The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-09-18
The Corner Stone Of the Perry Monu.
ment-S0me Singular PROCEEDINGS.

On Saturday about ten thousand people from various
parts Of the United States though principally from the
states bordering on Lake Erie, assembled aIPutin Bay
to celebrate the great victory achieved by Commodore
Perry on Lake Erie in lSl3 and to lay the corner stone Of
monument designed to commemorate the great event
u nad been announced on previous occasion that
$4,000 had been raised toward fund for erection of
monument and that now all being in readiness the
ner stone was to be laid with appropriate ceremonies AS
we said, about ten thousand people assembled to take
part in the interesting ceremonies But when they arrived
at Put Bay il found That the corner stone was to be
laid on another island inaccessible TO the large boats and
TO which the committee Of arrangements with the officers
OF me day reporters and few favored spectators,
conveyed IN small boat Here it found that no pre-.
paratons had been made for laying corner stone no
foundation having been laid, or excavation made
But, determined TO accomplish something the valiant
committee set TO work with shovels spades making
an excavation Of about two feet when they struck the solid
rock The stone that had been brought with them was then
produced copper box OF suitable dimensions for the re-
cepon of the deposits also hand into which divers
and snndry interesting relics deposited and the box
sealed and placed in the stone The stone was then let
into the hole in the ground and 'sladn When these in
tercstng ceremonies had been performed question was
raised TO the OF funds hand for the compc
ton Of the monument when IL was ascertaned that tho
treasury contained n cent and was dependent mon
me voluntary contributions of those who might take
interest IN the patriotic enterprise The treasurer stouty
maintained that there never had been any money in his
hands belonging 10 the monument fund Whether this is
so or not we DO not know But II is we'll known that the
Of 81 900 thcreabouts was reported 10 have been
raised toward the erection Of the monument Tho oucrv
body throw any light upon the subject
But another circumstance occurred in connection with
this Affair that has singular aspect After all tho Juror
and display OF laying the stone, IL was taken up
again by certain OF the committee mailing from Sandusky
and the box containing the deposits taken out and carried
TO that city When questioned to the meaning and
intent OF tbs strange procedure the Sandusky gentlemen
replied that Tic property unsafe upon the island and
that for greater security they intended dcpositng In
Sandusky bank.
This whole proceeding strikes bordering rather
closely upon the farcca In the first place. 1t looks like
childs play to undertake the erection of monument in
honor OF so brilliant an event Perrys victory without
hrst maturing some plan for its completion. In tho Sc
cond place. 1t than foolish 70 get up great
noise and commo'ion about laying corner stone when
but score could witness the proceeding Then II
was hunibuggery TO proceed with that ceremony until
foundation had been laid and proper preparations made
for the reception stone In It's final resting place.
and then unprecedented and questionable act
the part Of the Sandusky gentlemen 10 remove tho
deposits from the position in which they had been
placed by the committee Their rights In the premises
are Of dIlicult apprehension They were afraid some
body else would carry the deposits away and so they
carried them away themselves. As IL the burglar ON
entering house, should that IL he did no, strip
the premises a their contents some other burglar would
come along and take them, so he would take them away
TO save them
II possible that explanation OF this matter can
be made ny those Interested and trust here will be-
But onf information ccfrcct-and we think we have
good authori'y-the Ferry monument is humbug.