National Republican., 1881-04-26
FARRAGUT SQUARE.
THE CEREMONIES OF UNWILLING
Witnessed By Brilliant Gathering-The Admirsfs
Widow Present-The Presidents Speech
The Statue Unveiled by Veterans
Who Served with Farragut.


with huge American flag. The bronze mortars
were in their places on the four sub-pedestals.
wreath was placed around each of these
mortars. A large wreath was placed on
the ground on each side of the pedestal, and oas-
kets of flowers were arranged taStetully about the
structure. There were three stands extending
along the northern western, and southern sides OF
the park, and enclosing square space some fifty
yards in width about the statue.
THE STANDS
were draped in flags. That on the west side was
reserved for the distinguished guests and the
speakers, a small stand for the speakers being
placed Immediately in front of the statue. Under
this stand an enclosure was rallied off for the press
The residences fronting upon Farragut Square were
generally decorated with bunting, whose gay coors
added much to the imposing beauty of the scene.
On the streets in the immediate vicinity of the
square many houses were decorated Among the
houses that were especially conspicuous for the
decoration were those of Madame Bonaparte and
General Thomas ]. Brady, in Shepherds Row; the
residences of Lieutenant HOxie and Mrs. Sherman,
on the east side of the square; of Judge Cox and
Paymaster Bacon, on the south side, and
of Albert Ray, on the west side.
Before twelve o'clock the stands began to fill up
with the guests especially invited to witness the
unveiling. section in the south stand was given
up to the survivors of Farragut's men. Shortly
Army of the Republic, neatly uniformed, marched
into the square and filed into the spaces reserved
for them on the north and south stands.
THE PRESIDENT
and Mrs. Garfield and party, arrived before one
o'clock and escorted through the square to the
seats assigned them by Secretary of the Navy
Hunt. Soon afterward the officers of the navy,
headed by Admiral Porter and the officers of the
army, marshaled by General Sherman, arrived,
and the President held an impromptu army and
navy reception on the stand, as every officer upon
his arrival at once hastened to pay his respects to
the Chief Magistrate
MRS. FARRAGUT,
the widow of the Admiral, was honored with SINH
lar ceremony. In the row Immediately behind the
speakers stand sat General Sherman and Admiral
Porter on the right President Garfield, then Mrs.
Farragut, lady with winning face, black eyes
and hair, about fifty years of age, who attired
in mourning, Mrs. Garfield Mr.. Loyal Farragut,
son of the Admiral and his beautiful
wife, a daughter of DR.. Metcalf, of New
York, who was, before her marriage, a
famous belle; Lieutenant and Mrs. Hoxie, and
Commander ]. C. Watson, who was Admiral Far
raguts flag g-offeer, and who attended the eere-
monies as Mrs. Farragut's special escort, having
been sent to New York to perform that pleasant
service. To Mrs. Hoxie the event was one of no
small personalimportance, and her face showed the
lively interest which she took in all the proceedings
The gay spring toilets of the ladies' together with
the brilliant gold and blue of the officer uniforms,
made very pretty picture. Among the other
DISTINGUISHED PERSONS
present were the members of the Cabinet, Mr..
Blaine, who is away from the city, being the only
absentee; Sir Edward, Thornton and daughter,
General Banks, ex-Speaker Randall, Ex-Governor
Rice of Massachusetts,; Mr.. and Mrs. .Ream, the
father and mother of the sculptor; Mr.. Bancroft,
the historian; Vice Admiral Rowan, Rear-Admi- |
rails C. R. P. Rodgers, John Rodgers, K. H. Wyman,
T. Fl. Patterson, J. L. Worden, E. T. Nichols, G. B.
Balch, D. NJ. Fairfax L. n. Powell, 7. o. Sefridge,
T. Turner, C. H. Poor, w. Radford, s. p Lee, G. II.
Scott, Melancthon Smith, C. S. Boggs, B. F. Sands,
T. A. Jenkins, G. F. Emmons, j. II. Strong, ]. ]. |
Almy, R. NJ. stembel, ]. E. NJ. Mullany, Edward
Middleton, and W. E. MelOy, ex-Medical Director
Palmer, Medical Director Lonsdale, and many
other navy and army officers.
FARRAGUTs OLD COMRADES.
The officers present included some who were |
very near and intimate with Admiral Farragut |
Among these were Captain James E. Jouett, who |
commanded the Metacomet, the cOnsort of the |
Hartford, who was especially commended by the |
Admiral for his prompt action in capturing the |
Selma, and Commander ]. C. Watson the flag |
lieutenant of Admiral Farragut, and the nearest |
and dearest of his official household. Admiral |
Thornton A. Jenkins, the second in command at !
Mobile Bay, and who was specially commended !
for his untiring energy and faithfulness also
present. Admiral Jenkins was warm friend |
of the Admiral and Mrs. Farragut The brave |
Mullany, who volunteered to go into the fight, and
commanded the Oneida so gallantly, losing fore
arm, sat near by the official household. Mr.. John H.
Brooks who served as Admiral Farragut's steward |
ON the Hartford, was present at the special request
of Mrs. Farragut, and received marked attention. |
He enjoyed the distinction of being the only col
ored man on the stand Commander Watson and |
Mr. Brooks were the only two survivors of the Ad |
mirars official household present. The procession |
having arrived on the ground a little after one |
O'clock the ceremonies began. At this time the |
was densely packed with people.
THE UNWILLING EXERCISES
were opened with prayer by Rev. Arthur Brooks.
Meanwhile six weather beaten sailors had ranged |
themselves around the statue. When the prayer
was over Lieutenant Dunlap gave signal. Quar-
termaster Knowles, who was Farragut's signal |
quartermaster on the Hartford, and who lashed |
the Admiral in the rigging, pulled the
rope and the flag fell away from
the statue into the hands of the six brawny sail
ors. 1t was moment of inspiration. As the SUM-
light fell upon the polished bronze there Was
great shout from the people, the Marine Band
played Hail TO the Chief" an admral's salute of
seventeen guns was fired from Lafayette Square,
and an admiral's flag was hOisted to the masthead
at the corner of the north stand by Bartholomew
Diggins, one ofthe crew of Admiral Farraguts gig.
THE OLD "vETs"
The five sailors who helped Knowles unveil the
statue were all Farragut veterans. They were
James Marion, who served on the Brooklyn; Alex
ander Fl. Truett, who served on the Hartford
Peter Breen, who served on the Pembina; James
Wyley, who served on the mortar feet, and Thomas
Byrnes, who served On the Miami. After the un-
yelling these five battle smoked veterans, with
Knowles sat on the ledge of the pedestal and
listened to the oratiOns with the deepest in
erest The statue faces the southeast, look
ing down Connecticut avenue. 1t represents
he Admiral, standing with telescope glass in
hand, and his right foot resting on tackle block,
as though looking over the scene When the statue
had been saluted Secretary Hunt introduced Pres
dent Garfield, saying:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: have the pleasure to
introduce to you the President OF the United States
Who will accept, on behalf of the Nation this statue
1f our llustrious naval hero.
THE PRESIDENTS SPEECH.
The President said:
FELLow-CITIZENs: 1t is the singular province of
to break down the limitations which separ ate the
of men from each other, and allow those
If past generations 10 be comrades and associates of
hose now living. This Capital is silently being filed
with the heroes of other times Men of three wars
nave taken their places in silent eloquence as guard
and guards of the Nation hey loved so WELL and
IS the years pass these squares and pub
ic places will be rendered more and more
'opulous, and more eloquent by the !
presence of dead heroes of other days. From all quar-
ers of the country, from all generations Of its life
rom all portions of its service these heroes ccue by
he ministry and mystery of art to take their places
md stand as permanent guardians of our Nations
,ory. To-day we come to hail this hero who comes
rom the sea down from the shrOuds of his flagship,
vreathed with the smoke and glory of victory, bring
ng sixty years of national life and honor take his
'lace as an honored cOmpatriot and perpetual
Guardian of his Nations glory. In the name of the