Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 November 1897 — IN HONOR OF LOVEJOY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

IN HONOR OF LOVEJOY

HANDSOME MONUMENT TO THE FREE SPEECH MARTYR. Formal Dedication in Alton, 111., Is Witnessed by Many Visitors-Story of the Killing of the Great Abolir tionist—Durrant Is Doomed. Shaft to a Hero. The Elijah P. Lovejoy monument, recently built at Grand View Cemetery, in Alton, 111., was formally dedicated Mon-

day. The dedication was first to occur in June, but an accident to the monument while in course of construction necessitated a postponement, and it was decided by the committee in charge ito dedicate the structure on the anniversary of the killing of Lovejoy. It was on Nov. 7, 1837, that a

mob, angered by the abolition editorials appearing in Lovejoy’s weekly paper, the Alton Observer, came across the river from Missouri and besieged the editor and his friends in Godfrey & Gilman’s warehouse, where they had taken refuge. The doors and shutters were strong and the mob was unable to gain admission. The infuriated men sought to dislodge the Lovejoy party by throwing burning brands upon the roof. Lovejoy climbed from the window twice and snatched the brands, receiving a bullet wound the second time from which he died shortly after rejoining his friends. Through the efforts of the late Senator C. A. Herb of Alton an appropriation of $25,000. was made by the State Senate, but Gov. Altgeld refused to sign the bill till the citizens of Alton had raised $12,000 by popular subscription. The Lovejoy Monument Association was then organized, and succeeded in raising about half that amount. The Governor then allowed the appropriation to pass into the hands of the association. Plans and specifications were immediately drawn up, the work was started and was pushed to

completion in a short time. The monument cost $30,000. The architect was Louis Mulguard of St. Louis, and the sculptor Robert Bringhnrst of St. Louis. The first speaker on the program at the dedication was Thomas Dimmock of St. Louis. Lieut. Gov. Dimmock is better acquainted with the story of Lovejoy than any other living man, having been a resident of Alton at the time and an intimate friend of the family. Dr. Wilkerson, a colored divine of Upper Alton, representing the colored people, made a speech. Lieut. Gov. Northcott delivered an address and a choir consisting of the. different singing societies of the city furnished music for the occasion, accompanied by the White Hussar band. John W. Harned of Greenville, 111., who. was an eye-witness of the death of Lovejoy, was present at the dedicatory exercises.

S. P. LOVEJOY.

LOVEJOY MONUMENT, ALTON, ILL.