Weekly Trinity journal., 1865-11-04
NUMBER 43.
Seth Kinman and His Present.

Seth kinman, the pioneer and trapper, late of
Humboldt county, recently presented to Andy
johnson a huge chair, made from the skins of
describe the scene at the White House, when the
old man presented his gift to the President
The door of the room had been thrown open,
and without introduction or formal ceremony.
the hardy pioneer of the wild Pacific slope, the
conqueror of wild beasts and wild men, grasped
by the hand the honored President of all
powerful republic. Kinman was evidently
stranger to the President, who received him in
most cordial manner.
Leaning upon his rife, and as calm as though
he had been conversing with prairie companion,
he stated to the President that recently he had
been up in Pennsylvania constructing chair
from the skins of several grizzlies which he had
killed with his own rife, and which he desired
to present to him. That in Offering it token
of respect both to his person and to his office,
he desired to say that in his opinion the @ Pres-
dent of the United States was the biggest man
in the world
The President was much gratifed at this en-
phatic compliment, and in returning thanks, said
he thought he knew how to appreciate both it
and the chair.
The President here insisted that Seth should
first sit in the chair, after which he sat in it,
praising highly its beauty and comfortable quail
ItleS. The - bear Killer IN the meanwhile nad
become so much at ease in his intercourse with
the President that he descanted and chatted upon
the prominent points of his gift with perfect
nonchaance. This originated, however from no
want of respect TO His Excelency, but rather
from buoyancy of animal spirits and genial
good nature, which has won for kinman host
of friends wherever he is known.
After displaying all the parts and points of his
wonderful chair, calling attention to the formid
able claws that clustered its sides, the natural
hunter paused. 1t was plain, however, that
something remained to be told something start
ling to be shown, and the Rocky Mountain speak
er had not pronounced his peroration. Carefully
unloosing the cords which concealed the huge
head, he suddenly darted it, swapping and gnash-
ing its teeth close to the Presidents knees,
which was received by the crowd with uproarious
laughter, and heartily enjoyed by the President
himself
The grown children of His Excellency, several
in number, came in, and were loud in their
demands to be shown again and again this won-
derful feature of the chair. No one seemed to
enjoy their delight and fun more than the Presi-
dent, whose careworn face lighted up with
bcnignant smiles, and whose stern nature seemed
to have relaxed and grown cheerful the
pleasing incident. The crowd of their own ac-
cord now withdrew, leaving Kinman almost alone
with the President. At last, however, upon sug-
gestng TO His Excellency that he should keep
the head of the grizzly well protruded in order
to frighten off Office seekers and unrepentant
rebels who besege his mansion, and receiving
warm invitation to visit the White House at his
pleasure, the worthy old hunter withdrew, well
pleased at his reception and success.