Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-12
LINCOLN DEATHBED
SCENE RECALLED
james Tanner. Who Record
ed Notes Near Martyrs
Chamber, Tells of Tragedy.


Rev. DR. Gurley stepped forward and
and Our Cod
MY pencil point caught in my coal
and broke. and the world lost the
prayer--a prayer which was interrupted
only by the sobs Of Stanton as he
buried his face In the bedclothfs.
Thy will be done III subdued anC
tremuo,ls tones foated through that
little chamber.
Mfr. Stanton raised his head, the
tears streaming down his cheeks, as
he soheed out the words, He belongs 10
the ages now"
Sucl, is the word picture OF the final
scene al the 6eathbsd Of Abraham LIN
coin as given by one of the last eve
witnesses to survive-a young War De-
partment clerk. who had been sum-
nloned hastily from the next house 10
take shorthand notes Of the words of
the witnesses brought before Secretary
Stanton as he organized the hunt for
the assassin.
Friend Reveals Copy.
James Tanner. for many wears reg
istcr Of wills of the District of Column
b!a. wrote out an account of what he
saw and heard in the house that night
iildl ttHVAS IlIt II ilSN }lS!lt OH llE.S I'M
p0rtant incident in American history.
Some time before his death last year
he presented typeWritten copy of his
account 10 personal friend. who has
placed Il IN the hands of The Evening
Star. So far as is known, no part OF
il previously has been published
Mr.. Tanners account appears to set
tie an issue Of fact over which there
has been much debate-Whether Vice
President Johnson was at the bedside
At any time during the night He states
positively that Mr.. johnson was not
present. and that the place at the foot
of the bed where he is represented to
have been sitting was occupied by Mr.
Stanton.
Mr.. Tanners manuscript; follows:
The Passing of Abraham Lincoln.
Among all the characters who loom
co large in the public mind from 1861
70 1865. one came TO stand apart and
alone in supremacy, finally recognized
almost unanimously the world over as
without a peer II took the perspective
OF many years to enable US 10 get a
correct view. of the greatness of his
character, his transcendent intellectual
endowment, the utter unselhshneSS of
his purpose, his absolute devotion TO
the interests of the Nation which had
called him TO It's leadership and the
great agony endured by his loving,
gentle heart as he staggered under his
awful burden, an agony never equaleo
since the Savior of mankind passed the
night in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Our people have shown in thou
sand ways and particularly in his re-
cent centennial. that every atom re-
lating 10 the life of Abraham Lincoln
Is of intense and continuous interest
to them, and because OF this and De-
cause of the fact that I was a specta-
tor Of the final scene OF the supreme
tragedy Of that time on the morning OF
April IS. 1865. ] pen these lines.
LAT, that time / was an emplc"e OF
The Ordnance Bureau of the War De-
nartme1t and had some ability as a
shorthand writer. The latter Fact
brought me within touch Of the events
Of that awful night. I had gone with
a friend to witness the performance
that evening at Groves Tneater
where now stands the New National
Soon after 10 O'Clock man rushed IN
from gtfle lobby and cried out. PreSi-
dent Lincoln has been shot In ford
Theater.' There was a great confu-
sion al once. most of the audience
rising 10 their feet Some one cried
out. It's a ruse OF the pickpockets
look out Almost everybody resumed
his seat, but almost Immediately one
Of the cast stepped out on the stsge
snd said, The SAD news is too true
the audience viii disperse.
Steward Reported Killed.
MY friend and myself crossed 10
-. II tn~
that Secretary Steward had been killed.
Mems faces blanched as they at tnce
asked, What news Of Stanton? Have
they 20. him too?' The widest rurlors
soon filled the air
II had rooms al the time IN the
house adjoining the Peterson House,
into which the President had been car
red fastening down 10 Tenth street.
] found an almost solid mass OF fu-
mainly blocking the street and the
crowd constantly eniarging. A silence
that was appalling prevailed. In crest
eertered on all who entered Or en1'rged
from the Peterson House and all u the
latter we're closely questioned as ~ the
stricken Presidents condition. From
the first the answers were unYaTy5ng--
that there was no hope.
"A military guard had been piaeec
Joining but upon telling the command.
Ing officer that / lived there. pasSef
Up 10 my apartment. which comprised
the SECOND story front Of the house
There was balcony In front aud
found my rooms and the balcony
t!9rpngfd by the other occupants Of tn
house, Horror vas In every heart anf
ClSnlay On every counLknance. We hat
Just about WEEK Of tufiIi.uous %!
over The downfall Of Richmond ans
the scCllapS@ u the Confectionery. AM
now IT, an instant al! this WAS changed
" the deepest woe by the folII shot O
the cor ardjy assassin
1t gaS nearly midnight when MAJ
Cfu Eu21T came oUt on the sDoop q
the Peterson House and asked i Their.
vas AIRY Gne IN the cEow6 Sno cyult
write shorthand There was no re
ETyDnse from the street. but one II m
1fiebcG on the balcony Dplo Tie genera
tsarre Yas Z young man inside WIN
Go4ld SerYe hin. Hnffc0yHl the gen
Ftai 19Id sIlu ~ ASK me ~ csJAne dow
e. they needed me-. ~ IL vas tuat
taple into ciose tJuch with ttr ~. ne
arc events surrounding the GGa! hour
q. Abraham i..nco.,4H lie
Heard Mrs. Ltne0in's Saba.
"kntfrn2 III" iJogAe afeoHpa,ils,
Cen. kllaur d1EB IA" hallway W til
year DafltT Is Ne pa%9fd the dppt u
tHf front paFlpf he tDoant and 9.D& q
Nje Lincoln strlck painfully upon uB
cara Entering iiie rear .s8fIor fDUu
Secretary stanton Jucge David n
Cartier. ebief 14stire ~ tie EuD,em
Eo1Jst u the DIAts!ct ~ Columbia, 4
+ it.u aff many nthefs
4 D,ok my aeat on Dhe side ~
email litaTy tsbje Dpprs!he Mr stan
bpig. Win Judge Easftrf 81 fiif eut
SeJspsIE witnesses WeIe brought "a VII
l.ac either basL IN fpIds Jhealfr q
NJ III lgJA yiclGjty ~ Ns :3fWafdr tekl
csnee hIn1uK uitui Wsfs Harry Hast
VINO BsG bosD MA jfepfiaDtG rs
IigA 10 The play on hntei hS
Igibjsi. hifteG fAuzf!y. fa,I. Il.