The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-29

inert men Of that time, and of those who
were just winning their spurs in the poiit-
ical tilt yard. and have since become ia
nous. Colonel Goodwin. when in the mood.
can relate Incidents OF more than passing
interest. which occurred years ago at the
capital. While here he was In reminis-
cent frame OF mind. and told me a\rumber
Of stories relating 20 the interesting pc
riod that followed the close Of the war and
up into the seventies He was then, as now.
a newspaper man, and along with the rep
rcscntatives of the old ST Louis Republic
an. ST. Louis Democrat and other papers.
WAS hustling for news for his paper In Sc
daiia. Finally the Colonel said: DO you
know how Eugene FELL happened to write
nj PLANT o: Missouri Coon?'
| was ignorant and confessed as much
Well. The story has never, TO my knowi-
edge. been fully explained In print. Carl
S"hurz. as you probably know. was forced
To leave Germany about lsi,. He made
hasty exit To the United States. He came
To Missouri and his rapid rise and career in
this State matters of history. In 1873
he was elected to the United States Senate
By the Legislature then in session. AT the
beginning of that session of the General As
sembly number Of clerks and newspaper
men. among them myself. INDUCED In "A
coon hunt al ing III. MIsspuri River bottoms
over in the Kingdom Of Galloway. Tie re-
suit was the capture of a fine specimen Of
a rdCcuon. about three-fourths grown. lie
was taken to the Capitol building next
morning ard kept In the basement for
week or So until quite tame He was then
given the freedom az the building and the
grounds. and became the pet of every one.
Protection was afforded him, and he
fiOurished.
shortly after his election to the United
States Senate. Carl SchurZ granted an
unconditional pardon by Emperor William
and the edirt Of exile was recalled. He
" mo ipt-i s.I ill n I'D
as a guest of honor \ short time afterward
Senator Schurz visited jefferson city. where
he was always a favorite with the news
paper correspondents. The pet coon by
this time was a beautiful specimen. Schurz
took a fancy to him. and the newspaper
boys suggested that the newly elected SEN
ator send the coon to his erStw lille SOVEREIGN
IN the Fatherland aS a token of his regard.
The offer was accepted and the Missouri
product was boxed up by Schurz and his
friends and sent on his long journey. In
time h. arrived safely. and SchurZ received
acknowledgment from Emperor William
himself The coon was placed in the zooloc-
iCal gardens at Berlin. and AliSSOurians who
aft,rwaTi visited Germany were always
shown the Missouri coon. Years aftcrwart
Eugene Field made tour OF Europe and
encountered the coon in his Berlin home.
Field knew Carl Schurz well and also knew
Of the incident that caused the deportation
II the coon from his habitat in Missouri to
his foreign abode. This inspired his Plant
Of a Missouri Coon His quaint verses in
the h"artschss and lonsinCs of Tho ring
tailed sTecimeu 81 his Missouri haunts are
known 7" every one who has read the lyrics
Of the Chiid's poet"
PLANT OF THE MISSOURI COON ~ THE
BERLIN ZooLoGIrAI. GARDENS
Friend ~ the way you hump yourself you r.
from the States. know
And born IN Old Mizzoorsh where th- CONS m
plenty grow.
!. -. am native of that CLINE. hut harsh. r--
l.ntIsss fate
Has q. med mo to exile far from that n7hIe
state.
Aud 9 vao ussi - climb around and swing
90. -r free tr..
~ lad a If~ q isnominicus ease as you can
Haze ,--'s- -.. -----..--. .. -..r- -. - -
SEASON near
While unfur a dismal tale to catch your friend
iy ear.
Ny TeiiSre" - noble. they used my grand
sir.'- skin
To Tiscs cat far Patterson to Oarrn himself
within
Tom patterson q Denver: no .rmiae can com
Pare
With to grIzzied robe that Democratic states
man loves 70 wear.
OF such Eraais.Ie ] Gene: and in the
County cole
All VI an ancten; cottone ood cur family had It's
hole.