The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1884-12-10
WASHINGTON MONUaENr COMPLETED

The Cap-Stone Set IN Flace at Last and
the United States Flag FIoated from the
Highest Pinnacle Ever Erected by Hu-
man Hands.
WASHINGTON, Dec. G.-The long-expeeted com
pletiOn OF the Washington Monument Oosisk was
accomplished this afternoon By the setting In
place OF the marble cap-stone and its pyramidal
apex of aluminium. The ceremonies were few
aud simple, an elaborate celebration OF the event
being reserved for Nashington's Birthday. Shortly
after O'Clock Thomas L Casey, Government En-
gineer in charge, and his assistants, Captain Da-
vis, United States Army, and Bernard A Green,
Civil Engineer, together with Master Mechanic
Mclaughlin and several WOrKingmen, standing on
the marrow platform built arocnd the narrow
marble roof, the summit, proceeded TO set the
capstone Cweighing $500 poundsl, which Was sus-
pended from sousdropod OF hesvy jeists support
them. AS soon The cap stone was set the
American nag was uDtuTied overhead and Sd
lutte Of twcnty-one guns fred by the battery IN
the White House lot below The sound OF the
cheers also came up family from the crowd of
spectators gathered around the base OF the mOnu-
Hent while number of invited guests on the 500
feet of platform and the interior at the foot of the
Honnmen, at that level spontaneously struck p
t1e "Star-kpangled Benner' ana ctler patriotic
songs. A steady dOwn-p0ur OF rain had given
place little while previously TO brisk gale of
wind at this elevation blowing about fifty five
miles en hour ana very few of The invited guests
cared To avail themselves OF the privilege Of
elm bling nearly perpendicular ladder lTOoi the
800 foot platform 10 the dizzy height of 5S3 fee.
from which three or four journalists and a half
dozen other adventures climbed and witnessed
the setting OF the cap stone, and sub
Meanwhile the WASHINGTON Monument society.
represented by Dr. Joseph Toner, Hon. HOratiO
King, General William Mckee Dunn, Dr. Daniel
b. Clark and T. l.. Harvey Secretary, held meet
ing on IN elevated platform 81 q height OF 800
feet, and when artillery firing announced the set
onff nh nQT ST. cd a
by General Dunn, congratnlating the American
people on the completion of this enduring mOnu-
ment of the Nations gratitude TO tue father of his
country. Among those present to-day at the
completion of the structure one OF the master
mechanics y ho laid the corner stone OF this mon
Waterman of the monument, who has been con
tinuousy employed in that capacity durlng nearly
the whole Intervening period. The flag on the
monument foated 10 day from the flagstaff. the
top Of which is exactly 6O0 feet from the ground,
thus OiSplayn the American colors at the great
! est height OF any construction ever yet known
with is total height OF $50 feei far Overtops every
other structure by human hands. The aluminium
apex OF the monument Is engraved with iDscrip
tlons as follows: On one tace-"Chiei Engineer
and Architect Thomas Lincoln Casey, Colonel oil
the Corps of Engineers: Assistants, GeOrse W.
Davis, Fourteenth United States Infantry: Bern
ard r. Green. OWL EnPfneer; Master Mechanic,
P. II. Mclaughlin" On another-"COrner stone
laid on the bed OF the foundation July T. 1878
The FIRST stone at the height of 152 feet, laid
gust z, 1850, csp-stOne get December 6, 1854" On
the third fate-"Joint Commission at the setting
OF the cap-stOne, Chester A. Arthur W. w. COIcO-
Newton. Act of August ?, 1S76.'' aud on the
fOuTth face the words, 'IauS DeO.'