Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1902-01-30
BURIAL OF LINCOLN.
Unknown Incident Of the Contro-
versy Over Place Of Interment.
Climax Reached while the Funeral
Cortege Was En- Route 20 the
Tonb-Attempt 10 steal the
Body and Removal.

BODY ana lie HemoNhi.
Among the thousands OF visitors ut
Canton during President McKinleys
funeral ceremonies were 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. M.
Smith, was in New York buying
goods, and he hastened to Washing
ton to confer with Mrs. Lincoln re-
garding the interment OF her hus-
bands body Mr.. Smith Immediately
wired DR.. Henry Wohlgemuth. who
was president Of the Oakridge ceme-
terry, that Mrs. Lincoln desired the
body taken to Springfield and laid In
receiving vault until permanent ar
rangements could be made. DIR.
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. Lincolns 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 $780,
900 for the property. They proceeded
TO build temporary tomb on the
northeast corner, fronting on Second
street. Men worked on II day and
night TO get Il finished In time for
the funeral.
When Lincoln's body reached Chi
cago, DR.. Wohlgemuth went to the
fremont house TO lay the matter be-
fore Robert T. Lincoln, General
Hooker, Judge Davis, and the Rev.
Mr.. Gourley 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 tho
facts to Secretary OF War Stanton,
and In 30 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
patch President Lincoln's remains
were taken to Springfield and lay in
state in the old stntehouse, which is
now used as the courthouse.
On the day Of the funeral thou
sands of people were in line. An inn
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 OHkridgc. The escort
started from the north entrance OF
the statchuuse, facing Washington
street and moved west, with Gen.
Cook, assistant marshal. In COM
mand. lie favored the new tomb,
and, Notwithstanding the solemnity
of the hour, more than one heart
throbbed eNultantly over the certain
success OF their private schemes,
The cortegc moved slowly as far as
Fourth street, where II was expected
that the procession would Ale 10y 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 whoell TO oakridge cemo-
teryi"
II was crushing humiliation 20
the opposing faction but an aot OF
| Justice, for the desire Of the wife WAS
| paramount to that OF the state. pr
| Nohlgemuth assisted in lowering the
coffin, and afterward cut the rope in
10 souvenirs for the eager throng.
President Lincoln's body lay three
months In the tomb under military
guard, when IL was transferred TO a
temporary tomb, where il remained
until the monument was completed.
After an attempt 20 steal the body
II was moved NJ night and laid In a
secret vault. The coffin has been
opened three times for the purpose
of naturalization, the last time being
n few years ago, when few person
al friends looked into the face Of
Abraham Lincoln and found 1t un.
changed save that the features were
a tridc shrunken, the hair remained
the same, and the clothing was in an
excellent state of preservation.