Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-05-27
In FARRAGUTS MEMORY.
A Sketch Of Tie Statue Now Being Cast
at the Nayy-Yard.

/
Washington ID. c. Post.
-Four years ago congress passed reso.
luton appropriating $4,000 for a colos-
sal statue of Admiral Farragut, TO be
cast III bronze; and authorizing the Sec
retary Of the navy to enter into con
tract for the work. The award was Ia
be open to competition, and commit
tee, composed of the secretary of the
navy, the general of the army, and The
widow of Admiral Farragut, was ap-
pointed to select tne artist. When Miss
Vinuie Ream returned from Europe.
after the death of Admiral Farragut.
she began to model bust of that great
naval hero. About the time it was fin
1shed the committee above mentioned
held meeting at the Arlington hotel
to examine the models entered for
competition. Twenty-Five were sub
mltted for examination. representing
the most distinguished artists in the
country. The result was the award of
the work to Miss Winnie Ream, whose
model was declared the best and most
perfect likeness of the deceased admir-
al. The artist then set to work, pre-
pairing the model subject to the sug-
gestlons of the committee, and about a
year ago they made report to congress,
expressing their satisfaction at the
work. Mrs. Farragut has taken the
deepest interest In the matter, and has
made four visits to this city, watching
the progress of the model and encour
aging the artist. Having gone abroad
with the admiral, this lady, in every
way remarkable woman and gifted
with excellent Judgment, had unusua!
opportunity of studying art, aud her
expression of entire satisfaction with
the work of Miss Ream was verv assur-
ing to the young artist.
When the model was finished in Mas
ter the secretary of the navy kindly
issued an order that the statue should
be cast at the Washington navy-yard in
order that the artist might be able to
give it her constant care and attention.
only conditioned that it should not in
tertere with government work and
should be cast at the artists expense.
Finding that there were no workmen
experienced in molding statues at the
navy-yard, the artist advertised in the
Courier des Etats Unis, of New York, for
competent workrnen, and succeeded in
securing the services of four men, eyerv
way worthy to be entrusted with the
work, who have been steadily engaged
at it under the direction of the artist.
Chief Engineer Shock, of the navy-yard
who ls very much interested in the
work, was inspired with the idea that
the statue of Farragut should be cast
from the metal which composed the
propeller of the Hartford, the flagship of
the admiral. He accordingly sent the
Tallapoosa for it, and the statue is
now being cast of the metal which
drove the Hartford to victory and
crowned with unfading laures the
memory of her great commander. This
fact will doubtless be recorded on its
base.
The statue of Admiral Farragut is
ten feet in height. He is represented
as standing on the poop deck of the
Hartford with one foot resting upon q
leading block, around which is a coil Of
rope. He holds q marine glass in his
hand, the attitude indicating it's recent
use. He is atti1ed in undress uniform
wearing cap, sword, and shoulder
straps. These articles were modelled
from those he wore in the service, and
were loaned to the artist by Mrs. Far
ragut. The statue will be mounted on
a pedestal of Vermont granite. which
is nearly finished, and when all is COM
pleted will be placed in Farragut
square.
While this work is in progress the
artist occupies a studio in the iron
foundry of the navy-yard. She is at
present engaged upon clay bust OF
Commodore Febiger, varying her en-
ploylnent by working upon that and SUI
perintending the models. The studio
is adorned with frame ed letter from the
widow of the admiral and her son at
testing their appreciation and satisfac-
ton at the faithful likeness Miss Ream
has produced of the husband and faith
er. The artist is at work at the navy
yard every day, and on Saturday after
noon receives any who NAV honor her
with call. The entire work is now
nearly completed ana will soon be
ready for delivery to the committee.