Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-02-11

NV brother to permit him to sleep in
his store that night. John deciihea'
feeling. as he said later. that no one
knew the real intent of his next nelgh-
bor in those troublous days. 1t was
well he kept his usual caution, ana
that. although his clerk pleaded the
cause of his friend. he remained nrm
in his refusal to. give him a hleht
shelter. for the man was no ot .t e onnA
George A. Atzerodt, one of the con-
spirators, and he was fleeing from the
Kirkwood House. 1t was there wee
President Johnson resided. and Atze
rodt had made an unsuccesstui ae'eihpe
to assassinate him.
.In snite of an endeavor to fasten
Booths crime upon the southern peo
ple, 1 believe that none more depioreu
Presidents Lincoln's death than tne!-
Ny father but repeated a common ".
terance when he said that in Llncolns
death the south had lost ITS pesl
friend
1t was at the home of her old friend
and kinsman, Charles c. Langley OF
members of President Lincoln's nrst
bodyguard, that Mrs. Baden recaiied
her memories of Lincoln. At the close
of her story, he. still hale ana nearly
at the age of seventy-five, took IT up.
81 recall that night well, too, ne
said. II was in the theater when the
tragedy occurred. but 1 did not see X
clearly. / had gone In late, anu JusI
after entering 1 heard great commo
tion and some one said, The President
has heen shot / was not member
of his bodyguard then, so took no more
part in the scene than any other prl-
vate citizen
IT did. however, act in another part
of the tragedy, because l was called
upon to make the hearse which did
duty in conveying Mr.. Lincoln's BODY
from the White House to the station. L
was a coachmaker by trade. and this
commission was given to me. and was
also detailed to take charge of the
catafaluue in its sad duty.
MY earliest recollection of President
Lincoln dates back to the time ! be-
came a member of his bodyguard, at
his first Inauguration. So far as L
know. my brother. Francis W. Langley,
now captain of the watch at the Nor
folk navy yard, and L are the only
members of that company now living.
"T was the bearer of many dispatches
between the President and his gener-
ais, and of course came daily III con-
tact with him. He was the most ia
therly man 1 ever knew. My position
gave me few opportunities for anything
like familiar conversation with the
President. although | was near him al
most every day during the three
capacity of bodyguard. l was at the
White House more than others of the
command / saw the great man many
times when he did not see me. and it
seemed to me even then that he was
the best man I ever knew. l used to
observe his forbearance in his cour-
tesy toward those who were opposed to
him politically and personally AL
though he had them in his power. I
don't believe he ever used it against
them.
81 recall just one rather peculiar in
teryiew l had with him. 1t was on the
occasion OF my acting as his orderly
when he crossed the Long bridge to
review McDowelrs command, at Roachs
Spring. Va He rode his son Roberts
pony, and it looked odd to see the tall
man on so small mount. / owned a
very good horse, so l went up to him
and asked him If he would not ex-
change with me. He was very polite
about it. but said he preferred to stay
on his own.
Il believe that I was at the White
House more than any other member of
the guard; but I must sal that
Robert Lincoln and / found more to
interest us In the White House pantry
than in any other part of it. Mrs. Lin
colin was a good provider, and she did
not seem to mind how much we young
sters ate from the larder. / was not
much more than a kid, just twenty,
md when Robert led the way down .
stairs, / was always ready to follow.
My commanding officer was Capt.