The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1903-05-14
LrKeoLK.s lAsr AUrooRGsH


Probably she eiTnstarc y q heat ~
ssnsior Stewart
In The ceremonies heid in yRgfScs
cities In celebratigh - t1nnoin's biFtk
day Il developed DAT 20 Less fhaa
thrce autograph letters are preserved.
each alleged 60 contaia I4noOln's last
signature. All u the letters are ta1sf
on the fatofui 14th Of April. when John
v1lkes Booth fired the shot which
caused Columbia TO mourn her hrSt
martyr president
+ All Of these letters ere, q eoErze.
very valuable meinentos, but ppoa
the authority Of no less a person
than Senator William n Stewart oi
Nevada, il may be asserted that nsas
Of them represents the last sgicgr1Ph
Of Lincoln Senator Stewart has
made no controversial assertion about
the matter, but a number of poDu-
clans and newspaper mel who heard
the senator from Nevada tell a story
in a Washington restaurant several
days ago viii be ven ready 70 agree
that Linooln's last autograph was
unquestiouz5ly destroyed.
Senator Stewart told his story on
the night after the second inaugura'
tsou of Mckinley. He was ob3ecting
to the @fuss and feathers" which 30
lcomplished the Induction into oEies
lof the chief execgfve Of a democracy.
Z Then. In a reminiscent mood. he said:
why. I was preseat AZ the inaugura'
.tion Of the president of the United
States at which only two other gentle
men we're Witnesses-Or rather Only
one other was a witness, for the third
was Chief Justice Chase, who might
tbe considered q principal instead Of .
witness. since he administered the
oath Of Office. That was the inaEgur
alton Of Andrew johnson. and ihs
ceremony occurrea in Johnsoa's bed
room on the day q Abraham LDeoln'I
death"
Naturally The Interested queries d
his auditors drew Senator Stewart
into fuller relation concerning th'
circumstance he had mentioned-
'wen, said he. TO tell The story o
Andrew Johnson's Inauguration
must begin with describing the eventi
OF tho night preTicus--possihly IN
most tragic and important In the his
tory Of this nation. On the night O
April IL. 1855, l cane into Washing
ten on q train from the West. arriving
{ here at aboat desf was accom-
panied BY an acquaintance who va
very anxious 10 meet lincoln Il wa
simply out Of curiosity that be wishe
10 SEQ and shake hands with IN
president, but as Lincoln was Away
easily appnuachRble did not hesitAt
10 offer my acquaintance a. introdul
tion TO the pressdeat
Leaving the train Ne weaE almos
directly 10 the White House. and =
sent a note TO Lincoln explaining thu
I desired 20 introduce 20 hin a frieu
o. mine from the West A written r
, ply came back very promptly from u
/ president remember its phrss
, ology quite well Il was scribbled q
hair shee, Of note paper and read;
Ny Dear Stewart: We are 3ui
leaving for the theater and may n
delay our departure 70 have the plea
. ure Of meeting your friend. ] shall
most pleased 90 see you both In Il
!. white House tomorrow mornin
!. Yours. I1ncoln-'
q my friend expressed some dssA
!. pointment Al our failure 10 meeI a
0 president and II my memory Hervl
e truly. decided thst he wuald stay
o washincton the nc2t day in order
Q meet Lincoln, lore The noie ap a
}. tossed the frarmcnts away. You m
b well undyrstand that lad no 30
& that I was destroying the last do,
n ncnt 90 whieh Abraham Lincoln er
signed his nanc Cincinnati :
d ouirer.