we are on time
Although Mr.. Lincoln did not
sleep, he was by no means restless.
could not then nor have I since
been able to understand how anyone,
under like circumstances, could have
manifested such complete mental
composuro as he exhibited during the
entire journey. On arriving at Bal
tlmore at the Baltimore and Ohio de-
pot, we had wait of about half an
hour Here 7 again left the car, but
remained outside only long enough to
satisfy myself that everything was all
right. 1t was now about four o'clock.
When | returned everybody in the car
seemed to be asleep but our party,
, Presently the train rolled out cf the
depot and we were spt last bound for
Washington. All the night through
Mr.. Lincoln, being unable to sleep,
had been tolllng jokes and stories,
in a yoico so low no one heard him
but Gamon and me,
AS the train nearcd the capital
city Ot was then daylight, and we
were making the necessary prepara.
tions for our orderly appearance on
arrival at the Washington depot, Mr..
Lincoln yawned, and, turning toward
lLamon ard me, said with n smile,
Well boys, thank God this prayer
meetings. over Then he told o story
to cmphan.2c the fact that he was
now at the end Of his perlous jour
Incy and no longer needed our aid or
companionshlp. A steamboat, on one
occasion, rain into sand-bar in the
river with such force Cnd became so
deeply embedded In the obstruction
Iit was found impossible to move her,
with the methods and appliances then
in vogue, The only other remedy left
waa to wait-and no one could tell
how long that would bc-tlll the high
waters should come and float her off,
Meanwhile there happened TO be q re-
ylval in progress at the church in q
village on shore, opposite tho point
whore the helpless vessel lay. Yield
ing to the entreatlos Of the church
people, the captain one day consented
that u rrayer-meetng might be held
In the cabin or large room Of the
boat The meeting had not progressed
very far until the vessel, yielding to
the movements of the crowd and the
additional weight at one end, began
to lurch slightly, and presently slid
off tho offending. sand-bar. In an
instant she floated away into deer
water. At that particular moment an
old brother. with eyes closed, was on
his knees sending up long and fer
vent prayer to the Almighty The
captains Joy knew no. bounds, With
out waiting for tho good brother to
finish his prayer the former mounted
a chair. and cried at tho top Of his