National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-12-10
TIE LAST OF TIE TEA PARTY.


SOME INTERESTING "REMINISCENCES.
TIE forthcoming celebration at the Capitol of
the one hundredth and first anniversary Of the de-
stTuctiOn Of two cargoes OF tea in Boston harbOr,
December l6, l7T3, recalls to mind the latest sur
viYor Of that famous band Of patriots. During
the progress Of the publication in monthly num-
beTs Of Lossing's Pictorial Field Book Of the
Revolution" there appeared in newspaper pub
lished in a New England town an obituary ofthe
last Of the Tea Party announcing the decease
OF the last survivor Of these pseudo '.MOhaEks,"
whose war WhoOp, sounding through the galleries
Of the "Old South Meeting House" gave to the
vast concOuTse therein Assem- bled warning that
their sentiments, speeches and resolutions, as ut
tered by distinguished patriots Of that day, were
about to assume the sternest practical shape.
. Mr. Losing, upon readfRg said obituary, felt
and so Informed the editOrof the paper that the
claim Of the deceased to have been the last Of
that he believed he had somewhere among the
mass of material gathered for the Field Book,
an account of a survivor Of that memorable band
tiOn Of the country. But his time was too much
occupied in preparation OF the history to make
thorough search in the matter.
In due course, however, Of the serial Publica-
lion OF the work the claim Of another man as the
last survivor OF the tea party was fully estab-
lfshed in the person of one David Rinnerson, then
living in Chicago and Revolutionary Pensioner
at the rate Of 500 per year.
An artist Of that city, former acquaintance Of
Mr.. Losing, and personally acquainted with
KinneTson, having observed notices of the i'm
pOrtant and labOriOus undertaking then being
prosecuted by that author contributed concise
sketch OF the man, accompanied by an engraving
of his aged face and fac smile Of his trembling
autograph. At this time Kinne-sOn was about
one hundred and eleven years old was remark remark
for such amazing age, being occasionally seen in
the streets, and walking every month to tho
agents office for receipt OF his pittance OF SSS3.
In fact his general appearance lid not indicate
that he had passed the "Rubicon' Of century Of
Lille.
time OF that tempest 10 a teapot" and was EVIL
IDENTIFY inclined like COOpers Nathaniel BumpO,
to maintain constant posi- the frontiers OF civil
iZatiOn. The battle OF Plattsburg found him
participant, with his historic old hint-lock mus
ket, in its clOsely-cOntested fight and resulting
victory to the Americans. He was also engaged
in other actions during tho OF 1872. As stated
he possessed rough, migratory spirit, and he
explained to his interviewer that after the death
of his wives, his children who survived to adult
age having married, he kept in the van OF emf
grafton, either surveyor or sQuatter, losing all
knowledge Of his family, and finally, at the age
of over one hundred years, made his domlcil in
the city of Chicago.
The publication by Losing of the biography of
hinnersOn disclosed TO q widowed daughter OF the
old hero, then living in Michigan, and who had
long supposed her father dead, the fact that he
still lived. She Immediately repaired to Chicago,
and during the remainder Of her fathers life was
his companion and ministeTing angel, serving
him in a thousand ways with daughters asst
DUTY and love; and among those services and at
tentlODS, we may suppose, was the daily prepare
tiOn Of cups Of that ancient beverage whose CON-
pulsOry acceptance by our fOrefathers was
reSemed in the summary and effective manner
known and read or by their descendants and the
whole intelligent world.
In Is5I-52 The writer was a resident of Illinois,
and there became cCgniZant Of some of the facts
herein stated, which have never appeared in
print.
In the autumn of ono of said years David Kin
nersOn Like a shock OF corn fully ripe" the hero
OF two great wars, died at the extraordinary age
of one hundred and fifteen years. And so well
known were his presence, history and habits ia
Chicago that the municipal government and the
fire department, well as Thousands OF private
followed his remains to the place of
burial, and those parting Yolleys over the vet
GRAMS grave. given by files Of militia men, were
the soldiers final tribute Of respect to 1.-THE last
OF the tea party" TELLIAMED.