The Savannah morning news., 1900-09-22
At Quarantine.
ark Solid CswedD. weden.
FAMOUS WHITE BEAvEn.
The Original Grandfather's Hat l.
Found In Indiana.


Found In Indiana.
From the indianapolis News.
John G. wingate Of wingaie. one OF In
diana's best known Republican politicians.
is good story teller. one Of his pecu-
liarltlsa h that IL story he tells -
doubted he never fails 20 back - up.
while the state Board Of Tax commis-
sloners was In session In Indianapolis re-
Gently he told story Of the origin Of the
famous old white beaver Of the campaign
OF ISIS. known as "erandpa's has = Lost
there should be doubt Of the authenticiiy
Of his narrative, Mr.. Wingate on his last
trip 10 hls home. IN Montgomery coun-
~. brough, the hat 90 indianapolis with
him and kindly lent q 70 the News. which
presented picture taken from tho Old
beaver Itself.
Mr.. wiugale goes hack 90 the days Of
1879 40 begin his story. In the DAYS -
the old Tlppocanoe Harrison campaign"
he says. 1.-THE old Tippcoanoe battle
ground. seven miles norm Of Lafayette
wse famous point for the gathering ~
Republicans. Tine reason for this. Of
where Gen. Harrison fought and defeated
tho Indians. People In those days would
come Tor miles and miles 10 attend the
gatherings There were no railroads. and,
necessarily. they had 10 drive. At ono
meeting I remember hearing my mother
gay. the preernce Of a braee band from
Pltfsburg. Pa was a great attraction. Il
had come down tho river 10 Cincinnati.
and then had driven across the country
10 che battle ground rally. Two weeks
believe my mother said, were consumed
In the trip
sBuf about the hat II was first worn
by my grandfather Christian Coon. or
Ola ~ Coon NJ he was popularity known
In that part OF the country. He had a
son who cierkcd IN store M Philadelphia
who had made him present OF an eie-
CANT white beaver hat of the style then
popular in the quaker CITY. IL WAS 20 che
old Harrison rniiy on the Tlppecanoe bat
tlensld that the hat was nrft worn.
THE subsequent history Of the white
beaver b. not known until 10 the campaign
OF 1855 when Benjamin Harrison. Of this
cliy. ran Tor President A blg rally on
the old Tippecanoe battlefield had been
announced ana was preparing 70 attend
g. I was discussing some 81 the old en-
hiems that would BE- displayed on that
day. when my mother said % me;
John, why don't you act out your
grandfathers Old white beaver hat that he
wore 20 tho big two days rally on the
battle-ground IN 1902
The old hat was taken out 81 On old
chest. where. crumpled ana crushed q
had lain for years II was stretched over
hot jar and put info shape to be worn.
"Rlaine was TO be one OF the speakers
az the rally. He was 60 speak ~ Craw-
fordsyillo on his way 90 the rally WAS
present a. the Crawfordsville depot plat
form when the Blaine train pulled in. Tho
otatesman said he would not make a
speech az the lime but he made reference
20 the has wore. saying % must b. ono
that had been worn IN The Harrison cam
psign 81 1880. The hat was passed up 10
MIN a. h. stood OF the rear Of the plat
form Of the train. and. taking q and rails
ing IL high in che cir he said.
sThlF hat has helped a. make one Har-
rlson President and n viii now help TO
make another-three cheers for the hiatt
THE cheers were given with vieor and
the hat attracted much notice. iu the
Associated Press report % the stop ut
Crawfordaviiie the Incident Of the hat
Wss referred TO. and Blaine's words wera
quoted" The next week. Mr.. Wiugate
notes. Puck appeared with a cartoon u
"Grandpa's Hat"
Five years ego the question Of the orlgi-
nal Grandpa Hat" was taken up. ami
Mr.. Hodges. the Associated Press CORE
zrondent who wrote the story Of Blaine
and the beaver hat. wrote another story.
in which he asserted that bis reference
e. the Crawfordsville incident was the
start OF the 'Orandps'e Hat" slogan. On
this rests Mr.. Wingaies claim 20 thu
original hat.