Bisbee daily review., 1910-02-22
HISTORY OF INK
/. STAND MADE OF
ARIZONA METAL
Territorial Historian Tells In
teresting Story of Lincoln
Ornament Created from
1900 Ounces of Silver,

PHOENIX, Feb. 19.-In connection
with Lincoln's birthday so recently
passed, and which was very appropri-
ately made a legal holiday, it may be
interesi ing to repest the story OF the
Lincoln inkstand" which was made
of Arizona silver long before the silver
districts OF Northern Arizona had been
explored. states Miss Sharlot Hall. ter
r,torial historian.
AN ie'pating the action of cen
gress which created the territory, Col
onel Charles ID. Poston took 1900
ounces of silver from the Santa Rita
mountain 10 NewYcrk, and out df a
portion Of It had very massive ink
stand made. following his own design.
He intended TO present this to Presi
dent Lincoln. and ask him to use il
in aflixing his signature to the Gocu-
men. creating the territory. There
was some delay in making. however,
and the inkstand came too late for
that use, but was accepted by the pres
dent as a personal gift, and is now
in the family Of his son, Rober. Lin
coin.
Tie broad base shows a desert
landscape with cactus; in the center
the dome Of a capitol serves to hold
the inkwen: at one end is the figure
of an Indian woman. ,ype of the pe=ce-
full Pima and Papsgo tribes, whose
friendlness counted for so much in
that day. and at the other end was
figure in frontier dress. with a rifle
across the knees, said to be a per
train of Colonel Poston.
The little Indian backet containing
a flattened bullet was taken from the
Salt River caves few months az -er
the fight between the Apaches and q
portion of Gen. Crooks command un-
der Major Browne. Captain John G.
Bourke. who was in the fight gives
vivid account OF it in his on he
Border with Crook The little basket
was brought by a young officer in
command Of a later scouting party to
Camp Mcdowell. and from there %
Fort Whipple.
AS one by one the homes Of our
first pioneers are broken up by death
or other causes, the historical objects,
Of which almost every such home con
tains few, are scattered and lost.
Some years ago the death q Old
Judge Fluery, in Prescott, brought to
sale by auction the .<rgest collection
Of articles connected with the early
lawmaking and with our early gov
ernors and other officials, that l have
ever heard of Most of them were
scattered beyond recovery
1T is for the permanent safe guard
ing Of such things hat we hope to
have an adequate state museum.
Many small collections remain un-
broken in various parts OF Arizona
and must be gathered together in one
fit place if we are to build up a really
represen- -ative collection.
within the past four months sew
eral collections have been offered 10
this Office. as loans pending certainty
of permanent care, or as gifts out
righ-. Several persons have asked II
| it was worth while TO bring in just
one article, and have told Of very old
pottery. stone hammers. or of later
articles used by pioneer families.
1t is, indeed. wor- h while to bring
or send just one thing; it is by get
ting things one at a time that we
presently VIII have a grea. collec-
ton. Some years ago there came into
my personal collection a folding chair
used by General Crook. a small desk
used by Captain (now GeneraD
Charles King a remarkable fine
Apache bow and some arrows taken
in the 'Tonto Basin fight. and a chair
made by an Arizona pioneer from asf
cut on the ranch Of John Townsend
he scout and Indian fighter.
While as a matter of course. books
letters. old diaries and manuscript.
and such things form the most yalu
liable part CT a historical CORRECTION, ye
. all I,hese objects OF daily use OF
Especial interest as part of our earl.
4 history have their place, and form 70
; imost people the first attraction. Il
! 20 be hoped that from all the source
4, remaining to US we may gather j
such hings, by the single piece OF i
!, groopa, as may be, till Arizona has
collection as fine as those Of whic
/, many Of our eastern sisters are s
: justly proud.
y 4 would Ike to correct some mi
takes in the article concerning th
relics on exhibition. in the Pionet
window Of McKee's store.
IN the first place, these tnInG
were gathered together many veal
ago. when t. was much easier than
lis now to find articles connected wit
the early history of Arizona.
"The little letter pouch and II
powder horn carried by the Scout 'B
Foot Wallace, had been given by hi
to the family of one of his close
friends, and were sold only wnen n.
idcrtune came hard upon the owner
The name Big Foot did not ref
tc the pedal extremi les of the sco'
himself, but to those of a famous /
dian chief in Texas. whom Walla'
killed in single combat. The bar
silver Is not by many thousand II
first bar cast in Arizona, but Is Il
first from the famous old Peck mir
in Yavapai county. Arizona had pr
auocd many thousands Of dollars
jsiIver before this mine was disco
cred. the Mowry, Heinizlnan an
- ,,,orc~.iae &, aouthcrn Arizo