New-York daily tribune., 1858-11-17
THAT LIBLRTY POLE-GRANo SMASH.

He attempt 10 raise monster tbe'ty pole IN The
small open space at the OF Franklin street and
We. I'roadway yesterday afternoon prove failure.
The pole sef wa. l6S feet long. This sarmoun,-
ed ith wooden cap inches thick a ID a. iron rod
With ts attachments Of golden ball points OF compass
vaIe ano liberty cap, II feet . inches making in all
2t3 et; 80 that when sunk feet in the gro1ni,
contemplated, the pole would be l95 feet high Tue
wctk Of raising the pole commenced shortly after
O'Clock p. and after it had progressed steadily fora
couple of hours when the contractor cOngrat
ulaiing himself that the WORT over, rope usei
in putting the but forward gave way and allowed it TO
Flip some " oi IL feet back, and occasioned such
Shake Of TIE pole TO cnse it TO break in two where
the rope which sustained The greatest strain passed
round il.
A. every eye turned up, intently watching the
gradual elevation of the non-tsr pole to it. intended
perpcudcular'y; the first giving way was detected,
the alarm given and every fell back without Sit
ing ior orders from the police. The pole came
down with Tremendous crash, and the upper
section, with the LEV Liberty cap, &c., was
dashed to pieces. fragments of these, large AMI
small were scr-mbled for by tne Thousands
Of spectators, who had copyrighted at the spot.
Some attribute the accident TO some acknowledgement
on the part Of the rgger but it was tue general
ttat the accident fortunate one that the pole
would never have wlstood the test OF volsnt gale,
when its breakage and fall in different direction
would have been attended with serious consequences.
The loss will probably f.l upon the contractor, who,
il il undo TODD, to put il up for 81 900. We
lie .rn Ii at an effort will be made Saturday Mon
day pext to have another pole ready foy erection.
Many perscns who contributed toward the expenses
of the pole, to rejoice at the result, nasmuch as
money was collected with the andlng that
to be the property Of CITIZENS at large; but, a.
soon the necdiuI wss procured, or nearly So 1t was
claimed BY the Democrats TO be their pole, and some
even went so for yererday to claim ownership OF
tie public ,quare Tor somc distance around the site.
The first move toward taking down the old liberty
pole, and eIectiDg new one, appears to have been
made by Messrs. La,her Horton, John H. Whitman,
John ii. Dixon, W. II. DaAer and Andrew j. Plumh,
wro issued circular soliciting contributions from all
parties AID in favor of the pole, when erected, be-
longing to our citizens generally.
About the time, a Getting wss held, at which
Hon. Richerd Winnie, Villa Francis, Thomas
Weaver, Robert Dcnnell, William Topper, AID Hon.
Frspcis r. 1ulou, were appointed Finance Com
mttee to obtain contributions to deir.y the expenses
of taking down the old Liberty Pole and erecting
iron one, WIN ieuPc' u i'ei'y q ' '"7o '"e S'''
Of which Was ertimated To- be = ,0J1. conference
then took place between this Finance Committee ant
the original movers which resulted in the latter giving
up thtil books and subscriptions to The former, with
the understanding that it TO be Citizens Liberty
Pole.
On the 18th of July last, the ceremony of laying the
cornerstone took place. which occasion spec 'hes
were made by the Hon. +. X. Tlllou Gen. Walbndge
and others and TIE event further celebrated by q
grand display Of fireworks, &c. la the midst of Mr.
Tlons address the platform winch he stood gave
way, creating considerable excitement and amusement
among who were leased to construe the casualty
as forerunner of disaster to the Democratic party.
From that time nothing seen or heard Of relative
to the famous Liberty Pole by the original PROJECTORS,
until they assembled yesterday to see erected the
wnod.n abortion.