Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1886-12-02
LINCOLN'S FUNERAL CAR.
Now Used by the Section-Men of Railroad
Company in the Far West.
Denver Tribune Republican.

Denver Tribune Republican.
There is on the Marysville d Blue Val
ley branch of the Union Pacific road an
old dilapidateu car. Its exterior is i'll
sad need of the painters brush. Its in
terror is rough and dirty. 1t is fitted
up with rough hunks, and is used to
transport section hands from point to
point. A close inspection, however, of
its present condition will reveal features
which would puzzle one who had not
seen it years ago Here and there will
be discovered a trace of gliding The
woodwork, if you scratch off the SCOT and
dirt, will be found to be of solid mahog-
eny and black walnut.
In short, it is relic of faded gentility.
Although it now "takes in dodgers" like
the traditional landlady, it has "seen bet
ter days" This poor, old, shabby-genteel
com carrier, was once considered the
finest car ever built in the United States.
Mechanics from all parts of the country,
who were master workmen, were secured
to work in its construction. 1t once
shone Respondent in red velvet and gid
ing. 1t is, in short, the famous car
"Abraham Lincoln"
This car was built in Alexandria, Va,
in 1851 1t was intended for directors
car, TO run on the military railroads; that
| is, the roads which ran into the section of
the country where the heavy fighting was
going ON. These roads had either been
seized from the Secessionists or APP
propriated by the Federals, as the case
might be. and this car was used by the
directors of the roads and by the military
officials.
! 1t was at the time considered par eX.
cellence. 1t wore all the trappings be-
! longing TO wealth and rank. 1t shone
res plendent in scarlet and gold. Soft
turkey carpets covered its floor, velvet
couches and chairs adorned its central
reception-room. At one end were state
rooms for sleeping purposes. At the
other was dining room and kitchen,
over which presided chief of supreme
attainments in his profession.
Statesmen, famous over the civilized
world, reclined on its upholstered couches
and dined Mt its tables. The original
cost of this car was something over
thirty thousand dollars. When Lincoln
was assassinated, to this car, his name
sake, was entailed the duty OF conveying
his remains to Springfield.
car attained national reputation, and
spectators began at once to make bids
for it, with a view to putting it on exhi-
bition in dime museums. To prevent
this the car was bought up by Mr.. Lin.
coins old law partner, Mr.. Ward II.
Lamon, now n resident of Denver. He
purchased it at government sale in
| Alexandria in 1868 Shortly after Mr..
4 / ,Rnya. SNpfn ton
wrote him a letter begging that the car
be kept out of the hands of exhibitors.
This Mr.. Lamon assured him Wa MS in
| tention.
In 1866 the car was sold by Mr.. Lamon
to Mr.. Henry $. McComb, of Delaware,
one of the directors of the Union Pacific,
for that road. 1t then was used TO bring
out from New York Mr.. L. c. Durant and
party who made trip to what was then
the western terminus of the road. At
that time the different tribes of Indians
along the liue were throwing obstruc-
tions in the way of the further prog
ress of the road, and in this car the
officials met representatives, the various
tribes to discuss the matter. On the re
turn of the car TO Omaha it was held
! there, and was used as an officers car mp
to 90. IL was then, on orders from Sid
nev Dillon, changed to an emigrant car,
and remained in that service up to 1874.
1t was then sold to the Colorado Central
for three thousand dollars, and marked
( Colorado Central No A. 1t was used
by the road as a chief engineers car.
The old car has been knocked around
from place TO place, at every move de
scending lower and lower from its exalted
height. until now, in its battered old age
it transfers the section hands from point
to point over the road