Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-11-26
PRESENTATION OF AoHAIR PRESIDENT
LINCOLN

This morning, the President was presen ted
in his office at the White House, with a hand
some elk horn chair, made by Mr.. Seth Kin.
man, OF California, hunter of renown, who,
1t will be rendered, presented one to Mr.. Blu CHI
anan during his Administration.
There were number of ladies and gentle
men in attendance, and the presentation speech
was made by MI Clinton Lloyd, Of Pa, on
behalf of Mr.. Kinman, who was present,
dressed in trapper's full suit of bnckskiu
The President responded in a few pleasant re-
marks.
After the presentation ceremonies were over,
the President seated himself in the chair, and
examined 1t very minutely. He expressed
himself highly pleased with the workmanship.
some ume was then spent in conversation, du.
ring which DIR. KInman related some of his
experiences on the plains Of California, which
appeared to greatly amuse the President.
Mr.. kinman informed the President that he
had another little article with him, a fiddle
manufactured from the skull of a favorite
mule, which, when alive, appeared to have
music in his SOUL as he would ALWAYS lurk
around the camps on the plains whenever he
heard the music Of fiddle. So, after the
mule had been dead some time, and as Mr.. X.
was passing his bleached bones one day, the
idea struck him that there might be some mu-
sic in these bones He accordingly picked up
the skull and took it home from which he
manufactured the fiddle, and afterwards re.
turGed and procured one OF the ribs and some
OF the hairs Of the tail, from which the bow
was made. Mr.. Kinmaa then played "Es-
H.
much to the amusement OF Mr.. Lincoln and
the spectators. When Mr.. kinman finished
playing the President remarked that if he
could play on the instrument he would ask
Mr. X. to give 1t to him, but as he could not it
would be better in Mr.. Kinnan's hands.
The President then shook hands with MIR
kinman, expressing desire to meet him again
during his stay in Washington
The chair is unique affair, and is made al
most entirely OF elk horns, four large antIers
forming the back arms and legs. These are
frv,, hro,
lers being used tor the rounds and frame of the
seat. The four antlers forming the legs, arms
and back ere set on the feet of the elk and it is
Crnamented by clusters OF antlers inganlously
put together. The seat is made of elk skin with
hair on and is covered by piece OF tanned elk
skim highly Crnamented.
Mr.. KiIman made this chair with his own
hands, as also he did one he presented to MIR.
buchanan during the first part of his admins
tratlon, which was considered master piece
of workmanship, but which is surpassed In
beauty and ingenuity of construction by this
one. Mr.. *. was about seven years in collect
ing the material trem which he made this
chair
What will add to its value no doub. with MIR.
Lincoln, is the fact that the rife with which
the elks, from whose horns the chair was made,
were killed, is the Identical piece with which
the British General Packenham was killed in
1915, at New Orleans by Briggs, and was SUBJ
seqnently carried through the Black Hawk
war by kinman's father, who was Ia q compa-
ny in which the President served in that war.
This old piece Mr.. kinman brought with him,
and is in fine state Of preservation. Its Old
stock has however, gone, a bear having dam
aged it with his teeth to such an extent that it
was necessary to supply its place. and Mr.. X.
hewed out piece of hard wood, which he
Whitfield down and fashioned into rough but
serviceable stock.
Mr.. Kinman is dressed in full suit, buchskin
pants, heavy fur coat, and large fur hat, and
his costume and flowing beard gives him an
unique appearance, attracting much attention
on the avenue yesterday, as we'll as at Ford's
Theatre, where he attended last evening. Sew
eral fine photographs of the chair, as also of
Mr.. Kinman, who carried his rifle with him,
were made at Philip and Solomon's Gallery
Yesterday.