People's Pilot, Volume 3, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 October 1893 — Page 7
A HISTORY EXHIBIT.
Interesting Relics of a Departed Genius at the World's Fair. Chairs Made for the Presidents from the Horns of Elk by Seth Kinman, the Great California Hunter—A Unique Character. (Special Chicago Correspondence.] In the state buildings of the wonderful White City there are a great many objects of rare and historic interest which have been gathered up from out-of-the-way corners of the country and brought to the great Columbian exposition for exhibition. Many of these are articles whose histories are closely interwoven with the lives of some of our great men, Americans who have come up from obscurity and poverty and richly blessed our great nation with their useful lives and are now with us only in the grateful and affectionate remembrance of their noble deeds.
PRESIDENTIAL CHAIRS.
Coming under this head is a collection of curious articles displayed in the Humboldt section of the California building, one of the most extensive and imposing state structures at the fair, around which cluster memories of some of the grand men who have been at the head of this glorious nation. This collection is .composed of the belongings of Seth Kinman, the great California hunter and trapper, who was known during the later years of his life as the presenter of elk-horn chairs to the presidents of the United States, and who was widely known as being one of the most unique characters this country has ever produced. Among the articles in the collection are some of the beautiful and ingeniously-con-structed chairs which were made for several of the presidents by the old hunter from the horns of animals he had slain iu the wilds of the western mountains.
There is the Garfield chair, fashioned in a very skillful manner from the antlers of an enormous elk, which, owing to the sudden and deplorable death of the president at the hands of a demented assassin, was never presented. And there is also the Johnson chair, or Bear chair, constructed of the hide, head and paws of a monster grizzly. The paws, with their enormous claws, form the feet of the- chair, and the hide, with the hairy side out, covers it throughout. The head is arranged in a very life-like manner beneath the seat in such a way that when the seat is pressed it springs forward in a very startling fashion. There is besides a queer looking chair made from the larger bones of a whale, obtained by old Seth, as he was wont to be called, from the Indians of Alaska, among whom he spent some years of his early western career. This chair is a plain and unattractive affair, but bears evidence of the marvelous mechanical skill of its eccentric maker. In addition to these historic chairs and a large variety of Indian implements there is one of the queerest violins that ever was made. It was fashioned from the skull of a musical mule that was the close companion of the old hunter for many years. It is indeed a rare instrument, and it has been coveted by parties in England who have offered large sums for it, but without effect The bow of this remarkable instrument
GOV. HAYES AND SETH HINMAN.
was made from a rib of the mule and is strung with hairs from the animal’s tail. There is quite a pathetic story connected with this curious violin, in which old Seth’s peculiar notion of turning his mule’s head into a musical instrument is accounted for. According to relatives of the old hunter who still live in Tazewell county, 111., and from whom many incidents of his remarkable career are learned, he was considerable of a violinist and performed many strange and difficult feats with the instrument, playing with the violin held behind his back or across his shoulders fully as well as in the natural position. During his spare moments he was very fond of playing the ■old tunes of his boyhood and such pieces as “The Arkansaw Traveler,” at which he was especially expert, always including the conversational part of the piece with great gusto, and “Old Dan Tucker,” which he also rendered, it is said, in true backwoods fashion. The mule was for several years during hi* later career the old hunter’s sole
companion, sharing with him his quarters in a rude little eabin in the Sierra Madre mountains; and whenever Seth felt blue or despondent he would get his violin and saw away at it to raise his spirits. On such occasions the mule would draw near and stand in an attitude of deep interest, with his long ears turned appreciatively toward the instrument, and at intervals, when the piece was executed in a manner espe cially praiseworthy, the queer little quadruped would raise his anything but melodious voice in a vigorous and jerky bray of approval. According to his master the little animal would leave his feed at any time to listen to the music of the violin. When the mule died, which he did in a full and rounded mulehood, his affectionate master conceived the idea of perpetuating the memory of his musical pet by turning his bones into the instrument of whose music the animal was so fond. The task was an exceedingly difficult one and, notwithstanding Old Seth’s skill as a boneworker, it took him a long time to complete it, but when it was done he felt amply repaid for his labor, for the instrument proved to be much superior to the one he used to play for the mule’s benefit.
This remarkable violin tha old hunter pliv«- • upon nnip tin* >tnv <>f his death, which occurred about five years ago in his mountain home where he had lived so long among his warm friends, the Humboldt Indians, who, in all. his career among them, regarded Seth Kinman as a great and wonderful paleface whose power was second only to that of the “Great Father” at Washington. Old Seth was not only a genius himself, but he came from a family of geniuses. One of his brothers, Jesse by name, conceived the idea of the corn planter and constructed the first machine of the kind ever used for his own use. The invention was copied before he had perfected and secured a patent on it; and from that crude machine has been evolved the great success in farm implements known as the check-rower. Another brother, John, invented the first device for packing flour in barrels that was known in this country. The rest of the family were more studious and steadj- in their habits than was Seth. He possessed the true bohemian spirit, and took greater pleasures in a nomadic life than in the straight-laced manners and customs of civilization. At an early age he began to roam, leaving Williamsport, Pa., his home and birthplace, in 1830 at the age of fifteen and taking his way westward until he came to Tazewell county, IIL, where he remained until 1849, when he broke loose again and braved the unknown dangers of the great plains of the far west, arriving finally, after many blood-curdling adventures, upon the Pacific coast, set-
MULE’S-HEAD VIOLIN AND INDIAN IMPLEMENTS.
tling among the few hardy pioneers who were then located in Humboldt county. He tried mining for a time on the Trinityj-iver but followed hunting mainly for a living. In the winter of 1856 it occurred to Seth for the first time that it would be a good thing to do to make an elk-horn chair and send it to the president of the United States. He speedily worked out the idea and went himself with the chair to Washington and was present with a number of state officials when the chair was presented by one Dr. Wozencroft, who was chosen to make the speech. President Buchanan was greatly pleased, and in return presented Seth with the best gun to be found in the east and a brace of fine pistols. The president also appointed the hunter to corral the Indians on the Humboldt reservation. Upon his return to California Seth made a contract to supply the government troops and sawmill hands of Humboldt with fresh meat at the rate of twenty-five cents a pound, which contract kept him very busy killing bears and elk. It is said that he killed as high as two hundred and forty elk in one month, and he claimed to have shot in his time over eight hundred grizzly bears. In November, 1864, Mr. Kinman arrived in Washington with an elk-horn chair for President Lincoln. Chief Clerk Clinton Lloyd, of the house of representatives, made the presentation speech in very happy form, and President Lincoln was much impressed and pleased with the gift, and marveled greatly at the devotion which prompted the donor to make so long and difficult a journey for the sole purpose of presenting him with the chair. Next in turn Presidents Johnson and Hayes received chairs from the hands of the great hunter, Mr. Hayes receiving his while yet governor of Ohio, though nominated for the presidency. The very fine chair intended for President Garfield was never presented for the reason stated. At the time of his death, at'the age of seventy-two, old Seth was still intent upon presidential chairs and was preparing one for President Cleveland, which he declared was going to surpass any of his previous productions. But his life work had to remain unfinished, and the old hunter closed his eyes forever upon the strange fruits of his genius, the trail of the elk, and his well - loved mountain home and went away to the great hunting grounds beyond the border of life. A Kansas City man calls his dog Christopher. Columbus. This is rather overdoing the matter. Christopher had three barks while the Kansas City canine has but one. —Rochester Post. Yachts take spins to show whether they tie tip top or noh—Boston Transcript.
INDIANA STATE NEWS.
■ ■■ A few days since the family of Clinton Stradling, residing north of Muncie, was poisoned by bad meat, and all six of the members, with a hired hand, came very near losing their lives. The meat peddler is being sought, but can not be found. Michal Cummesky, president of the Indiana district of the United Order of Mine Workers, has resigned "to become assistant to State Mine Inspector McQuade. Joseph Dunkerly, vice president, will succeed Cummesky. A Louisville, Evansville and St. Louis passenger train ran through an open switch at Boonville, wrecking the engine and several coaches. Breakman Elmer Smith, of Evansville, had a'rib broken, the fireman a shoulder blade broken and others were slightly wounded. At Indianapolis Charles Reitz, a wellknown electrician, is dead. He was among the first to see the capabilities in electricity a venacular motor, and w’as convinced of its applicability to carriages and wagons on an ordinary smooth roadway. He was the first to bring this idea to fruitage, the result being a street carriage. The grand jury of Grant county has returned indictments of murder in the first degree against Anderson Hatfield, Frank Stevens, Martin Adamson and James Lemon for the shooting of Abraham Stumpff in a potato patch, the other day. W. H. Smith, who resides near Atlanta, four miles south of Tipton, while passing along the public highway, just at the south of the city, was shot by some unknown person, the ball striking his body about one inch below the heart The physicians in charge of the case probed for the ball, but could not locate it He will probably recover.
Mrs. Greek, aged eighty-two years, residing twelve miles east of Wabash, was probably fatally injured by a vicious ram. A number of sheep belonging to a neighbor escaped from the pasture, and in trying to drive them out of her own place the ram turned upon Mrs. Greek, knocked her down, and broke an arm and leg, and hurt her internallj’. She can not survive. Before the news of his good fortune reached him, Rev. William Pettit, the wife murderer, died in prison north of consumption. He was the other day granted a new trial by the supreme court of Indiana. The strike of the Big Four boilermakers at Indianapolis, which, during its existence, cost human blood, has been formally declared off, and the company was officially notified of the fact by President Frohleyer, of the Indianapolis lodge. The action was taken unreservedly, no terms having been offered by the company. Mr. Garstag, superintendent of motive power, is of the opinion that few of the strikers will get their places back, as they are already filled.
The last Indiana legislature passed a law making it a misdemeanor to kill quail at any time during the year, except between November 10 and December 31. The penalty for violation is a fine of five dollars for each and every bird killed, and double the amount for the second offense. Hunting on Sunday is also made a more serious offense than ever before. The law was made severe for the purpose of preventing the wholesale slaughter of the innocent, but palatable bobwhites, and to prevent their total extermination. It is also unlawful to kill quail by any other means than shooting, and “pot” hunters who use snares and traps will be fined fifty dollars and imprisoned for thirty days if caught. Near Muncie, Farmer W. F. Watson left his horse and buggy in woods that were being cleared. The horse got scare, ran off and took a bee line for a large pile of burning Jogs. The animal dashed into the fire and was cremated. The buggy was also burned. The Muncie Flint Glass Co., of Muncie, Charles Boldt, president, has increased its capital stock from $250,000 to $750,000. One-half of the increase preferred stock to draw dividends of 8 percent, was taken by the stockholders. On the night of September 8 two masked robbers bound and gagged the driver of a small mail wagon at Terre Haute, and stole three heavy mail pouches. A few days ago the pouches were found in a corn-field. They had been cut, and every letter opened and rifled of any money. About sixty checks and drafts were found in a pile, the robbers not caring to take them. None of them are for large amounts. No clew. The letters will be forwarded as soon as a post office inspector arrives. A disastrous fire occurred at Winfield, in which a livery barn was consumed and nine valuable horses burned. Loss, $5,000.
The following fourth-class postmasters were appointed the other day: Wm. Chandler, New Marion, Ripley county, vice Theodore Brown, resigned; J. M. Smelser, Ohio Falls, Clark county, vice W. M. Reynolds, removed. After January 1, all prisoners in the penitentiary north will be provided with the regulation fare. This plan will abolish the custom of convicts being supplied with delicacies by outside friends and by purchase. This step will be taken in the belief that better discipline can be maintained. The management has also decided to uniform the prison attaches, and to prescribe regulations for the appointment of guaixia While boring a well near Turner, Ore., recently, a fir tree is claimed to have been struck at a distance of thir-ty-four feet under ground. The tree, it is said, measured two feet through, and the heart was sound. Twentyfour feet further down, it is stated, more vegetable matter was struck. The jaw of a woman became paralyzed while she was talking through a telephone at Dover, DeL. the other day. An attempt to force open her jaw resalted in ita fracture. The older wo become the more the wheels of time seem to have been oiled.
In Deep Water.
Like incautious and weak swimmers are thoee who incur the risk of chronic rheumatism by a neglect of safety. This can be insured at the start by that live preserving medicine, Hostetter's Stomach Bitters. Rheumatism may attack the heai L There is no safety then. Forestall the chronic stage of the malady by using the Bitters, wnicli is equally efficacious in malaria, dyspepsia, liver complaint, constipation and kuLiey disorder. Street Car Driver (to passenger)—“Why don’t you put down that heavy satchel! You’ll break your buck holding it up.” Passenger—“Be gob, thim little harses has got all they can do to dhrag this big k’yar and the load that’s in it. I’ll carry the bag meself.”
When Nature
Needs assistance it may be best to render it promptly, but one should remember to use even the most perfect remedies only when needed. The best and most simple and gentle remedy is the Byruo of Figs, manufactured by the California Fig Syrup Co.
Mrs. Waldorf—“ln our hotels the guests are well cured for. In every upper room there is a rope forescape in case of Are.” Count De Burbere—“Ah, that is most amusing. If he wish he can use it also as a skipping rope.”—Life.
McVicker’s Theater, Chicago.
Mr. Wm. H. Crane in “Brother John” till Nov. 4, followed by Thos. W. Keene's repertoire of classic plays, supported by Miss Florence Rockwell, uged 15 years. Far in the Rear.—Poet—“l have a little thing here after Swinburne." Editor—- “ H’m 1 After Swinburne, you say (glancing over MS.)! Well, young man, 1 don’t think you’re likely to catch up with him in a hurry. Get after some one else. ’’—Truth. F. J. Cheney & Co., Toledo, 0., Proprs. of Hall’s Catarrh Cure, offer SIOO reward for any case of catarrh that can not be cured by taking Hall’s Catarrh Cure. Send for testimonials, free. Bold by Druggists, 75c. Would Be Needed.—“ Tell the publisher to order a ponnd of hyphens right away,” said the foreman of the composing-room to the clerk. “Why!” “The editor has a lot of society people’s names he wants to print” —Puck.
THE MARKETS.
New York, Oct 25 LIVE STOCK—Cattle »3 to @45 25 i Sheep 2 75 @ 3 60 I Hogs .-. 650 © 7 25 FLOUR—Fair to Fancy 2 <5 @ 3 45 Minnesota Patents 3 00 (is 4 80 WHEAT—No. 2 Bed. 68 @ 681* I Ungraded Red 57 @ 69 CORN—Na 2 47?,@ 47% Ungraded Mixed 46%® 47 . OATS—Mixed Western 34 @ 35 i RYE—Western 53 w 55 1 PORK-Mess 19 75 @2O 00 LARD-Western 10 35 (a 10 75 BUTTER—Western Creamery. 20 @ 28 | CHICAGO. ' BEEVES—Shipping Steers.... S 3 15 @ 5 65 Cows 1 25 0 2 90 Stockers 2 3) @ 20J Feeders 30) @3 5) Butchers’ Steers 2 90 @ 3 60 Bulls 1 50 @ 3 50 | HOGS COO @ 68) SHEEP 1 50 @4 00 I BUTTER—Creamery 22 @ 28 Dairy 18 @ 20 | EGGS—Fresh 20 @ 20% BROOM CORN— Hurl 3%@ 4% Self-working 3%@ 4 Crooked I%@ 2% POTATOES—New (per bu.).45 @ 60 PORK-Mcss 17 50 @lB 00 LARD—Steam 10 45 @lO 50 FLOUR—Spring Patents 2 60 @ 2 90 Spring Straights 18» «a 235 Winter Patents 200 @3 20 Winter Suaights 1 80 @ 1 90 GRAlN—Wheat, October 61 62% Corn, No. 2 37‘/,@ 87% Oats, No. 2 27 %@ 27% Rye, No. 2 43 @ 43% Barlev, Medium to Fancy.. 42 @ 60 LUMBER— Siding 16 50 @24 50 Flooring 37 U) 4/ 38 00 Common Boards 14 25 @l4 50 Fencing 13 00 @l6 (X) Lath, Dry 270 @ 2 75 Shingles 2 45 @ 3 00 KANSAS CITY. CATTLE—Steers. $3 25 @ 4 45 Stockers and Feeders 2 25 @ 3 45 HOGS—Light 6 40 @ 6 55 Medium and Heavy 6 15 @ 6 40 SHEEP 2 50 @3 6) OMAHA CATTLE—Feeders $2 00 @ 3 40 Cows 200 @ 275 HOGS—Light Mixed 6 15 @6 40 Heavy 620 @635
* RE CURED BY ST. JICOBS OIL PROMPT AMD SUM. THE POT INSULTED THE KETTLE BECAUSE THE COOK HAD NOT USED SAPOLIO GOOD COOKING DEMANDS CLEANLINESS. SAPOLIO SHOULD be used in every KITCHEN.
"No other Weekly Paper gives such a Variety o/ entertaining and Instructive Beading at so low a price.” 5? i TteWMS Qhpanion ! < An unsurpassed variety of Articles will be published in the 68th volume of Thb Companion Something /R oi special interest and value for every member of the family every week. Full Illustrated Announcements Free. w * Important Articles. 2 £ The Work that pays the best. By the Supt. of the Census, Robert P. Porter. 5? a The Girlhood of Queen Victoria. By one who knew her well, Lady Jeune. w Boys who ought not to go to College. An important subject. By Prof. Stanley Hall. A Some Remarkable Boys of the Boys’ Brigade. By Prof. Henry Drummond. * £ The Boyhood of the Russian Emperor. How the Czar was Trained. Isabel F. Hapgood. i Serial Stories. Adventure Stories <? £ _ Nine Serial Stories will be given during 1894. in great variety and over 100 Short Stories. R The Deserter. By Harold Frederic. Out of the Jaws of Death. Henry M. Stanley. vj \ The Sonny Sahib. Sara Jeannette Duncan.' My Closest Call. By Archibald Forbes. Z* The Wood Sprites. By C. A. Stephens. Three Romances of the Sea. Clark Russell. 3 K Herm and I. By Myron B. Gibson. Sailing the Nameless. By Stinson Jarvis. £ H Down the Grand Canon. By A. Ellbrace. My Narrowest Escape. Edward Whymper. XJ Double Holiday numbers at Thanksgiving, Christinas, New Year’s and Easter, Free to each subscriber. £ S fL7S to Jan. 7,189 S. ————— jS ft _ Thl * beautiful Colored Picture, "Sweet Charitymust zwan _ *4 Ca OWCCI be seen to be appreciated. Its richness of coloring com- IHP (lift « A »“»tant attention. IU subject is a youn* lady of * M rJ colonial times. There is not a home that the picture will - Xi not ornament. Slae SI inches. It will bo sent safely Of fl sh fl* fa ft ** toallnewMsbacrtbersto The Youth’s Companion who will M y \>iiciruy s *} ,p “ d * e * d uwlth • 1,7 s ,op • •«’>- TAa S? m J* n -1,1894, and for a full year from thatdate to Jan.lßßß. W J 39 The Youth’s companion, noton, Ma**.
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It is said that good whisky can be bought in eastern Tennessee for fifty cents a gallon, but that’s all moonshine.—Chicago Tribune. Dr. Iloxsle's Certain Croup Cure Sent postpaid with beautiful souvenir spoon. Send 50c to A. P. Hoxsie, Buffalo, N. Y. —----- . ...... A trunk differs from a man in that it can bo completely strapped without becoming broke.—Buffalo Courier. Evidence. —“Is Henderson forehanded?" “Well, rather —why, that, fellow can pluy a duet, he’s so forehanded I’’—Puck. Beecham’s Pills, for bilious disorders, are extensively sold and used in aH civilized countries. 25 cents a box. Benevolent—“ She said she wouldn’tkiss him for anything." “I know it; she does it for nothing."—Truth. ■ ■■— Like Oil Upon Troubled Waters is Hale’s Honey of Horehound and Tar upon a cold. Pike's Toothache Drops Cure in one minute. Yachts take spins to show whether they are tip top or not—Boston Transcript.
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I Consumptives and people B who here weak lunge or Asth- ■ ma, should use Piso’s Cure for BB i Consumption. It has eared ■ thousands. It bus not Injur-■ ed one. It Is not bad to take. ■ It is the best cough syrup. ■ I Sold everywhere. ESo. I A. N. K.—A 1471 WHEN W KITIN a TO ADVERTISERS PLEASE state that yea saw the Advertisement la thta paper.