Lincoln Recuperates

After the debate with Douglas, Lincoln was exhausted and in a state of nervous distress. On October 13, 1858, he said he was "mighty nigh petered out" and might have to quit the race. When the debate ended at 5:30 P.M., he almost collapsed and was taken to a hotel, where local history places him after leaving Orville Browning's home and George P. Floyd's account places him soon after the debate. To relieve his condition, Mrs. Floyd gave him an external folk treatment known as a "rum sweat." Lincoln objected that he had never drunk liquor, but she assured him it was only for external use. Covered with blankets, he was treated with rum vapors, which brought on heavy sweating and restful sleep, and afterward he felt invigorated, also aided by hot ginger tea, saying he could "jump a five-rail fence right now." Local lore also holds that he may have had a shave at the Hellmer Brother's Barbershop and that Ernest Schierenberg later said Lincoln, very dry after the debate, went to the old No. 9 Saloon and drank three glasses of beer. In the hotel room, Lincoln sat with his boots off and told Ohio reporter David R. Locke, whom he met there after the debate, "I like to give my feet a chance to breathe." Locke was deeply impressed by him and, after returning to Ohio, helped generate publicity for Lincoln and organize early "Lincoln for President" meetings, with the first held just after Election Day and announced in the November 5, 1858, Commercial Register of Sandusky, Ohio.

Quincy, Illinois · United States