feeble. Several times the interval was so long, that we thought him dead, and the surgeon applied his finger to the pulse, evidently to ascertain if such was the fact. But it was not till 22 minutes past 7 o'clock in the morning that the flame flickered out. There was no apparent suffering, no convulsive action, no rattling of the throat, none of the ordinary premonitory symptoms of death. Death in this case was a mere cessation of breathing. The fact had not been ascertained one minute, when Dr. Gurley offered up a prayer. The few persons in the room were all profoundly affected. The President's eyes, after death, were not, particularly the right one, entirely closed. I closed them myself, with my fingers. The expression immediately after death was purely negative; but in fifteen minutes there came over the mouth, the nostrils, and the chin, a smile that seemed almost an effort of life. I had never seen upon the President's face an expression more genial and pleasing. About fifteen minutes before the decease, Mrs. Lincoln came into the room, and threw herself upon her dying husband's body. She was allowed to remain there only a few minutes, when she was removed in a sobbing condition, in which, indeed, she had been during all the time she was present. After completing his prayer in the chamber of death, Dr. Gurley went into the front parlor, where Mrs. Lincoln was, with Mrs. and Miss Kinney, and her son Robert, Gen. Todd, of Dacotah (a cousin of hers), and Gen. Farnsworth, of Illinois. Here another prayer was offered up, during which I remained in the hall. The prayer was continually interrupted by Mrs. Lincoln's sobs. Soon after its conclusion, I went into the parlor, and found her in a chair, supported by her son Robert. Presently her carriage came up, and she was removed to it. She was in a state of tolerable composure at that time, until she reached the door, when, glancing at the theatre opposite, she repeated three or four times: "That dreadful house that dreadful house !" The following minutes, taken by Dr. Abbott, show the condition of the late President throughout the night: Eleven o'clock-Pulse 44. Five minutes past eleven-Pulse 45, and growing weaker. Quarter past eleven-Pulse 42. Twenty minutes past eleven-Pulse 45, respiration 27 to 29. Twenty-five minutes past eleven-Pulse 42. Thirty-two minutes past eleven-Pulse 48, and full. Forty minutes past eleven-Pulse 45. Quarter to twelve-Pulse 45, respiration 22. Twelve o'clock-Pulse 48, respiration 22. Quarter past twelve-Pulse 48, respiration 21. Ecchymosis both eyes. Half-past twelve-Pulse 45. Thirty-two minutes past twelve-Pulse 60. Thirty-five minutes past twelve-Pulse 66. Forty minutes past twelve-Pulse 69, right eye much swollen, and ecchymosis. Forty-five minutes past twelve-Pulse 70. Fifty-five minutes past twelve-Pulse 80, struggling motion of arms. One o'clock-Pulse 86, respiration 30. Half-past one-Pulse 95, appearing easier. Forty-five minutes past one-Pulse 86; very quiet; respiration irregular. Mrs. Lincoln present. Ten minutes past two—Mrs. Lincoln retired with Robert Lincoln to an adjoining room. Half-past two-President very quiet; pulse 54; respiration 28. Fifty-two minutes past two-Pulse 48; respiration 30. Three o'clock visited again by Mrs. Lincoln. Twenty-five minutes past three-Respiration 24, and regular. Thirty-five minutes past three-Prayer by the Rev. Dr. Gurley. Four o'clock-Respiration hard; regular. Quarter past four-Pulse 60; respiration 25. Fifty minutes past five-Respiration 28, regular; sleeping. Half-past six-Still failing, and labored breathing. Seven o'clock-Symptoms of immediate dissolution. Twenty-two minutes past seven-Death. Shortly after 9 o'clock the remains were removed in a coffin to the White House, attended by a dense crowd, and escorted by a squadron of cavalry and several distinguished officers. At a later hour a post-mortem examination was made of the remains, by Surgeon-General Barnes, Dr. Stone, the late President's family physician, Drs. Crane, Curtis, Woodward, Taft, and other eminent medical men. The external appearance of the face was that of a deep black stain about both eyes. Otherwise the face was very natural. The wound was on the left side of the head behind, on a line with and three inches from the left ear. The course of the ball was obliquely forward, towards the right eye, crossing the brain obliquely a few inches behind the eye, where the ball lodged. In the track of the wound were found fragments of bone, which had been driven forward by the ball. The ball was found imbedded in the anterior lobe of the west hemisphere of the brain. The orbit plates of both eyes were the seat of comminuted frac ture, and the orbits of the eyes were filled with extravasated blood. The serious injury to the orbit plates was due to the centre coup, the result of the intense shock of so large a projectile fired so closely to to the head. The ball was evidently a derringer, hand cast, and from which the neck had been clipped. A shaving of lead had been removed from the ball in its passage of the bones of the skull, and was found in the orifice of the wound. The first fragment of bone was found two and a-half inches within the brain the second and larger fragment about four inches from the orifice. The ball lay still further in advance. The wound was half an inch in diameter. DRAPE the banner, toll the bell! In the hour of Victory. Light the altar, hide the bier! Ours to look with joy and fear, Where the country's FATHER passed, Its preserver meets at last. R. H. Newell. AY, let the nation weep, While the slow bells toll, And the cannon roll, For the funeral knoll Of his mighty soul! Ye cannot break the slumber deep That wraps his limbs in quiet sleep; He cannot hear The crowds that tread Around his bier, Nor see the tears they shed; For he nevermore shall dwell With the people that he loved so well. Let the nation's sorrow have its way S. G. W. Benjamın. |