The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1884-12-12
THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT CON-
PLETED.
The Highest Work of Masonry in the Wort


WASHINGTON, Dec. 6.-The long expected
completion of the Washington monument
| sbelisk was accomplished this afternoon by
setting In place the marble capstone and its
pyramidal apex Of aluminium. The ceremo-
eies were few ard simple, an elaborate cele>
bration Of the event being reserved for WASH
ingtoD's Birthday. Shortly after O'Clock
Col. Thomas L. Casey, Government Engin-
err, In charge, and his assistants, Captain
Davis, U. 5. A., and Bernard b. Green, civil
| engineer, together with Master Mechanic
Mclaughlin and several woIkmen, standing
on the narrow platform built around the
slop!ng marble roof near tho summit, pro-
coed to set the capstone (weighing $500 lbs. }
which was suspended from . quadrupon OF
heavy joists, supported by . platform and
towering forty feet above them. As soon as
the capstone was set
THE AMERICAN FLAG WAS UNFURLED
overhead and q salute Of twenty -one guns
fred by battery in the White House lot far
| below. The sound of cheers also came up
family from the crowd Of spectators gathered
around the base of the monument, while q
number of invited guests on the 500 foot
platform and In the interior of tho monu-
nent at that level, spontaneously struck up
"The Star Spsngled Banner" and other pat
riotc songs. A steady downpour Of rain had
given place little while previously to q
brisk gale Of wine-at this elevation blowing
of the invited guests cared TO avail them.
selves of the privilege of climbing a nearly
perpendicular ladder from the 500. foot plat
form to the dizzy height of 533 fe ct, from
which three or four journalists and half 4
dozen other adventures climbed and wit
messed
THE SETTING OF THE CAPsToNE,
and subsequently assembled the pinnacle.
Meanwhile, the Washington Monument So
ciety, represented by Dr.. Joseph NJ. Toner,
Hon. Horatio King, Geo. VIM. Mckee Dunn,
Mr.. Daniel b. Clark, and 7. L. Harvey, sec
Rotary, held a meeting on the elevated plat
form at height Of 500 feet, and, when the
artillery firing announced the setting Of the
capstone, adopted a resolution, offered BY
General Dunn, congratulating the American
people on the completion of this enduring
monument Of our Nations gratitude to the
"Fsther Of His Country" Among those
present to-day at the completion of the
structure, was one of the master mech anics,
who laid the cornerstone of this monument
more than SO years ago, and the old watch
man Of the monument, who has been contin-
uously employed In that capacity during
nearly the whole intervening period. The
flag over the monument hoated o.day from
a flagstaff, the top of which is exactly 600
feet from the ground, thus displaying the
American colors at the greatest height Of
construction ever yet known In the world.
ALL OTHER STRUCTURES OVERLOOKED.
The monument itself, with its total height
Of $50 feet far overtops every structure Of
human hands. The aluminium apex Of the
monument is engraved with inscriptions as
follows: "On one face, "Chief Engineer
ard Architect Thomas Lincoln Casey, Colo
mel of the Corps of Engineers; Assistants,
George William Davis, 4th United States In
fsntry, Bernard r. Green, civil engineer;
Master Mechanic p. II. Mclaughlin" On
another, "Corner stone laid on bed of foun-
dation July 4th, 1913. First stone at .
height of 152 feet, laid August 7, 1880. Cap
stone set December o, 1884" On a thirl,
"Joint Commission at setting of capstone,
Chester A. Arthur, w. w. Corcoran, Chair
man M. c. Bell, Edward Clark, John New
ton. Act Of August 2, 1876" On the 4Lh,
the words, Claus Deo."