Daily Tombstone epitaph., 1886-01-22
OLD SETH AMMAN.
The Famous Hunter Tells Some Interest,"
 ing Stories-His Trip to Washington.


 A goodly company was gathered about old Seth Kinman, the famous California hunter, in the comfortable reading-room of the International hotel last evening, says the Alta CalifosmiG. Seth was in the best of storytelling moods and perhaps many present en- joyed the entertainment more than the hero of the moment, who, as he re- called the ancient incidents, appeared to bask in the genial rays of the long ago, when his eye was keener, his step firmer, and his hair little darker than to-day. Old Seth was born in Union county, Pennsylvania. Sept 29, 1915, consequently he is now a little past 70. He is fully six feet tall. His hair is long and white, and his full beard the same. His eyes are, however, remarkably bright, and he is unusually active for one of his advanced years. His feat ures are those of typical hunter, bronzed and wrinkled, but refecting the glow of health. He was dressed in long buckskin sack, heavily fr1nged and neatly embroidered with green silk around the flowing collar and about the cuffs. He wore pants of the same mate rial, and his feet were incased in moc- casins. His head was covered with high white sombrero.
 When Buchanan was elected presi- dent Seth made up his mind to go to Washington.
 ''You see," said he, using his index l finger to emphasize his remarks, 'T kinder thought. after the long rassel I'd had on the borders fightin' bars and Injuns, that I'd like to take furlough and go to Washington. Wall, I picked on the cheer business as purity good racket, and at it I went. I'd done favors for Col. Buchanan, who had com mand of old Fort Humboldt in other days, and one day I told him my scheme. He says: Go ahead, Seth, and I'll go to Washington and present the cheer Well, to make long story | short, we got thar in due time, and the day was sot for presentin' the cheer. We all marched into the east room. There was big crowd of starchy-look- in people thar, I tell you. It kinder kerfummuxed me at fust, cause want used to no sich crowds as thet. But strengthened up and waited for the colonel to begin his little piece. Wall, after it was all over, old Buck he got up and shuck me by the hand and made me feel to hum. Bimeby all the women crowded around me and began cuttin' off relics in the shape of strings from my clothes. They got so thick after awhile that had to skin out Darned if warn't scerter ern I would be if | hull pack of bars were on to me. The I ol,a lo h,,o l,o my old fiddle thet 1 made outer mules skull, and Buck asked me to give him a tune, and did. Oh. 1 had good time thar. That was in '57.
 'When Abe Lincoln was elected I made up my mind I'd give him cheer too. knowed him, for he and my father fit together into the Black Hawk war. When started to Washington I took an Injun along to exhibit him. I give shows on the way. That darned Injun petered out on my hands at Oswego, N. Y. The people fed him so much that he fairly busted. You could cracked feas upon his stomach when he crooked. Well, Old Abe got wind O | me and sent for mo. Christ. Lloyd, who was clerk of the Pennsylvany house | of representatives then, went to Wash ington with me from Harrisburg I | said to him, Now, old man, I'm goin' to present this cheer to Abe myself I | this time. And I did. Old Abe was jest tickled to death, too. He shuck hands with me, and on the sly he took me outen the east room an gave me pull at some nice old bourbon Then afterward 1 showed him old Cotton Bale;' that's the name of my old Kain- tuck rifle, and he took it up, sighted it at imaginary bar, and said: Seth, thet's the kind of artillery was raised on Then I brought out my fiddle, and he sot me to playin', and l give him Gray Eagle Old Zip Coon, Gal on Leg, and the 'Arkansaw Traveller He | jest roared all the while. Poor fellow! was in Ford's theatre the night he was hit
 "Yes, give a cheer to Johnson, too. 1 met him in Browns hotel shortly after Old Abe war shot. He treated me handsomely Thct cheer was made outen a grizzly bar. had it rigged sos the head O the old grizzly'd pop out from under when you sot down into it, and show it's teeth. Johnson was | pleased with it, and wanted to know why had fixed the head in thet way, and told him it was to keep the office seekers from gittin' near him. played the old fiddle for him, too.
 An l give Hayes cheer, also. It was made of elk horns. didn't go to Washington to give it to him. l pre- sented it at Columbus, O., when he was guv'nor and just after he was nom- mated. Some big-wig wanted to know if he couldn't make the speech, and I said, No, sir, ye can't. I ain't much posted on grammar nor Webster, but d-d eff l can't make Hayes understand me- An 1 did, too, for after he was elected he 'pinted me to an agency in Idaho under Guv'nor Ballard. Wall, 1 tuck sick in gittin' thar, and had to come to Californy. l Twas allus sorry didn't git into the place, too, for heerd afterward that thar was thunder in big stealins in that ere agency. Mir. Hayes didn't ask me to take anything, but got all l wanted afterward"
 This was the last chair Old Seth nre