Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1843-06-24
Bunker Hill Monument Celebration.

ever witnessed in the United States. Three hun
dred thousand persons, i, is supposed, attended the
ceremonies. The decpcs, manifestation Of en,hu.
sasm was reserved for the appearance of the sur.
viving SoLnIkRs or rms REvoLurIoS, who ur.
rived in carriages, and, algh,ing in the centre Of
the square, otered with feeble steps to their places
on the platform. They were one bundled and
eight in number, twelve Of whom had shared in the
pcrils and glories Of the bloody struggle on this
very ground sixty eight years ago. The orator of
the day was the Hon. Daniel Webster, who deliver
ed an address on the occasion, well worthy Of the
fame ant distinguished talents OF one whose in.
trlleciuai powers have seldom been cquall'd, and
cannot he surpassed by any man living. We are
no sdmirer of Mr.. Webs,er's political career. but,
in common with the whole civilized world, we can
no, withhold from him the tribute of praise so just
ly due his mighty intellect.
We copy the following from the n. Y. Tribune
"The Garner. stone of the Monumen, was laid
in 1925 by LArArErrE and DASIEt WEBSTER
pronounced on tina, occa,i'n one Of the most
eloquent snd admired Orations tht ever fell from
the lips Of man. Among his auditors 10 had about
thirty survivors Of the Battle Of Bunker Hll-the
venerable r,en" whom he addressed with such
sublime and startling effect.
The monument stands upon the summit. where
the small redoubt was thrown up by the Ameri-
cans on :he night Of June 10th, i775.-Provious
to its erection, the ground was distinguished by
small column in honor Of WAnnE~, who fell upon
the spot. eec,ed in 1894 by lodge Of Free Masons
Warren, at the time Of his glorious death, being
the Grand Master Of the Free Mas,ns Of Nor,h A.
mericn. Suhscr p, ons Grs, asked for the pre-
sent Monument in ls24-An Association, called
The Bunker Hill Monument Association was for.
med membership of which was to be enjoyed by
those who subscribed FIVE dollars. An engraved
diploma was their certificate, and their names
inscribed upon the parchment records deposited
within the corner stone. The corner stone was
| ail June 18th, 1925. but this work not
med until March, 1927.
Tie structure was placed under the supein,cn-
dence of Mr.. James Savage, Of Bos,o,, Ivy whom
,he foundation and f,ur.een curses Of the super
structure were laid, when, in August, 1879, the
work was suspended on account Of deficiency in
funds About $4,000 had then been Ell ended.
The work was not resumed till the summer Of s3i,
| when sixteen addnions cour-es were laid and the
work was again Stopped in 1885. abou, $4,000
having been expended. Al bu.iness Wv then
greatly depressed and the project of holding pub.
lie Fair was suggested, st which every female in
the Union who desired i, nigh, contribute aid for
the compl, ton Of the monument.
The Fair was held in Boston in S,pember
is4o, and its proceeds, with few munfcsnt DO
nations, put within the haLds of the Committee o.
the Bunker Hill Association a sum sufficient ,c
complete the grca, object. Mr.. Savage, by con
tract with the Building Committee, was engaged
in the autumn Of ls40, To complete the work fo
1880 He resumed his labor hy laying ih'
first stone May 81, is4l, and finished i, with n,ir'
success, by deposi,ing the apex on July 23 1912
The las, stone was raised a, o'clock in the nom
ing of that day, with the discharge of cannon Mr.
Edward Carnes, Jr., Of Charleston, accompanying
( it in its ascent, and waving the American flag du
ring the process.
There are ninety courses Of stone in the whole
structure, eighty four Of them hrins above the
ground, and siI Of them below. The base is thir',
Q feet square in a rise Of two hundred and eigh
feet, the point where the formation of the apex I've
gins there is a dmuniion Of fourteen feet, sever
and halfinches. The net rise Of the stone fon
the hsse TO the apex is two bundled and nine'ceI
fee, and ten inches, the of the mortar makn
the whole elevation two hun lred and twenty on
. feet. No man can stand and look q, the structure
or scan it with close observation. wi,hou, bein
impressed with the wonderful mathematical acrr
racy which distinguishes it. The joints OF III
stone seem TO be chsclcd with g'es actness an
: the jimnuton of the obelisk has been faultlessl
eIecaied."
We have room only for tho following extract
Mr, Wehs,crs last speech:
"Yes, BrSKrR HIT MONUMENT is complete,
Here i, stands. Fortunate in the natural eminenc
on which il is placed, higher Infinitely in Its o,es
and its purpose-behold i, rise the land an
i ovsi the sea, and visible this moment TO 300 90
Of the citizens OF Massachusetts,. There it stands
5. a memorial fthe pasta monitor to the preser
a and to all succeeding generations Of men. hav
" spoken Of its purpose. II il had been without an
|, other purpose than the creation ofs work of ar
n the granite of which it is composed, would hav
N continued 10 sleep on its native bed. But il has
1t purpose, and that purpose gives il dignity an
g causes US to look upon il with awc.-That PurP
il is which enrobes it with a moral grandeur-,h'