Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-10-06
HOSTING FREEDOu.S srarv,r-
Charles r. Thomus Recnpy. MA. v,.-
Experience an u Capisol.
From the New York sun.

Prom the New York sun
Charles y. Thomas. the mechanical enginese
who placed the statue OF Freedom on the Can't
tol In Washington, lives with his family IN a cot
tage at 81 18th street, Brooklyn He il OF
stalwart proportions long gray beard gives
him a venerable appearance, but his keen eyes
are restless and sparkle when he talks.
You see that framed certificate outhe walla'
he said. well, that was signed by Abraham
Lincoln twenty years ago. month before he
was assassinated Ii testihes that Mr.. Thomas
superintendent OF construction OF the new
dome placed the statue OF Freedom on the
dome on December 2. 1863 at 12 IN, and that
the scaffolding whereby the tholus WAS built
and the statue was raised to Its position was de-
signed and erected by him.
II was eight years building the dome and
placing the statue In position. You see under
that glass bell on the table yonder model Of
the top Of the new dome. the statue and the
circular scaifolding whose top Il above the head
of the statue. That little model. a few inches
high, and whose largest timhers are no bigger
than matches, Will sustain a weight of 100
pounds The elevation of the top Of the scat
folding on the western face OF the Capitol was
$50 feet. Two workmen and myself only were
allowed to 60 on the structure. We climbed 10
the top by means Of cleats fastened TO one OF
the uprights. Washington 10 a windy place.
Gusts used to come from the most unexpected
quarters on that lofty place.
THE head OF the statue WAS bo,sted 70 ifs
position by means of an eyebolt in the cluster
OF feathers In the helmet OF the statue. The
instant 1t settled into place thirty-four guns
were fired by park OF artillery east Of the
Napitol, and the guns of all the forts near
Washington responded.
1T was by the wish OF jefferson Davis that
the head OF the statue was crowned with the
helmet, surrounded by a crclet of stars and
topped OFF with an irregular but picturesque
bunch of feathers. Mr.. Davis was Secretary OF
War I'm 1855 The sculptor. Crawford, designed
statue OF Freedom with the Liberty cap To
the cap Mr.. Davis objected. because. he said,
the cap was worn by freed slaves among the
ancient Greeks Mr.. Davis objected that the de-
sign suggested that Americans had been slaves.
Mr.. Crawford objected TO change. Nevertheless
he prepared design similar TO that now on the
capitol. Mr.. Davis approved IL, and II was
adopted. At once newspapers opposed to Mr..
Davis In politics said that his motive I'm securing
the change in the design was that he did not
want an emblem ON the Capitol which indicated
that slaves could ever be made free
After the scaffolding was partly removed
stood on the feathers OF the helmet. while o
photographer took my picture He couldn't
say, Look pleasant or Hold your chin little
higher, please, because he was at south LIST street
and New Jersey avenue. tied a rope through
the eyebolt in the center of the TOP of the head.
so that blight was formed, which hung down
the sloping side OF the head. placed nv right
foot in the blight. The left foot was on the top
of the head. Standing thus the photograph was
taken"
In the .stereoscopic view which Mr.. Thomas
has his form looks like that of blackbrd newly
lighted on Liberty's head.
after the photographer had dropped his hand
kerchef to signify that he had done with me. I
dropped on my right knee and took hammer
from one pocket and some steel dies of letters
from another pocket. With blow on each die
L stamped words on the topmost feather of the
plume. They have never been seen by any one
but myself and will not be i'm a Thousand years
believe the statue will never need repairs. The
words are as follows:
"A. lincoln. President of the United States: Thomas
Hugh Walter Architect d. b. French Commissioner of
Public Buildings; Charles 4. Thomas Superintendent
OF Construction Of the New Dome"
"ls 1t a fact that Vulcan's face In the allegori-
cal painting In the eye of the dome, over the ro-
tunda, is your portrait?"
1T Is q fact"