Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 May 1902 — TRIBUTE TO HERO DEAD. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

TRIBUTE TO HERO DEAD.

Indiana Dedicate* Great Shaft to Memory of Her Patriotic Sons. With tears of gratitude and tender memories of the dark days when civil’discord was tugging at the heartstrings of

the nation, Indiana Thursday formally dedicated the tall white shaft in Monument place as a tribute to her soldier and sailor dead and a patriotic legacy to the living . and future generations. With silent admiration thousands of her sons and daughters looked upon that mag-

nlficeut monument in contemplation of its meaning and then turned away firmly convinced that uations are sometimes grateful for the sacrifices of their citizens. For longer than a decade the people of Indiana have watched the growth of that memorial and have looked forward to the time when they cculd point at the marble shaft which rears its head above the surrounding buildings, towering far above the neighboring church spires, andsay with pride: “Indiana at least is ever grateful to and mindful of the men who in the dark days of the rebellion forsook their daily vocations to bear arms in defense of the Union.” Thursday dawned the realization of that hope, when under the auspices of the Grand Army of the Republic, with the assistance of the veterans of three wars and the State military and civic organizations, this memorial shaft was unveiled. People gathered from all parts of the State to witness the dedicatory exercises and sec the veterans bear the battle scarred flags from the capitol to the monument. They came by the tens of thousands to swell the number of visitors who had gathered earlier in the week on account of the twenty-third annual encampment of the Indiana G. A. R. John W. Foster of Washington. D. C.. former Secretary of State, delivered the oration. Gustavus Y. Meuzies of Mount

Vernon, on the part of the board of control of the monument, delivered to the State and Gov. \y. T. Durbin made the speech of acceptance. James Whitcomb Riley read a poem written for the occasion, entitled "The Soldier.” The parade was from the capitol to the monument, where the veterans of four wars massed around the pedestal for the vesper services, in which the “Last March of the Battle Flags” was an impressive feature. The chimes on Christ's Church played "Soldier, Rest! Thy Warfare O’er.” The color guards of the old regiment were tenderly beariug the tattered flags back to their permanent resting place in the capitol building, while the tens of thousands of people along the way stood with uncovered heads bowed in reverence. The Soldiers’ and Sailors* Monument that the State of Indiana has erected at Indianapolis is among the most imposing. artistic and beautiful military monuments In the world. It is intended as a lasting memorial to the sons of the State who fought during the Civil War. On the cast and west sides of the base of the shaft are two groups of statuary representing War and Peace. These are the largest groups of figures ever cut from the rough stone. At a height of about 225 feet is the platform of the capital, reached by elevators. This outlook affords a tine view of the city of Indianapolis. The monument has its own electric plant, which furnishes power for the elevators and for the lights. The monument Is constructed of the peculiar limestone discovered in Indiana quarries in the last few years aud which has generally been substituted for granite. The particular variety selected for the monument is almost cream white in color and takes a good polish. The idea of building the monument flrst took shape in 1875, but it was not until ISB4, when the Grand Army of the Republic took charge of the work, that any progress was made in raising funds. When something over $20,000 had been collected, the State stepped in and took up the project, making an appropriation ot $200,000 to build the monument and creating a State commission to take charge of the work. The corner stone was laid Ang. 22, 1889, by Benjamin Ilarrisou, then President of the United States. The corner stone is a huge block of stone 8 feet high nnd 4 feet 10 inches iu diameter. It is beautifully finished and bears a tablet on which is chiseled this Inscription: "Ang. 22, 1889. Erected by the People of Indiana. Act of General Assembly, March 3, 1887." The entire cost of the memorial Is SOOO,OOO, and the cost of Its maintenance will be borne by the Hlate, For all time It,will be a feature of attraction to Indianapolis and a guide to future generations, teaching that love of cUtutry and of liberty are characteristic of the American people. plaza on which the monument Is situated has a diameter of 342 feet and Is adorned by brouze statues of George Rogers Clark, the explorer, and Govs. William Henry Harrison, Oliver P. Morton, the war Governor of the State, and James Whitcomb. In the scheme of embellishment of the plasa are Included two great fountains, the largest In the United States. From each of these fountains 7,000 gallons of water flow every wiinuta, descending In beautiful cascades. These are kept flowing continuously from 9 a. m. to 9 p. in. for six mouths in the year.

J. W. FOSTER.

INDIANA’S MONUMENT.