The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1884-03-01
In MEMORIAM.

The Programme Abridged by Violent
Thunder storm.
NEW ORLEANS, La, Feb. %.
The history of the public pageants and
open-air festivities is a long one, filed with
conspicuous and distinguished triumphs.
On nearly every occasion the weather has
favored and seconded the efforts of the man.
ayers of such affairs; but to-day they were
destined to an overwhelming failure. The
occasion was the unveiling of a statue Of
and dedication of a monument to the Con-
federate chieftain, General Robert Il. Lee.
The fact that it was to take place on Wash
ington's birthday added still more interest
TO the intended display. All the military
of the city and many visiting companies,
including the fine company of light infant
ry from Detroit, Mich, were to lend their
aid, and all the organizations of veteran
soldiers of the late war were to give a
grand historic interest to the affair Not
only did the Veteran Confederate Associa-
tions of the Army of Northern Virginia and
the Army of the Tennessee appear i'll force,
but large and imposing delegations of the
Grand Army of the Republic, represented
in Joseph A. Mower and Timothy Q. Howe
Posts, graced the occasion with their pres
ence.
The hour of two O'Clock had arrived, the
troops were on the ground, and the veterans
were in their places of honor and great
array of distinguished guests were on the
platform. Seats which had been provided
for a great number of ladies were filed and
the small circular park in which the monu-
ment stands and the street which surrounds
the circle were crowded with people of all
sorts and conditions. Full 10000 people
were on the ground. Flags of all nations,
over which the national standard domi-
nated hoated in the balmy south breeze,
and in the sunshine which gilded the scene.
But in the meantime a densely dark and
formidable looking cloud was seen rapidly
rising along the northern horizon and
mounting swiftly in the heavens. Conf
dent of the favor of fortune very few per-
sons took warning from the gathering
clouds and the preparations for carrying
out an imposing programme proceeded
| without interruption. By 2:15 the entire
| northern sky was black as ink, and the
| thunder growled in the distance and the
| atmosphere became oppressive and sultry
The great orchestra, under the direction
of Prof. Moses, Albert Sidney Johnston's
| bandmaster, struck up grand march from
| Wagner's Rienz, when in moment the
| storm burst upon the vast assemblage.
Rushing down from the north, its advance
| guard of dust, fragments OF paper and
| light rubbish of all sorts, filed the air, fol-
| lowed by great drops of rain. The crowd
broke up as if scattered by an explosion.
| The confusion was intense. Women
screamed and men shouted, and all instinct
| lively broke for shelter. Escape for most
| of them was hopeless, Tor the rain came
! down in an avalanche to be realized only
in these southern ATTITUDES, and in five
minutes many thousands of people were
| drenched to the skin. The wind blew a
| violent gale, and carried away every flag,
| awning, hat and other similar movable IL
| could lay hold on. Tho thunder roared,
and the lighting cut the driving storm i'll
every direction, and played around the
| gigantic statue whose outline was strongly
| defined through the wet cotton shroud that
| draped it.
| The design chosen was iuted doric COL
umn of white Tennessee marble on base
of gray Georgia granite, standing on
turfed mound. The base of the statue
stands 81 feet above the street, and the
statue is 10 feet high. The dimensions of
the whole in detail are as follows: Height
of mound, II feet; height of granite base,
- feet; height of column 60 feet;
height of die, feet 4 inches;
of mound, 1870 feet; diameter of base
(square), AZ feet; aiameter of column, 10
feet; diameter of die, 7 feet inches;
height of whole, 100 feet; basement, AZ feet
square.
On the 31st of May, 1882, a contract was
entered into with the Hinsdale a. Doyle
(now the HollowelD Granite Company,
New York, for bronze statue of General
Lee to surmount the monument. The statue
was to cost $4,000. In June, 1882, Mr..
Alex. DOYLE, artist, was sent by the con-
tracing company to New Orleans to make
model, which he did in the hall of the
House of Representatives of the old State
House in this city. 1t was cast in bronze
by Henry & Bonnard, of New York. and is
the largest statue that was ever made in an
American foundry. 1t weighs about 1000
pounds. 1t was cast in six sections, the
head alone weighing 30S pounds.
1t represents General Lee in an easy, nat
ural position, standing erect, with folded
arms, though overlooking the field of
battle. He is dressed i'll full service uni
: form, with cavalry boots, and the sword
, strapped at his side measures eight feet
from tip to hlt! The stars, according to
his wish, are placed on the lapel of his coat
: instead of on the collar. The entire work
is paid for, the total cost being about $40,
, OCi
The officers of the Monument Association
are Charles f. Fenner, President; G.. T.
=. Beuregard, First Vice President; NJ. Mus.
! son, Second Vice President; S. II. Ken
= needy, Treasurer; w. l. Hodgson, Record
e ing Secretary; w. NJ. Owen, Correspond
l ing Secretary.
!, The statue faces the north, and the oil
: commander stood unmoved amid the storm
, of heavens artillery as he had before stoo'
in the face of wars iron hail. But all hi
followers had fed. Fortunately, in the vas
confusion in such a crowd and in such
storm nobody was hurt to any serious eS
d, tent, but grand and imposing ceremonial
y was effectually broken up.
n The programme embraced poem by II
Il +. Requier, Esq, and an Grafton by Hon
Charles Il. Fenner of the State Suprem
. Court. These were dispensed with forever
If But after the storm a small squad of tn
l. officials of the Monumental Association
70 gathered at the base of the dripping column
|. and Judge Fenner, in few words on bs
4 AGO. ion, GatNI