The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-20
A REVOLUTIONARY RELIC
PROBABLY THE MOST REMARKABLE
ONE TO BE FOUND IN INDIANA.
A Quaint Liquor Chest once Owned by
the British Governor Hamilton
Left at Yfncennes.
Correspondents OF the indianapolis Journal

his possession the only revolutionary relic
OF Indiana. The relic is a quaint old liquor
chest and has quite an interesting his
tory. Originally it belonged 10 Governor
Hamilton, the British Governor Of his
Western territory, and was in his posses
sion for many years before II came into
the possession Of the ancestors Of the pres
ent owner. Governor Hamilton brought
the chest from his native country. Scot
land. when he first came to America, and
whenever he Travelled the chest was taken
with him.. Aside from its age it is valuable
as being connected with prominent places
and epochs in the States history.
The chest is made Of mahogany. and no
mark of the woodworker's hand mars its
smooth, unpublished. unvarnished beauty.
The grain of the wood stands out beauu-
fully, and age has only deepened the rich
tints Of the wood. In appearance the chest
resembles a huge block Of mahogany. and
has nothing 10 attract the attention more
than an ordinary block OF wood. The eX-
terror gives no hint OF its age. use or his
tory. and ii is only when the owner eagerly
points out it's value that the visitor takes a
second look at the massive and u~nlovely
box, for 10 most observers II is nothing
more than a large box. IL is 10 by IS inches
and stands 49, inches high. The material
of which it is made is three-fourths Of an
inch thick, and there is no fancy work in
it's makeup. IT stands a plain, unpreten-
tious chest, old-fashioned IN every detail,
g~uiltless Of carving. varnish or nails. Ev-
cry ~jo.nture is made by dOvet2iling, and
the only nails used are those with which
the lid has been repaired. The only thing
about the outside of the chest TO suggest
an attempt at ornamentation is the ham
dies. which are large. solid brass affairs.
rudely but artistically carved. The ham
dies have been worn almost smooth by
much handling, and the metal has taken
on a dark hue suggestive of age.
The lid is kept closed by the mortise lock,
not unlike the locks of to-day, although
this one must be at least two hundred years
old. The chest is in a remarkable state Of
preservation and shows very few marks
Of travel. although it Travelled across the
United States at a time when travelling
was both dangerous and slow. The only
damage 10 the chest is a crack across The
lie. This was caused by a knot in the
board from which the lid was made. hav-
ing been unnoticed in the cutting of the
lumber. and the rough handling 10 which
LA1 AfEL los 80 sAAIAAN1a 1AH.C -.
later Journeys in the more modern convey
ances. To repair the lid. two double. wedge
shaped pieces of mahogany were cut and
mortised into the lid. they are still further
secured by two sprigs. small nails without
heads. which are almost unnoticeable when
properly driven. The crack is spreading
and is now Quie distinct; in time the lid
will have TO be repaired again even though
/ Il -. - - - -
MADE To HOLD BOTTLES.
Opening the chest, one finds the most in
teresting part Of the box. The inside is
divided into nine Compartments by one
fourth inch partitions. No two OF these
compartments are of the same size. as are
the bottles or rather jars. which they hold
firmly in the chest. The sides OF the chest
and the partitions are lined with a coarse
woven. happy wooden cloth called baize.
which greatly reduces the jar and does
away with all fear OF scratching the bot
ties. Baize resembles the hopsacking of n
few years ago more than anything in the
modern weaves. The great massive lid is
padded with hair excelsior. over which is
stretched a square of baize. making the
lid mt down very closely over the glass
shoppers OF the bottles.
The baize covering is much moth eaten.
especially that lining the lid. where the
excelsior is protruding through several
large. ragged holes. The cloth on the par
tition walls and sides of the chest is alive
but hundreds of the eggs can be counted
~clinging to the sides and bottom of the
chest like tiny balls of cotton
The huge bottles resemble somewhat
large fruit jars, and each holds a little
over a gallon. The sides are fat. with
square corners, while the tops are round.
Only one Of the bottles remains unbroken,
and no two of them are alike in size. each
fitting into it's own compartment. The nine
bottles will hold about twelve gallons.
The most interesting feature Of this chest
is its history. The original owner, Cow
ernor Hamilton, commander OF the British
force in Indiana. brought the chest with
him from Scotland when he first came TO
America. Governor Hamilton was sta
toned at Vincennes, and IL was there that
he made the acquaintance OF Francis Bos-
seron. the grandfather OF the present owner
OF the chest. Judge Charles 3. Lassellc.
Governor Hamilton and Captain Bosseron
became very intimate friends. although on
opposing sides in a military sense.
In 1873 Governor Hamilton was arrested.
charged with having sent the British
forces and the Indians under his com
mand into Pennsylvania. ohio, Kentucky
and Virginia TO murder the inhabitants.
Before being taken 10 Virginia. where he
was 10 be tried by court-martial. Governor
Hamilton gave the chest 10 his friend,
Captain Francis Bosseron. with the un-
Outstanding that If he was acquitted ne
would return for the chest. and II he failed
TO return Bosseron was 10 keep the chest
as "A memento Of his friend. Governor
Hamilton was never tried. the case was
disposed Of by the French government.
which exonerated Hamilton. who went TO
Quebec Immediately after his release.
Shortly after going 10 Quebec ne was APP
pointed minister 10 the West Indies. and
he left America without claiming OF Cap
tain Bosseron his liquor chest. The chest
remained in the possession Of Captain
Bosseron until his death IN 1871. after
which IL was owned by his sister. In 1851
Judge Lasselle, a grandson Of Captain BOs-
seron. while visiting his home I'm Vim
oennes. found and secured possession Of
the almost-forgotten relic. which ne always
keeps in a prominent place in his Office In
the courthouse. The judge Is very fond
OF telling the story OF the chest. and claims
for IL the distinction Of being the only
revolutionary relic in Indiana.