The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-10-19
THE CEI,BBRATIoN.


ity is entirely unfounded.
THE CELEBRATION.
| YoRKTowN, Oct. 1S-Dlstinguished
guests, Governors and Congressman, began
arriving at LAFAYETTE Hall about II. Gen.
Hancock arrived at noon and paid his
respects to the Governor of Virginia.
Many persons were presented to the Gen
eral. At 1890 President Arthur, aecompa-
MED by Secretaries Hunt, James and Lin
coin, arrived at the hall and were received
! by the Master of ceremonies Corbin. The
President shook hands with the distinguish
ed persons present. A line was then form
ed and the party marched to the ground
where the ceremony of laying the corner
stone of the monument was then to occur.
The Masonic procession looked imposing
with Tylers with drawn swords, Stewards
carrying white rods, Master Masons, Secre
! taries and Treasurers marching six abreast,
| followed by visiting bretheren
and the Grand Communicates of
| Virginia and other states. The
| President and party also attended, and
! all the troops in camp. The President
was loudly cheered during the march.
The ceremonies opened with prayer by the
| Rev. Robert Nelson, grandson of the Gov,
| Nelson who commanded the Virginia mill
| tia at Yorktown. At the conclusion Of
the prayer the band played Star Spangled
| banner" with artillery accompaniment.
| Gov. Holiday, of Virginia, then deliver
| ed an address of welcome. The Governor
| has fine presence and was frequently ap-
| plauded. His illusions to unity, the
sentiment, purpose and destiny of all sec
/ tIons of our common country were greeted
with enthusiastic applause. j. w. Johns
| ton of Virginia, Chairman of the congress
sional commission, then sketched history
of the surrender, read from the original
documents of the action of Congress at the
| time, exhibited sword voted to the messen-
| ger who bore the news of the surrender
| and alluded to the fact that w. w. Henry,
grandson of Patrick Henry, and the Rev.
| DR.. Nelson, grandson OF Gov. Nelson, were
on the stand. In conclusion he said
column now to he erected was to coms
memorats not only the.xictorY G tie. colo
nies,s but the part taxed in that victory by
| France. Recognition and acknowledge
ment of the aid gwen by France in the
hour of need was duty left by the conti-
mental congress to its successor, and now,
after 100 wears, the congress of thirty
eight states and fifty million people is filf-
ing that duty. Three million of people
and thirteen colonies accomplished the
work, and now fifty million of people and
thirty-eight states celebrate it by invitation
to the representatives of the French nation
| to participate in this celebration. Again
French soldiers tread American soil, and.
French vessels ride York river. The
model of the monument to be erected is
before u.s. Thirteen female figures sup
port column inscribed with the names of
| thirty-eight states and crowned with the
figure of Liberty, embodying the idea that
from thirteen colonies grew thirty elgnt
states and sprang the truest Liberty ever
enioved by any people On the four sides
of the base, carrying out the original de-
sign of the Continental Congress, are em
blems of the alliance between the United
States and his most Christian Majesty, and
q succinct narration of the surrender OF
Earl Corvallis And now, as an appro
pirate opening to our celebration, the cor
ner stone of the monument will be laid.
with all the ceremonies befitting so great
an occasion, by the order of Ancient Free
and Accepted Masons, of whrch Washing
| ton himself was chief member.
Workmen under the direction OF the
Grand Master of Virginia then laid the
stone. The chair occupied by the Grand
| Master on the occasion was one which Lord
Batlecourt, when a legal governor of the
/ Old Dominion, presented to to the Grand
Lodge oil Virginia and in which George
) Washington sat when Grand Master OF
Virginia. The Mason's sash and apron
wern by the Grand Master were worked by
Mrs. Lafayette and presented to Washing
ton in 1884 at Vermont, and in 1912 were
given to Washington Lodge Alexandria,
Va. The gavel was made from portion
of the quarter deck of the United States
frigate Lawrence, the flag ship of Commo-
dere Perry at Lake Erie, September 10,
1918.
Judge B. r. Wexford, of Virginia Mason
ic Orator, made an eloquent closing address.
! President Arthur and party left for the
steamer despatch.
The steamer bearing Secretary Blaine
and others, was in the stream two hours
and half before discovered from the
shore, and while the corner stone was be-
ling laid Blaine sent word to the authori-
ties hut too late, as the ceremonies were
completed and the party returned to the
TalIapoosa. The scene on the river front
was inspiring. the vessels were decked with
flags. salutes, gay uniforms, music OF the
bands, drums and flies, groups landed and
marched 10 quarters, and crowds of people
of all nationalities formhd striking pic
ture. The usual drills at camp to-day were
witnessed by thousands.
4 Nearly all the troops have arrived. The
Ninth Massachusetts regiment reached
yorktown about 4:3o this morning. Their
behavior on entering the camp was such as
n to cause Gen Hancock to make an official
complaint to the officer of the day. Many
distinguished persons persons in camp
were serenaded tonight. The First Vir-
ginia and Richmond Light Infantry Blues
| arrived late this afternoon. Three hun
dred vocalists who were ta sing national
songs at the ceremonies were also detained
General Grabb, of New jersey, enter
tanned many army officers at the banquet
this evening.
j The pyrotechnic display tonight wa:
anceessfil1 The war shills were brilliant