Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1876-04-29
srEuorrrIp. Ill.. April MS. ls7o


Ssaissaness-Chieag etc.
srENorIxIp. H.. April Is, 1876.
Eprroa Nrws; Az the health Of my
wife permitted, I took . run down here
to the old home Of Abraham Lincoln, OF
Ceionsl Edward Baker, and Of william
I. Ferguson. who all began their profss-
uional and public career at this place,
the Capital Of the Grand Prairie stsss OF
Illinois. which has turned out 90 many
,illustrious men whose names have
sildsd the scroll Of history. both Ma
tionai and State. which will shine
through Ill the coming centuries while
time sndures, and the American Repub.
Lie floats Its starry flag over q united
people. prosperous, happy and free.
Yesterday and to-day ! have spent O
Of the time at the tomb or grand mob
umsntal mausoleum Of the illustrious
Martyr President and Saviour OF hs
Country, the beloved and immortal
Abraham Lincoln. Through the cour.
tesy Of the custodian OF the tomb and
monument, Mr.. John @. Power. an old
ana intimate friend Of Lincoln, from
boyhood, I was permitted 10 enter into
the tomb where the remains OF Lincoln
are placed within the sarcophagus and
place my hands upon the marble casket
What a hood Of thought and reflection
came swelling up from the fountains OF
memory Of the struggles for the defense
Of the Union. Il.
Fifteen years ago yesterday Fort
sumter was surrendersd 10 the traitors,
Who attempted 10 destroy this Union.
Four years Of horrid civil war. the inost
dreaded and pitilsss ON earth. when the
country echoed with the tread Of
millions Of armed men, and the roar
of cannon rolled It's thunders over moun.
tain and plain and drsnched the hills
and valleys with blood. filling the whole
land with woe and suffering. until he
who led our nation through the Red Sea
brought Il out with all its glory and lib
erty and honor unimpairsd. -Four years
After the fall Of the Sumter that battered
fortress 10 recovered. the dag that was
hauled down In distress and dismay. Is
again unfurlsd from its parapst, and
while the nation is rejoicing In Its hour
Of triumph and success. slavery and
treason, Stimulating death, rise In tho
dark and strike down the noblsst work
Of Colour beloved and "Honest
Abraham Lincoln" And juat eleven
years after his death I find myself kneel.
ing by the side Of all that Is mortal Of
him, and shedding tears that will not be
kept back. Here Is q tomb and n shrine
unsqualed In the world. save by that Of
tho Holy Sspulchre ut Jerusalem.
In Memorial Hall. at the south side OF
the ~msusoleum, are hung some forty or
more framed resolutions Of coincidence
and sympathy OF town councils Of En-
gland, Scotland. North Of Ireland, and
Canada, equally expressive Of feeling
and dsnunciatory OF the airocious crime
with those Of the United States.
Here IL q fine bust, taken Of Lincoln,
by the artist volk Of Chicago. when
alive; also o cast Of his right hand, which
was taken by the same artist at the time
thai the committee from the National
Convention at Chicago came to make
the ofacial announcement TO Lincoln OF
his nomination for tho Presidency.
There II an old-fAshioned hickory-bot-
toned chair. which Lincoln put the bot.
tom in some forty years ago. He went
out and cut down q young hickory sap
ling. split out his work, and finished IL
In the very best OF manner; and that
bottom, II used constantly. would wear
out the seats Of pants OF forty genera
tons.
Speaking Of pants. I am reminded Of
what an old gentleman and an acquain-
tainee OF the life time Of Lincoln told.
Mr.. Power, the custodian OF the mon.
umsnt aud romans. This old gentle.
man had . dispute with his nsighbor
about the boundary line between their
respective claims on n section Of Govern
nent land. and to seltls the matter thoy
employed Lincoln to survey the line be-
tween them. rs that was his business at
that time. Lincoln used the old style
compass, with . Jacob staff Zone lcg)
instsad Of the tripod. the point shod with
steel TO stick in the ground, the compass
being adjustable by q ball socket. Lin.
coin performed his work correctly, but
the line did not run to suit the trouble
soms neighbor; and he expressed his
dissatisfaction to Lincoln. In an insult.
ing manner. and insisted Oh Lincoln
running the line over again 10 suit him.
q no wanted Il; but Lincoln declined
doing Il. He then coaxed and attempt
cd 10 bribe Lincoln. who looked nj him
atsrnly and told the fellow that he did
not do that kind OF business. and u he
wanted any dirty work done he rlust get
some one else TO do II. The fellow then
told him u he did not run that line over
again, as he wanted him To, that no
would make him or whip him right then
and there. Lincoln smiled AZ he un-
screwed his compass, and put IL up In
his saddlsbags preparatory TO leaving.
Tho fellow Immediately jumped upon
Lincoln a. he was STOPPING over. and
dealt him . cowardly blow in the back.
A tussls commenced and Lincoln threw
his adversary and held him down to
the ground. The fellow had on
Q remarkably large and loose pair Of
pants with o seat capable Of holding seed
enough to plant an acre Of corn. II
stuck out like = collapsed windsail. Lin.
coin o. quick as q fash saw bis advan.
tage. and suddenly siszing the sharp.
steel. pointed Jacob staff Of his instru-
msnt, thrust II through the extended
seat Of the fellows pants and firmly
him to the earth. Ho then took
bis time. and with handfuls Of the soft
earth, rubbed II over the fellows
lace, laughing himself all the time he
Was doing II, and would not let him mp
until be said he had enough. and prom
lssd that he would never again DO guilty
81 trying 10 bribs any man, or induce
him 70 do q dishonest action. lie then
let him up. and the fellow snsaksd of
Ike . whipped cur TO his kennel. I had
he pleasure Of examining this instru-
nent, and handled the Jacob staff. which
has served to point a moral and adorn
tai,."
The location OF this monument and
he Surroundings OF Oak Ridge oeme-
cry are charming indeed. and tho Tomb
Il Lincoln will become . shrine ~ holy
md sacred TO the pilgrims OF all lands
Who may come here, nearly equal to
hat Of our Saviour's tomb to the Cur
,adeu Of the Middle Ages. I visited