The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1901-12-17
BURIAL OF LINCOLN.
Unknown Incident of the Contro-
versy Over Place of Interment.
Climax Reached while the Funeral
Cortege Was En- Route to the
TOmb-Attempt to Steal the
Body and Removal.

Among the thousands of visitors at
Canton during President McKinley's
funeral ceremonies were a couple of
white-haired men from the capital of
Illinois, and as they watched the
stately pageant winding to the tomb
they recalled the burial of Lincoln,
and told a strange tale of an incident
unknown to the present generation,
says the Chicago Chronicle.
When President Lincoln was assas-
sinated, his brother-in-law, C. NJ.
Smith, was in New York buying
goods, and he FASTENED to Washing
ton to confer with Mrs Lincoln re-
garding the intermenf of her hus-
bands body. Mr.. Smith Immediately
wired DR.. Henry Wohlgemuth, who
was president of the Oakridge Gene
terry, that Mrs. Lincoln desired the
body taken to Springfield and laid in
receiving vault until permanent ar
engagements could be made. DR..
Wohlgemuth suggested that six acres
in the cemetery be set apart for the
presidents last resting place, which
was acted upon and later the deed
made out to the Lincoln monument
association.
Mrs. Lincoln's desires were COM
municated to the city council of
Springfield, which promptly deter
mined to ignore her wishes on the
ground that the president belonged
TO the nation and that its claim was
paramount to any family right The
council Immediately negotiated for
the land on which the state build
ing now stands, agreeing to pay $50
600 for the property They proceeded
TO build a temporary tomb on the
northeast corner, fronting on Second
street. Men worked on it day and
night to get it finished in time for
the funeral.
When Lincoln's body reached Chi
eago. DR.. Wohlgemuth went to the
fremont house TO lay the matter be-
fore Robert T. Lincoln, General
Hooker. Judge Davis. and the Rev.
Mr.. Gourlev. and learn definitely
whether the remains would be in
TERED at the new tomb or at Oak
ridge. Naturally they were very
much stirred by the doctors infor-
nation. and Gen. Hooker wired the
facts to Secretary of War Stanton,
and in 80 minutes the answer came
that Mrs. Lincoln's wishes would be
carried out and the body taken to
Oakridge.
DIR. WohlGemuth returned to
Springfield with this message to the
council, but the finishing of the new
tomb went on with all possible dis
ratch. President Lncoln's remains
were taken to Springfield and lay in
state in the old statehouse, which is
now used as the courthouse.
On the day of the funeral thou
sands of people were in line. An i'm
mense crowd gathered at the new
tomb to wait the procession. while
comparatively few people had the
courage to wait for the coming OF
the body to Oakridge. The escort
started from the north entrance of
the statehouse, facing Washington
street, and moved west, with Gen.
! Cook. assistant marshal. in COM
mand. He favored the new tomb.
and. Notwithstanding the solemnity
Of the hour, more than one heart
throbbed exultantly over the certain
success of their private schemes.
The cortege moved slowly as far as
| Fourth street, where it was expected
| that the procession would file by left
wheel. to go to the new tomb. At
/ this juncture, Gen. Hooker assumed
/ command. and with all the authority
of his office gave the order:
Right wheel! to Oakridge Gene
tery."
1t was a crushing humiliation to
the opposing faction, but an act of
/ justice, for the desire of the wife was
| paramount to that of the state. DR..
! Wohlgemuth assisted in lowering the
coffin, and afterward cut the rope in
to souvenirs for the eager throng.
President Lincolns body lay three
months in the tomb under military
guard, when it was transferred 70 a
/ temporary tomb, where it remained
until the monument was completed.
After an attempt TO steal the body
/ 1t was moved at night and laid in a
! secret vault. The coffin has been
opened three times for the purpose
of identification, the last time being
a few years ago. when few person
4 al friends looked into the face of
/ Abraham Lincoln and found it un-
changed save that the features were
a trife shrunllen, the hair remained
the same, and the clothing was in an
excellent state of preservation.
Ganiah Smoking.
\ demand is being made in Jamaica
for the suppression of the practice of
ganjah smoking among he many thou
sands of East Indian coolies who work
on the banana and sugar plantations
throughout the co.ony. Ganjah is
/ variant of Indian hemp, or bhang.
which was employed to arouse the
fierce passions of the rebel Sepoys
during the Indian mutiny, and which