The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1914-02-19
IRWIN REPORTED
GETTYSBURG SPEECH

II. NJ. Irwin, who owns a ranch in
the Oak Grove district, where he has
resided since be came to Oregon, and
who is spending this winter in Salem
with his daughter, recently wrote for
the 0Tegonisn bis reminiscenc es OF the
Gettysburg speech of Mr.. Lincoln. He
was on the staff Of a Harrisburg paper
at the time. lie is probably the
only surviving newspaper man who
reported the memorable address. The
article, a dispatch from Salem to the
0regonian, is given below.
MIR. Irwin was with Mr.. Lincoln vir-
tually from the time the president ar
rived ia Gettysburg late in the morn
ing until he left late at night for
Washington. He was with the great
emancipator at Judge Wills home be-
fore the dedication of the cemetery, he
WIS present during the entire cere-
mony, and was guest with Mr.. Lin
coin at Judge Wills home in the even
ing, thus having had opportunity to
see and hear all that was said and
done. His story, which is published
for the first time, with the exception
of what he wrote for his paper at the
time, is as follows:
81 feel a curious interest in the in
quiries sent you by W. S. Lyman, of
Walla Walls, January n, concerning
Lincoln's Gettysburg address. and in
the Oresonisn's comment on the same.
"Mr. Lyman cites two largely sc-
cepted and widely opposite noslons or
traditions as TO LincOln's state of mind
on that ocesslon-one, that he was per-
turbed and doubtful about the quality
of his intended speech, and shrsnk
from delivering it after hearing Ever
ett's elaborate grafton the other, that
he had read an advance copy of that
oration and vas merely amused, real
izing the superiority of his own simple
grandeur.
81 do not hesitate in saying that
neither of those hypothesis is founded
on fact. say this on the strength of
personal observation. for was present
at the dedication of the Gettysburg
National cemetery, and sat within 80
| feet of President Lincoln while he was
speaking. That memorable privilege
came to me in this way: The preced-
ing year, on account of debilitstins i'll
ness. | had been honorsbly discharged
from the army after a short enlist
mnet. On my way from Washington
to my home in Franklin. Pa, | stopped
off at Harrisburg and got a job at
typesetting, and afterwsrd reporting,
on the daily paper. In due time came
the Gettysburg ceremonies, and the ed
itor detailed me to help round up the
doings. So it chanced that Lincolns
speech was my first important stunt
in reporting
"A great assemblage thronged the
grounds at the time OF the dedication.
| The exercises were held in the open
air. On the platform was gathered a
concourse of the country's prominent
men-governors, cabinet ministers,
military officers, perlates, editors, ETC.,
and the two orators of bthe day. Gov
ernor Curtin presided. recall that as
our governor, tall and handsome, es-
corted President Lincoln to the front
and introduced him, the latter's spare
and angular frame, clad in a black
Prince Albert coat. seemed to loom up
by contrast. The towering height of
his figure seemed to impart certain
awkwardness to the man. He was
large boned, long of arm, large of
hand, broad shouldered and sinewy !;
his complexion dark almost the
swartiness of an Indian.
''In his face aud dark eyes was a
trace of the worn look that seldom left
him, but there was no sign of self-dis-
trust or trepidation in look, voice or
manner. He spoke deliberately, rails
ing his voice to a somewhat strident
pitch that it might carry. to the rear
most ranks of hearers. Just as we
were beginning to catch on to his
oration, the voice ceased and the ora
tor resumed his seat.
There WAS not so much volume or
vociferation in the applause that fol-
lowed. Why? Well, for one thing, the
people there had gathered to hear the
big talk from the polished, eloquent,
classical Edward Everett They got a
generous quantity of it. But they
were poorly fortified for a siege of it.
Most of them had been footing it over
the battlefield for good part of the
day, and were tired; the air was grow
ing chilly, while the great orator de-
volved his rounded periods, and when
the peroration came to a final halt.
some of us chilled and irreverent ones
quoted the remark of the little kid af-
ter his visit to the dentist: Just be-
fore | died the tooth came out.
The conditions have indicated will
partly account for the very moderate
applause accorded Lincoln. But there
was another reason. 'may as well
confess it. most of us didn't realize at
the time what masterpiece he was
giving US. 1t was only on studying it
over that We could appraise il at its
true Worth-a supreme utterance, an
unmatched gem that on the stretched
forehpger of all it sparkles forever
II have reason TO feel sure that the
president was not troubled about the
delivery or reception of it. When he
had arrived that morning he was taken
to the residence of Judge Wills, on the
principal street of the town, where he
was a guest until the departure of his
special train, late at night. He and
Secretary Seward, Secretary Caleb d.
smith, and numerous other dignitaries,
spent the evening in social and rest
ful way in the drawing room of the
Wills home. It was my further priyi-
lege to be there during the evening.
Although SO years have passed since
that evening. my recollection of il is
distinct enough to warrant the asser.
con that neither in his talk nor man.
ner was there anything to indicate that
Mr.. Lincoln was depressed or disap.
pointed. There was no detected 'havior
of the visage, and it occasionally In
up at something humorous or diyertinp
in the run of conversation.
when band outside began a seren.
ade. Mr.. Lincoln said to Seward.
Governor. you'd better step outside
and say a word to our friends. 4
couldn't think of doing that, repiied
Seward. The call is for the president
not me. Well, governor, reioined
Mr.. Lincoln, III make bargain with
you. III step onto the veranda and