The Daily state register. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1870-1872, 1871-11-17
WASHINGTON RELICS.

| iFrOm the washington CnrOnlc1e.l
When the martyr President received
the shotthat cost his life and made z
nation weep, his attendants removed
him to the residence dearest Ford's
Theater. on Tenth street. directly op-
po>ite. occupied by VIM. Petersen.
His body was laid on a bed in the room
situated on the first floor. and the
blood that gu>hed from his mortal
wound stained the sheets and pillows
that furnished it.
When Lincoln died. and his corpse
was removed for mterment, the kind
lady was thoughtful enough To >IGre
away in IL place of safety the blood
stained pillows and the spread thai
uncovered the body. lie va wrap
ped in the blood stained sheets and
removed to the undertaker'S. The
bureau which stood in the at the
time of his death remaiES there still,
and bears the marks of Il thousand
penknive~. For months aftr his
death, persons who visited the room.
desiring something Is a metnentO,
would chip it from this piece of FARM
ture. Tine bed>tead and mattress have
been used by the family OF Mrs. Peter
sci ever since.
The pillow cases, pillow and bed
spread have been preserved until the
present day in the condition they were
in when taken from Mr.. Lincoln'S dv-
ing couch: and TRANCE to say, indeed,
these articles, valuable relies, too,
were priced more highly by the wife
and children of a foreigner than by a
great Government.
oar readers Will remember the pub
I,-I,..l - 90 ~, -,,i Ia, st,a+l, nf
Petersen some months Ago. His wife
also died recently. leaving five orphan
children. and the furniture OF the
house has been offered for sale.
One of Pcter>en'> daughters. we
learn, called upon a prominent Otil1ltI
in the Interior Department three days
ago. and informed that official that the
relics were to be sold. and wished To
know if the Government would not
purchase them. a. she di-likel to eN-
pose the articles at public auc ion.
The vOun- lady was referred to Com
missioner Le--ett. that official a~>ur-
in- her that it might be proper for the
Government t@ purchase them tor eN-
hjlhtion in the museum ot the Patent
Office. Parties acquainted with the
facts express some surprise that the
Government has not chained posses
sion of these relics long aGo.
The editor of this paper, a few years
ago, had some acquaintance with the
family referred to by the Chronicle,
and with the room and furniture used
al the death of Mr.. Lincoln. The
leading characteristic OF the family
was the love of money, and they did
not hesitate to keep up a standing eN-
hibi,i0n of the relics tor years af:er-ot
cuur-p for a consideration. AVarire
was stronger than truthfuIne>S, and
the exhibition lost nothing of its i'm
portance through the glib tongue f
the proprietor of The show. The bills
presented the Government for eN-
rcri~e> during the brief time the room
Wa occupied by Mr.. Lincoln we're 50
eXorhitaut that they We're rejected a.
fraudulent blythe various departments
to which they were referred one after
another. The determine ion to make
this TRAGEDY a paying institution was
50 evident tiiiI II caused Il universal
disgust, among all arqutintci with
the facts. The lalc exhibition Of these
new relics. in connection with the pc
cuIiar. professional. faulty for driving
business incjdcrr to theIoI-:u- house
keerers of Washington, throw Il shade
OF suspicion on this attempted sale.
1t may be all right, but it would be
We'll for the Government before Iaak
ing the purchase to enquire, il genu:
inc, where The relics have been during
the long years since 1851. There may
be Something genuine even about a
lIumbug, but it j. safer 10 measure it
before buying it. If they are genuine
they should be purchased, but there
should be no foolIn- on that subject.
4 SPONGE MINE.-Nut until yester-
day when Professor tTUrTpTD laid a