Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-10-19
YORKTOWN.

Beginning of the Festivities Under Fa-
vorable Auspices-LayiD the Corner
Stone of the Monumeut-Speeches and
Other Exercises.
shower this morning, and the weather is cool
er. Eight boats arrived between midnight
and o'clock this morning, bringing many
troops and citizens. Among the former were
detachments from Delaware, Michigan, Vlr-
ginia and New Hampshire.
At 10 O'Clock salutes were fired from Gen.
Hancock's camp. The steamer Excelsior,
with the Yorktown congressional commission
on board, arrived this morning and received
salutes from Gen. Hancock's camp and the
war vessels in the harbor. Shortly after the
Dispatch and Tallaposa hove in sight and
were saluted by the camp and gunboats.
Distinguished guests, including descendants
of Lafayette and Steuben, the governors of
states and congressman began to arrive at
Lafayette hall about II o'clock. General
Hancock arrived at noon and paid his respects
to the Governor of Virginia. The two passed
some time in pleasant chat and then many
persons were presented to the General and he
warmly shook each by the hand. At about
1890 O'Clock President Arthur, accompanied
by Secretaries Hunt, James and Lincoln, was
driven to the entrance Of Lafayette hall, and
were received by the master of ceremonies.
The President shook hands with distin-
guished persons present. A line was then
formed and the party marched to the grand
stand where the ceremony of laying the corner
stone of the monument took place under the
Masonic fraternity. The Masonic procession
looked imposing with tylers. with drawn
swords; stewards, bearing white robes; mas
ter Masons, deacons, secretaries and treasurers,
six brest, followed by visiting brethren ana
the grand Communicates of Virginia,
and other states. All these
were but an escort to the president OF the
United States. The cabinet officers, congress-
men, national guests and army and navy Off
GERS were attended also by all troops of all
arms of the service in camp. President Arthur
was loudly cheered by the crowd during the
march to the grand stand. When all had
taken the places assigned them the ceremonies
were opened with prayer by Rev. Robt. Mel
son, grandson of Gov. Nelson, who command
ed the Virginia militia at Yorktown.
At the conclusion of The prayer the band
played "The Star Spangled Banner" with ar
tillery accompaniment.
Gov. Holiday, of Virginia, then delivered
the address of welcomee The governor was
frequently applauded. His illusions to the
unity of sentiment, purpose and destiny, OF all
sections of our common country, were greeted
with applause.
United States Senator ]. W. Johnston, of
Virginia, chairman of the congressional COM
mittee, then made some appropriate remarks,
in which he sketched the history of the sur
render and read from original documents, an
account of the action of congress at the time,
and exhibited the sword voted to the messen-
ger who bore the news of the surrender.
The workmen, by direction of the grand
master of Virginia, then laid the corner stone,
according to the ancient and honorable rite.
The chair occupied by the grand master on
the occasion was one which Lord Batterstout.
when loyal governor of the Old Dominion,
presented the grand lodge OF Virginia, and in
which George Washington sat when grand
master of Virginia Masons. The sash and
apron worn by Grandmaster Peyton s. Coles,
of Virginia, were worked by Mrs. Lafayette,
and presented to Washington in 1854, at Mt.
Vernon Afterward, IN 1912, they weie given
to Washington lodge, Alexandria, Va, by
Major Lawrence Lewis. The gavel was made
from portion Of the quarter deck OF the
United States frigate Lawrence, flagship OF
Commodore Perry at the battle and victory OF
Lake Erie, September 10, 1913, and was pre-
sented to the Masonic Veterans association,
by the venerable Rev. Marshall B. Smith, June
Q, 1880.
Judge B. Ruelford of Virginia, Masonic
orator, then made an eloquent address at the
conclusion of which the ceremonies ended.
Immediately afterwards President Arthur
and party left for the steamer Dispatch. the
steamer belongs to the French commission.
Secretary Blaine and others were on the steam
er some two hours and a half before they were
first discovered from shore, and while the
corner stone was being laid Secretary Blaine
came to the government dock and sent word
to the authorities in charge, bnt was too late,
as the ceremonies were concluded and the par
ty returned to the Tallapoosa.
The scene on the river front was an inspir-
ing one. Men of war, steamers, tugs,
yachts, sailing vessels, all decked with flags
and streamers; salutes to coming dignitarles,
gay uniforms, military, knight templars, etc;
music of bands and drums and flies, as the
troops landed and marched to their quarters,
and crowds of people of all nationalities and
conditions, who gathered on batteries and
along the wharf, made the occasion, by far,
the most memorable of the kind ever occur
ring in this state.
A Gloomy Outlook for the Northwestern
Farmers.
MILWAUKEE, Oct l8.-One of z. Ct. Dunn
Co. g commercial agency reporters has just returned
from an extended tour throughout the north west,
securing positive information relative to the general
condition of farmers and country business men.
He states that the unprecedented season of rains has
done great damage. For over four weeks farmers
have been unable to do their usual fall work and
marketing Grain In stacks is much damaged. Po-
toes and roots In fields are rotting in mud. Much
corn in shocks has sprouted and is ruined, and the
outlook generally is bad he believes thst the faii.
ure Of farmers to get products TO market, etc VIII
prove disastrous to country merchants. He believes
the damage to wheat in etacks and In shocks in the
6apd Ia