The New York Times/1865/4/15/Third Edition
THIRD EDITION.
SATURDAY, THREE O'CLOCK P.M.
THE DEATH OF THE PRESIDENT.
Particulars of His Last Moments.
A Record of His Condition Before Death.
Washington, Saturday, April 15—11 o'clock A.M.
The Star extra says:
"At 7:20 o'clock, the President breathed his last, closing his eyes as if falling to sleep, and his countenance assuming an expression of perfect serenity. There were no indications of pain, and it was not known that he was dead until the gradually decreasing respiration coased altogether.
Rev. Dr. Gurby, of the New-York-avenue Presbyterian Church, immediately on its being ascertained that life was extinct, knelt at the bedside and offered an impressive prayer, which was responded to by all present.
Dr. Gurby then proceeded to the front parlor, where Mrs. Lincoln, Capt. Robert Lincoln, Mrs. John Hay, the Private Secretary, and others, were waiting, where he again offered a prayer for the consolation of the family.
The following minutes, taken by Dr. Abbott, show the condition of the late President throughout the night:
- 11 o'clock—Pulse 41.
- 11:05 o'clock—Pulse 45, and growing weaker.
- 11:10 o'clock—Pulse 45.
- 11:15 o'clock—Pulse 42.
- 11:20 o'clock—Pulse 44; respiration 27 to 29.
- 11:25 o'clock—Pulse 42.
- 11:32 o'clock—Pulse 48, and full
- 11:40 o'clock—Pulse 45.
- 12 o'clock—Pulse 48; respiration 22.
- 12:15 o'clock—Pulse 38; respiration 21—echmos both eyes.
- 12:30 o'clock—Pulse 45.
- 12:32 o'clock—Pulse 45.
- 12:32 o'clock—Pulse 60.
- 12:35 o'clock—Pulse 66.
- 12:40 o'clock—Pulse 69; right eye much swollen, and echmoses.
- 12:45 o'clock—Pulse 70.
- 12:55 o'clock—Pulse 80; struggling motion of arms.
- 1 o'clock—Pulse 66; respiration 30.
- 1:30 o'clock—Pulse 95; appearing easier.
- 1:45 o'clock—Pulse 66—very quiet, respiration ir regular.
- Mrs. Lincoln present.
- 2:10 o'clock—Mrs. Lincoln retired with Robert Lincoln to an adjoining room.
- 2:30 o'clock—President very quiet—pulse 54—respiration 26.
- 2:52 o'clock—Pulse 48—respiration 30.
- 3 o'clock—Visited again by Mrs Lincoln.
- 3:25 o'clock—Respiration 24 and regular.
- 3:25 o'clock—Prayer by Rev. Dr. Gerby.
- 4 o'clock—Respiration 26 and regular.
- 4:15 o'clock—Pulse 60—respiration 25.
- 5.50 o'clock—Respiration 28—regular—sleeping.
- 6 o'clock—Pulse failing—respiration 28.
- 6:30 o'clock—Still falling and labored breathing.
- 7 o'clock—Symptoms of immediate dissolution.
- 7:22 o'clock—Death.
Surrounding the deathbed of the President were Secretaries Stanton, Welles, Usher, Attorney-General Speed, Postmaster-General Dennison, M. B. Field, Assistant Secretary of the Treasury Judge Otto, Assistant Secretory of the Interior; Gen. Halleck, Gen. Meige, Senator Sumner, R. F. Andrews, of New-York; Gen. Todd, of Dacotah; John Hay, Private Secretary; Gen. Oglesby, of Illinois; Gen. Farnsworth, Mrs. and Miss Kenney, Miss Harris, Capt. Robert Lincoln, son of the President, and Doctors E. W. Abbott, R. K. Stone, C. D. Gatch, Neal Hall, and Mr. Lieberman. Secretary McCulloch remained with the President until about 5 o'clock, and Chief-Justice Chase, after several hours' attendance during the night, returned early this morning.
Immediately after the President's death a Cabinet meeting was called by Secretary Stanton, and held in the room in which the corpse lay. Secretaries Stanton, Welles and Usher, Postmaster-General Dennison, and Attorney-General Speed, were present. The results of the conference are as yet unknown.
The above particulars concerning the President's death are from the extra evening Star.
Washington, Saturday, April 15.
The President's body was removed from the private residence opposite Ford's Theatre to the executive mansion this morning at 9:30 o'clock, in a hearse, and wrapped in the American flag. It was escorted by a small guard of cavalry, Gen. Augus and other military officers following on foot.
A dense crowd accompanied the remains to the White House, where a military guard excluded the crowd, allowing none but persons of the household aad personal friends of the deceased to enter the premises, Senator Yates and Representative Farnsworth being among the number admitted.
The body is being embalmed, with a view to its removal to Illinois.
Flags over the department and throughout the city are at half-mast. Scarcely any business is being transacted anywhere either on private or pubil account.
Our citizens without any preconcert whatever are draping their premises with festoons of mourning.
The bells are tolling mournfully. All is the deepest gloom and sadness. Strong men weep in the streets. The grief is wide-spread and deep and in strange contrast to the joy so lately manifested over our recent military victories.
This is indeed a day of gloom.
Reports prevall that Mr. Frederick W. Seward, who was kindly assisting the nursing of Secretary Seward, received a stab in the back. His shoulder blade prevented the knife or dagger from penetrating into his body. The prospects are that he will recover.
A report is circulated, repeated by almost everybody, that Booth was captured fifteen miles this side of Baltimore. If it be true, as asserted, that the War Department has received such information, it will doubtless officially promulgated.
The government departments are closed by order, and will be draped with the usual emblems of mourning.
The roads leading to and from the city are guarded by the military, and the utmost circumspection is observed as to all attempttog to enter or leave the city.
The Theatres.
Dispatches from Boston announce that all the theatres in that city will be closed until further notice.
In this city a movement of the same kind has been inaugurated. Fox's Old Bowery Theatre will be closed this evening.