The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-11-29
Thomas Hill, Artist, in Post
humous Statement, Throws
Light Upon History.
DECLARES GOV. STANFORD
DROVE THE GOLDEN SPIKE
Story of an Historic Scene at
PrOmontory Point, Is
COrrObOrated.

| Some time since The Tribune printed
a story in connection with the driving
of the gold spike which connected the
rails of the first transcontinental rail
road in the world at Promontory Point
Utah, in May, 1869, and also a picture
I.of the historic scene. In the New York
Herald Of the 22nd inst. appears the
following story in connection with this
historic affair. Says the Herald;
Driving Last Spike.
simultaneously with the announcement
of the auction next month Of paintings
and sketches OF the late Thomas Itl,
California landscape artist. there came to
light today a remarkable story of Mr.
Hills famous painting THE Driving of
the Last Spike" That picture is now
but 1t still belongs to the estate Of Mr..
Hill. of which his son. Robert r. Fill,
Is executor,
privately circulated pamphlet writ
ten by Mr.. Hill and withdrawn after a
few copies had been circulated. set forth
that tho picture was dictated by the late
United States Senator Leland Stanford,
and that 1t was he who named the per-
has at last made the pamphlet, public
Mr.. Stanford, IL is related in 0sted that
he be the central figure. Later he reject
ed the picture. after Mr. Hi had spent
",
Why he rejected II has long been a sub
ject of speculation In California
Senator Stanford would direct Mr. Hill
to behead some too prominent rival and
head of man he preferred, the artist
relates After years OF procra stina ton
Mr. stanford died and the picture was
left on Mr.. HIS hands He tried TO
CATION was not considered by the triis-
tees Of the estate, To show Senator
Stanford's desire for pre- -eminence in the
picture. Mr., Hill wrote.
What Mr.. Hill Wrote.
He would dictate with enthusiasm
even to severity. For instance, was
asking some questions in regard to Mr.
Durant (of the Union Pacific. who oc-
cupied the second position, and was
placed by the side to Stanford. each hav-
Ing a hammer, / was informed that Mr.
Durant drove the silver spike. so pla ced
him in his true position. Mr.. Stanford
objected to the arrangement and re-
marked: Nobody has hammer but
me-, you have given him too important
"At another time I spoke of having
placed Mr.. McCrellish. editor OF the Alta
California, in good position on the left
Of the e. picture. hpparentiy IN conversation
at the sound OF the editors name. and
he said eXcitedly: Have you got that
man imp I told him that believed
he Was present on the occasion ana tnHt
IT would not be we'll for me II I should
leave him out for. being the editor OF
paper, he would annihilate me. His an
swer was: I will annihilate you II he
is in
Put Sargent There.
"I asked Mr.. Stanford whom I should
put In the place Of Mr.. Durant. He said.
You must make that Mr.. Strowbridge.'
His eve caught the figure OF David Col
ton. He said ! don't want that man in
You can put Senator Sargent there,
All I csc changes were noted down. and
many others until very few of the fore
ground figures were left unchanged"
1t was an exciting moment when
Charles CroclSer first saw the picture.
Mr. Hi wrote: What nonsense is
that?' said he. when his eye got fairly
rested upon the picture. J explained the
whole business TO him and spoke Of the
Importance Of his giving me sitting. to
perfect his likeness. He was too mad a
man at something to even give me
civil answer"