The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-05-19
ny WILLIAM II. SMITH.

ihc Great ScnI OF the Copfedcrata
states of America. the existence ~
which h"s been shroudcd In mystery
LOT nenriy hnlf century, has been
acquired by Eppn Hunton, Jr., William
H. white and Thomas u. Bryan. and
brought back to Richmond, the ola
capital of the Confederate states N
America.
After having been fully identified
by the English makers, 1t is to ba
placed in perpetual custody OF some
pubic institution in this city for pres
erVation as the most enduring and
sacred relic. being the emblem of SOW
ereisnty of thai government which.
thopgh lasting but tour years, has
"rt.,eh us record high on the page
OF history.
Seal Easily Located.
Tho story OF the removal OF tbe
seal from Richmond and it's preserva-
Vaton through many years, with every
person acquainted with its Whereabouts
pledged To secrecy by tho most SOL
eh'n Masonic oath, has been uncarthed
from the voluminous records of the
Library of Congress in Washington.
ana the seal itself was located in DOS
session of Rcar-Admiral Thomas o.
seliridse, U. S. ~. retired. now living
In washington. who readily agreed to
part with it for considera ton. ex-i
pressing his approval of a plan for
bringing 1t back to Richmond and it's
perpetual preservation in some suitable
vault of the Jefferson 4iotel. and b bas
neen carefully examined by many per-
sons, and hears every indication of its
gcnuincncss.
It's production at this time forever
sets at rest the weird story told by
James Jones. the coiorcd coachman Of
President Jefferson Davis. that ths
Great Seal was in his possession. and
an equally unauthorized rumor, which
was widely current at the recent re-
union, that the key to the mystery
which surrounded the existence of the
seal was said TO be In the corners
stone of the Confederate nonumcnttin
Macon and there were even SUCCESS
tons that the stone be removed in
order that the relic might be traced.
Was Taken by BromwcIl.
Inc tact now appears to be fully
authenticated from original records, az
well as by the production of the seal
itself. that IL was taken from RICH
mond on evacuation by william J.
Cromwell. clerk in tho Confederate
State Department, his wife. to-
gether with large number of Official
papers of the State Department
The papers were sold to the governs
mcnt by Bromwcll, through Colonel
John I. Pickett. in 1872, for $4,000.
and Captain Sclfridse, now Rear ADJ
miral SelfridSc. was the governments
agent. who examined and received the
papers at Hamilton, Ontario In rec
ognition of his services, Colonel
Pickett presented the seal to Captain
SelfridSh. who has since had IL In
charge
In an interview published in The
Times dispatch on October 15. 1911.
when a. full page was devoted to the
question as TO what had become OF
the Great Seal of the Confederacy.
Judge Walter y. Montague. formers
~ of the Supreme Court of North
Carolina, Who had been in washing.
ton for more than a year collectinr
data for history of the civil admins
'stration of the Confederate States.
completely refuted the Wild story OF
the negro coachman. and traced tho
possession OF the seal TO Bromwell
an from him to Pickett, the inter-
view stating:
There IL at present suhlcIency OF
available evidence TO show that Ad-
in'rdl Thomas .. Sclfrtdse. of the
I'm ted states Navy, retired, secured
the seal in 1873 from Colonel John 4.
PICKETT, the first Confederate com-
missioner TO Mexico, ana If he has not
d'spo5ed of 1t. he must have IL still'f \
Traced by Pickctt's Papers.
Since that time the personal papers
of the late Colonel Pickett. including
mis- letter books, have been acquired by
the Library OF Congress. and their
perusal proved the contention or
Judge Montgomery beyond question.
show ng further that Pickett had
acted Bromwelrs attorney. and not
for himself in the sale OF the State
Department papers to the government,
and that the seal was presented TO
captain, now Rear Admiral, SelfrIdgo
In recognition of his aid in that trans.
action.
In disposing OF the Great Seal ia
Messrs Hurtoo UNITE .nd. ~