The morning times., 1895-08-18

themupinshallow water, ,andenabling them
TO pass over distinctions in the bed OF the
stream.
Lincoln made two trips down the Missis
sippi river In fiat boat to New Orleans the
first with thesonofMr. Gentry "a prominent
merchant Of GentryyiIle, Ind, to purchase
supplies for the store. The second was made
in 1S41, eight years before the patent was
granted.
Capt o. Fl. Oldroy, who has a very extern
sjve collection of Lincoln relics, to the ac-
emulation OF which he has devoted nearly
a whole lifetime, on exhibition In the house
in which Lincoln died on Tenth, street,
opposite the old Ford's Theater, can recall
many interesting stories of Lincoln's handi-
ness with tools.
While he was staying in New Salem he
lived with old Caleb Carmen, a shoemaker,
and in a book OF Lincoln Inlmor rteHes which
Capt. oldroy edited, Mr.. Carmen says that
young Lincoln was a very handy man to
! have about the house When the water
bucket was empty he filled it; when any
wood was needed the future President
would go out to the woodpile and cut 1t,
and most any Of the work about the house
| was done ckeerfUlIyb by him
On one occasion the shoemaker saw Lin
| coin leaving the house with an ak on his
| shoulder. In response 10 an inquiry az 70
| his intentions, Lincoln merely said that he
wanted 10 try project. He returned to
the house in short time with a number
| Of hickory poles, and IN a short time he
| had put new split bottoms on all the chairs
| in the place.
Some wOTkmen at work on a rev build
/ ing in course Of erection in New Salem
| during Liucoln's residence there had occa-
| sion 10 use certain piece OF a framework
| which none Of them knew how TO make
To send away for it would mean a serious
| delay, and they were in a qUandary when
/ young Lincoln passed.
| To him they told their troubles and he
| promptly took out piece OF paper and q
| p!encil, made a rough drawing, and then
went TO work. In short time he had
fashioned piece OF framework that fitted
| exactly, much to the wOnderment Of the old
carpenters around him.
There have probably been a great many
relies OF LineOlu's mechanical genius IN
| existeuca in times gone by, but they exist
| 10 longer The model in the Patent Office
is now, perhaps, the only piece OF Lin
| coins mechanical handiwOrk extant. The
ravages OF time and the carelessuess Of
| those WHO may have had such things in
their possession have destroyed or lost
them all.
Among the collection Of Lincoln relics
owned by Capt. Oldroy are a picture
OF the house in which Lincoln lived in
springtime and one OF the rails split by
him and used 10 fence in the pace.
The building itself was purchased by
Capt. oldrOy a number OF years ago for
the small sum OF $40, with the stipulation
that II should be allowed TO stand until he
could secure It's removal to some fitting
place.
The owner grew Ill, however, and dUrin g
a storm one night the old house was blown
down No one being around to take any
particular interest in it, the natives took it
away piece by piece, not as relics but for
firewood, and whenthe purchaser discovered
the state of things and posted To the scene
with all haste, he found only a few small
pieces OF the house left He gathered them
together, and had them made into a stand,
which he has now on exhibition among the
collection.
There has been a great deal OF dis
cussiOn," said Capt. Oldroy, in regard TO
the awkwardness and general uuCouthness
OF Mr. Lincoln. He was uncouth, it is true