The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-06-20


who fell Ut Iripoli. II was written In 1873 by b H.
I4trooe esq. The monument stood at that time in the
Washington navy yard, facing the south: This monu
ment owes its existence not 70 public gratitude in our
national government to the patriotic feelings of the
Citizens at large; but 10 the private friendship aud ADM
ration OF the officers Of the navy who of their own a
cord assigned portion Of their pay to the erection OF
memorial Of actions heroic az any that were ever
achieved in naval warfare; from which, although they
shared in the glory their country alone derived the be
eft The care OF procuring the monument to be made
was committed to Captain Porter, commanding the
Essex He very much aided by the neal of the
Bishop of Florence whose interest in the American cause
arose not much from the feelings of Catholic eccles
astc against the Infdes from enlightened view Of
the perncious effects Of system OF piracy nurscd by the
policy OF the European powers, to which America alone
had dared to oppose the remedy of actual force BY the
influence of the Bishop, Mical of Leghorn, was in
duced to give the aid of his on terms 80 exceed
ingly moderate, that the original expense of the
monument, which, at the usual of charge for scul
trc would have cost twice much did quite reach
$4,000 When finished, the blocks and figures were
carefully packed up, and brought in the Constitu-
ton frgate to Newport, X. L., from whence they were
in another vessel brought to Warrington In this cir
cutous voyage several Of the blocks Of the monument
and many Of the slabs composing the lower base were
broken and it became necessary to substitute base
freesone in its stead. On its arrival it became aues
ton where it should be erected The Capitol of the Uni
ted States was pointed out the proper place but the
unfinished state of that building and the size of the mon
ument were objections However Congress was ap-
piled to- in the first place, for the 900 to de-
fray the expense Of putting it up. The application
though renewed in various shapes proved altogether
vain The idea of placing it in the Capitol of course
given up, and the navy yard, originally the proper
situation chosen To defray the expense its cree
ton which could not be less than $780, further subscp
ton by officers of the navy made to which other
citizens contributed The Navy Department also gave
every aid and facility the work which could legally
be afforded, and in the year 1903 the monument was
placed where it stands the principal object Of view
to all those who enter the yard either by land water
and to extensive portion of the city aud Of the port
The general style Of the work is not of bad taste and
there many points about it that very excellent
Its execution not Of the first class but is not in any
part bad, and for work standing in climate in the
open air, it is sufficient. The monument consists of
rostra column Of the Doric ORDER mounted pedestal
to which the character of sarcophagus il given. On
the top of the column is the American eagle, bearing
scroll with the federal motto, PLuRrBUs uSux The
column itself has, the east and west side each three
antique rosta beaks of gnlleys and the MOI th
and SOUTH antique anchors in fiat relief The pedestal
has the south side the inscription Hec dorr uncoa
in bsllo rirorum cneres.
The column, with its pedestal, stands upon square
block of very excellent proportions. The block has
Cymatum of semicircular compartments on which arc
sculptured in basso relieve, alternately Turkish tur-
bancd mask, and trophy of Turkish arms This part
of the work is in very excellent taste On each side of
the block is panel That to the south represents in
bnsso- relieve, view of TripoI from nature with
figatc and gunboats in the foreground attacking the
town This like all landscapes and representations of
air and water and smoke in sculpture, is work of no
effect beauty but viii record of the appear
| ance of Tripol in the year 1904.
On the north side s this inscription Erected to the
memory of Captain RICHARD SoxEKs Leutenants JAMES
CALDWELL, JAMES DplAruR, HxxRr WApswoRrm JOSEPH
Israel and JOHN Dorsey, who fell in the different at
taSks that made the city of Tpol in the year
of our Lord 1904 and in the 2Sth year the ndepend
ence of the United States. !"
On the east side: The love of glory inspired them
fame has crowned their Deeds history records the event.
the children of Columbia admire and commerce laments
| their fall
On the west sAs small tribute of respect to their
memory, and of admiration of their valour worthy
of emulation their brother officers have erected this
ument.''
The block which these inscriptions cut is raised
upon three steps, at three angles of which pacedat
the southeast female figure having her head dia-
dem of feathers covering dixie the short petticoat at
tachcd to the Roman Lorica also of ostrich feathers
round the waist and Roman leggngs and Shoes but other
wise Naked represents America. She leads up to the
monument two children from the lower steps, and points
upwards to the inscription the pedestal This is
badly imagined and executed figure, and has nothing Of
the native American character or costume
At the northeast angle sits History. She is represented
by tolcraby good female figure fully clothed, holding
book in her left hand and pen of bronze gilt in her
right She looks upwards to the column, and appears
the point of commencing to write This figure is well
placed well imagined and her attitude s very good but
the sculpture is faulty, especially about the neck.
At the northeast is figure of commerce. stand
| ing His right hand points to the column, with the
caduceus in the left This is by far the best figure of the
whole, in drawing, attitude and spirit and must have
been executed either by superior artist from mod
| ell by irst-rate sculptor.
At the northwest corner figure OF winged Victory is
elevated the summit of the square block that supports
the column In her right hand she holds wreath of
laurel the sarcophagus in her left branch of palm,
of bronze gilt Tho figure is but Indifferent, but the
general effect is good.
At each corner is an urn lamp of black variegated
| marble, with fame of bronze gilt The whole monu-
mcnt placed square of solid freestonc about
five feet high, and sixteen feet wide, which is Ito bel
surrounded at small distance by circular iron railing.
All the figures large life, and the whole forms
| z III T. 1..u