Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1886-11-04
LIBERTY'S TORCH
Swung High Into the Dome of
the Firmament.
A Brief Description of the Famous
Statute-Its Protector and
Its Location.


Thursday afternoon amidst the cheers
of thousands of people. and the salvos of
artillery from the forts and the big guns
on the men-of-war. 1t was proud day
in the life of NJ. Bartholdi, who beheld
his grand masterpiece receive the admir-
alton and evoke the enthusism of many
distinguished men of two nations, and
the vast multitude of spectators. The
weather was not auspicious for the oc
casiou. y fog hung over the mammoth
figure on Bedloe's Island and the gaily
decorated ships that lined the harbor
most of the day, making it some what
unpleasant for participants and specta-
tors. but not interfering with the cere-
monies. All the arrangements were
carried out in perfect order from the
great pageant through the streets of the
city to the imposing ceremonies at Bed+
loe's Island. NJ. de LeSseps and NJ. Bar
tholdi, and. indeed, the entire French
delegation, were enthusiastic in their
appreciation of the tine execution of the
program. Fully a hundred thousand
people were added to the million populs-
ton of the metropolis to witness the
grand display. The procession was
several miles in lsngth, and the marine
display was very fine. The exercises on
Bedloe's Island could not be witnessed
by one third of the people. The harbOr
WAS filled with crowded steamboa and
barges, and. indeed, every sort of boat
that would float. The ceremonies at the
base of the great statue we're opened
with prayer by the Rev. Richard 5.
StorrS, d. d. Count Ferdinand de Les~
seps made sn address on behalf of the
Franco American Union. The Hon.
William NJ. Evarts. chairman of the
con- mittee, made the presentation ad-
dress, AID the unveiling then took place
amidst cheering, and the firing of guns.
President Cleveland, in behalf of the
United States, then accepted the gift of
France, and A Lefaivre, the represent
ative of the French republic, responded
Hon. Chauncey NJ. Depew delivered the
Grafton, and. after Gil>
mDre's Band had played "0ld Hundred"
in which chorus of many thousand
voices joined, Bishop Potter pronounced
the benediction. The ceremonies were
concluded at night with the national
salute fired from batteries ashore aud !
aaoat, the display of fireworks being
until Saturday on account of |
a dense fog.
This stupenduus statue, the largest
ever erected, being sos feet above tide
water, is now attracting the eyes of the
world. and is gift of the French people
to America. A party of French gentle
men, having made up their minds that |
It would be d good thing to get up
costly gift, to be paid for by small sub
of the masses, they engaged |
Auguste Bartholdi, young promising
sculptor, to carry out their idea, and
sent him to America 10 confer with a
committee here as to what the most
form of showing the good
will Of France to America would be-
On his arrival. he was struck with the
oeauty of New York's haroor, and see>
ng Bedloe's Island, conceived the idea
IF an immense statue, which should be
much larger than anything yet heard
If. As Liberty had its birth in this
it seemed right that the statue
should represent Liberty Enlightening
he World" This would be lasting
acknowledgement of Frances good
will, and at the same time light up the
larbor at night and be a great benefit.
When he returned me the plan
was put into execution, the money
'aised aud work commenced on the
statue, the weight of which is 10000
of which 10000 are copper and
aud the remainder wrought iron, The
height of the statue is ISL feet and that !
Of the pedestal $50 feet. The cost of
making it was $4,000, which does not
include making models, ETC., but simply
the manufacture of the statue. The
pedestal, which was built by American
and an appropriation of
Congress for putting up the statue, has
cost s250,GOO.
The pedestal contains elevators to
convey sight-seers up aud down aud
the lookout on the torch may be reach
ed by stairs through the statue. To
give soma idea of the size of this
enormous undertaking, we state that
twelve persons can stand on the torch
at one time, from which magnificent
view can be obtained. The width of
the eye is % inches, and the length of
the nose 5 feet 8 inches, aud the fore+
inger is feet II inches long.
The statue is situated upon the site
Of an old fort, and Bsdloe's Island, on
which it stands, is one of the most
accessible as well as one or the most
pleasant breathing spots around New
York. Tie solid granite walls of the
Did fort, which are in good condition,
balance well the height of the statue
aud contrast nicely with the beautiful
grass and shade trees with which the
island is covered.
There are about Is acres area in the
island. and the solid pedestal with its
wall of stone leave but
little outside space. II is said the idea
Of placing the statue on an island was
5wo-fold; first, as a beacon 10 light
The harbor, next from the fact that an
island was no. so easily reached in
case of riots. The fall of the column
~