Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-02-12
PHYSICIAN WITH
LINCOLN AT END
TELLSOF DEATH
DR.. Charles Leale, N. Y, One
of Two Living Survivors of
Historical Group.
Copyright 1920 by International News
Service

Copyright 1920 by international News
Service)
NEW YORK, Feb. 12.-"Abraham LIN
coin, to my mind, was the greatest man
who has lived since the time Of Moses.
Ee was a man of wonderful mentality,
seeing, great hearted, kindly and
lovable. a patriot among patriots, he
was a lover of liberty and justice, yet
compassionate to marked degree. Ny
memory Of him is one Of my treasured
possessions"
This was the tribute paid to the mem
ory of Lincoln today, on the occasion Of
the 111th anniversary Of his birth, by
DR. Charles A Leale of this city. who
was with the great emancipator when
he died. DR.. Leale and Robert Lincoln
OF Washington are the only living mem
bers OF the historical groups that wit
messed Lincoln's death.
Dr.. Leale was the first person to reach
Lincolns side in answer TO Mrs, Lin
coins scream for help when the former
doctor was an army surgeon IN charge
Of wounded commissioned officers at
Washington. In an interview at his
acme, DR.. Leale said:
CEASED TO BREATHE
WHEN HE REACHED HIM.
Lincoln had ceased to breathe when
I reached his side / realized that his
wound was mortal, butt restored his
breathing by artificial respiration. aided
by two assistants. We removed him to
house across the street from Ford s
theater. He was too tall to lie comforta-
bly, on the bed IN which We placed him.
He was 6 feet inches tail. l asked
that the foot of the bed be torn away.
Finding this impossible he was placed
in a diagonal position.
Realizing the end was near, I asked
for q clergyman. and Rev. DR.. Gurley,
Mrs. Llncolns clergyman, was sent for.
sat with Mrs. Lincoln and held the
presidents right hand until he passed
away. We all knelt while Dr.. Guriey
offered one Of the most impressive and
impassioned prayers I have ever heard.
The memory of 1t all affects me very
deeply. I have often tried to cast It
aside,to remember only the living LIN
coin"
81 PERSONS WITH
LINCOLN AT DEATH.
Twenty -four persons witnessed Lin
coins death. They were: Gov Fsrwell,
Secretary Of Treasury McCulloch, Secre-
tary Of Navy Wells, Gen. Farnsworth,
Vice President Johnson, Judge Otto,
Speaker Colfax, DR.. stone, Postmaster
General Dennison, Surgeon Charles A.
Leale, Mrs. Lincoln, Maj. John Hay,
Robert Lincoln, Senator Sumner, Sur
geon C. T. Taft, Attorney General Speed,
Surgeon General Barnes Dr.. Crane, Sec
retary Usher, Gen. Halleck, Rev. DR..
Gurley, Gen. Anger, Secretary of Wa1
Stanton and Gen. Meigs,
DR.. Leale will be rs in March. He was
born in New York and received his ap-
pointment as an army surgeon in this
state Asked what course he thought
Lincoln might take we're he here today
to solve some Of the great problems of
reconstruction, he replied;
Conditions have changed greatly since
Lincolns time. / would not even venture
an opinion as to what he might do were
he here to give his advice. Why, even
our accomplished statesmen today do not
seem to know which way to turn for the
solution of some of the problems born of
the recent war"