The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-02

Identifying It. the more than $500. 600 already
expended on it has made great I'M.
provement The primeval forest bad to be cut
down: thickete never touched, with the idea of
clearing them away had to be grubbed up and
burned or carted away; the contour of the land
seape had to be modified here and there. rough
places smoothed and low places drained or filed.
Then followed the finer touches, which, of
course. will be continued as the
wears go by. But even now
wonderful Transformation has been
wrought and entering the grounds by q graded
and paved roadway and footpath. cut through
the dense underground that borders either SIDE
the visitor is first impressed by the massive but
graceful triple arch gateway, but now approach
ing completion, the funeral train of the Vice
president being the first to pass through it. This
work and that of building the officers lodge at
the right of the gate, has been prosecuted during
the past summer, and Is now nearing completion,
though the association has not yet undertaken
the work OF finishing the approaches and the
road leading from this new gate into the
heart Of the cemetery. This will follow, of
course. but has naturally been held back
to await the completion of the gateway This
gateway has three Gothic arches, constructed of
oolitic limestone, from Bedford, this State. the
same that has been used in the new State b ouse.
The central arch il twelve feet six inches wide
are ten feet six inches wide and twenty feet
high. The entire gateway and thanking parapets
have width of seventy nine feet. 10 the rlgnt,
immediately inside the gate. is the lodge con,
tanning the superintendnnt's Office q central hall
for the accommodation of meetings o. the cor
porators. and to the left of these. general
waiting room for the accommodation of
the public The structure is Gothic.
like the gate, built Of pressed
brick, with stone and spcapstic
tile trimmings The floor of the entrance is laid
in encaustic tile the interior floors being of oiled
oak. The wood work of the interior is entirely
of wild cherry, polished and Oiled while the cell
ings and brackets supporting them are of oiled
oak, beautifully carved, are the heavy oaken
beams in the paneed ceilings and the window
and door facngs. Each room is provided with
open crate, constructed with all the artistic
accessories necessary in the way of encaustic
tile, glazed tile in bass-reef and brase. The
superintendents Office is equipped with q very
large fre-proof vault for the accommodation of
valuable papers connected with the cemetery.
The gate and lodge were built from de-
signs furnished by Mr.. Adolph Scherrer,
and have been erected at q cost of about $50. 000
By many who have seen them they are pro-
nounced the finest yet built From the gate to
Mississippi street, which it faces toward the
east, is to be constructed semi-crcular parquet,
and eastward still from this is to be opened and
paved roadway 100 feet wide, across Tennessee
and Illinois streets, reaching to Meridian, from
which the entrance to the cemetery will be
made.
Passing the gate and lodge, the visitor drives
over a roadway that takes him directly to the
chapel near the center of the grounds. This
was built in 1875, the architect being Mr.. d. A
Bohlen 1t Is constructed of limestone. the walls
being in rubble and the facngs of cut stone The
interior consists of chapel with receiving
vault on either side The pillars and arches TO
the roof of cut stone and the entire structure
is of the sodest character It's cost was
$35 600. The visitor is now in range of beauti-
fin land in wi I,.ha W. Rva m
rurn. To the right and in the back ground, quar-
ter of mile away are the grassy slopes of
Crown Hill. its summit easily accessible by a
hard and smooth carriage-drive. Fine drives
lead out to all parts of the cemetery, the white
roadways winding in and out under the trees
with graceful sweeps, interlacing the green
sward, and in summer presenting charming
,ylimpses through the foliage.
Nearly in front Of the chapel. and across
the principal avenue. is the lot made
conspicuous by the monument erected by
Mr. Hendricks, and now given national inter
est by reason of the interment there of the dead
Vice president. The monument is plain but
imposing shaft of gray granite. cut smooth but
not polished, and bearing at it's base, in raised
letters, the name IT. A. Hendricks" On the
southwest side of this shaft is the little grave of
Mr. Hendricks's only child, son, Morgan who.
as related on an inscription on the principal
monument, was born at Shelbyyille, Jan. 16.
1848 and died March 10. 1851.
Across the road. and not far away, in the same
section with the chapel is the unmarked grave
of Oliver Perry Morton, Indiana's great war
Governor, and for years the party rival of the
carried to his grave yes terday. No stone marks
it, no inscription, no sign of the mighty dead's
identity, save that across the grave, above It's
head. wrought in living flowers, is the one word.
Morton" 1t is enough to those who know its
signifieance; enough for every veteran who
fought that the Nation might live Morton was
the Union soldiers friend, with the power to
render mighty aid. This name is enough to call
to the mind of everybody who remembers the
how he superintendent the recruiting
equipping and marshahng of regiments. and
hurried them to the front. 1t was Morton who
was present everywhere, sleepless, tireess, in
defatgable. The fire of his eloquence, the force
of his logic carried enthusiasm and conviction
to every loyal heart 1t was Morton, more
than any other score of men, who saved
the honor of Indiana in the days of treason and
rebellion. He needs no monument for this gen.
Grafton other than that reared In each patriots
heart In honor of his undying fame. In the same
SECTION with this organizer of so many loyal egions
he some of the men he so often befriended the
boys in blue. Just few feet away TO the south
and west the borders of the United States Ma
tional Military Cemetery of Crown Hill, in
which lie the remains of 739 veterans Lying as
they marched, in serted ranks, they and their
lion hearted champion and friend await
the last summons for the final grand
review. This beautiful plateau is
crowned with a cannon set up as a
monument. and flagstaff bronze plate
the side of the plat next to the grave of Morton
bears a stanza from OHaras poem, "On flames
eternal camping ground" etc. Another near the
cannon and flagstaff
The mufled drums sad roll has beat
The soldiers last tattoo
No more on lfe's parade shall meet
That brave and fallen few.
Stretching out to the north and west, in many
bosky dale ana dingle dimpled between swell
ing pateaus, is the principal part Of the
cemetery. running to the sides of and part way
mp the sloping flank of Crown Hill And from
the summit the landscape for miles around is
visible to the eye To the north. and east. and
west, farm after farm stretching away to meet
the horizon. To the southwark the city and it's
suburbs rise in smoky indistinctness. The court
house tower and the rapidly rising white walls