Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-07-02
Bill Nye Pays a Visit to Bunker
Hill Monument.

olAty years ago, II any memory serves
me correctly, General La Fayette, since
deceased, laid the cornerstone, and
Daniel Webster made few desulto-
ry remarks which l can not now re-
call. Eighteen years later it was for
mallY dedicated, and Daniel spoke u
good piece composed mostly of things
that he had thought up himself.
There has never been feature of the
early history and uuccasing struggle
for American freedom which has so
reused nay admiration as the custom,
quite prevalent among Congressman
in those days, of writing their own
speeches
Many of Webster's most powerful
speeches were written by himself or
at his suggestion. lie was plain,
unassuming man, and did not feel
above writing his speeches. l have
always had the greatest respect and
admiration for Mr. Webster as a citi-
zen, as Il scholar and as an eXtempo-
rancous speaker, and had he not al
lowed his portrait to appear last year
in the Century, wearing an air of in
tense gloom and plug hat entirely
out of style, my respect and admira-
ton would have continued indefinite
Ily.
Bunker Hill Monument is great
success as a monument and the view
from its summit is said to be we'll
worth the price of admission. l did
not ascend the obelisk because the in
ncr staircase was closed 10 visitors
on the day of my visit and the light
ming rod on the outside looked to me
as though it had been recently oiled.
On the following day, however, l
engaged man to ascend the monu-
ment and tell me his sensations. He
assured me that they were tirst-rate.
AT the feet of the spectator Boston
and its environments are spread out
in the glad sunshine. Every day
Boston spreads out her environments
just that way.
Bunker Hill Monument is two hum
dred and twenty-one feet in height,
and has been entirely paid for. The
spectator may look at the monument
with perfect impunity without being
solicited to buy some of its first mort
gage bonds. This adds much to the
genuine thrill of pleasure while gaz-
ing at it.
There is q Bunker Hill in Macou-
pom county, ILL.,, also in Ingham cOun-
ty, Mich and in Russell county, Kan,
but General Warren was not killed
at either Of these points.
One hundred and ten years ago,
one of Americas most noted battles
with the British was fought near
where Bunker Hill monument now
stands. In that battle the British
lost 1850 in killed and wounded, while
the American loss numbered but $50.
While the people Of this country are
showing such an interest in our war
history am surprised that something
has not been said about Bunker Hill.
The Federal forces from Roxbury TO
Cambridge were under command OF
General ARENAS Ward, the great
American humorist. When the
American humorist really puts on his
war paint and sounds the tocsin, he
can organize great deal ofmourning,
General Ward was assisted by Put
nam, Starke, Prescott, Gridley and
Pomeroy. Colonel William Prescott
was sent over from Cambridge to
Charleston for the purpose of fortify-
ing Bunker Hill. AT council of wal
it was decided to fortify Breeds Hill
not so high but nearer to Boston thar
Bunker Hill. So redoubt was throw
up during the night on the grounC
where the monument now stands.
The British landed a large force un
der Generals Howe and Pigot, and a
two p. m. the Americans were rein
forced by Generals Warren and Pom
erOy. General Warren was Of lit.
erary turn of mind and during The
battle took his hat off and recited &
little poem beginning:
stand, the grounds your own, my braves
VIII &c give it up to slayesf"
A man who could deliver an i'm
promplu and eXtemporaneous addres
like that in public, and while Their
was such bitter feeling of hostilit,
on the part of the audience, mus
have been good scholar. In on
great fratricidal strife twenty year
ago the inferiority of our Generals i
this respect was painfully noticeable
We did not have commander VIII
could address his troop in rhyme {
save his neck. Several of them wer
pretty good in blank verse, but
was so blank that it was not just tn
thing to fork over to posterity an
speak in school afterward.
Colonel Prescotts statue nov
stands where he is supposed to hav
! stood when he told his men to resery
their fire till they saw the whites {
the enemy's eyes. Those who hay
, examined the cast-iron tlint-loc
u weapon used in those days will adm
> that his order was wise. Those gun
i were injurious to health, of cours
! when used to excess, but not nece
: sarily or Immediately fatal.
>, AT tue ulne OF the third attack i
the British the Americans were out (
! ammunition, but they met the enem
with dubbed muskets, and it W.
.. found that one end of the rebel fin
u lock was about as fatal as the othe
if not more so.
Boston still meets the invader wit
!. its club. The Mayor says to the cit
J zens Of Boston: "Wait till you ST
: the whites of the visitors eyes, an
. then go for him with your clubs
u Then the visitor surrenders.
y l hope that many years may pa
before it will again be necessary fc
!, us to soak this fair land in BIRTHS
y blood. The boundaries of our Ian
are now more extended, and so
. would take more blood 10 soak it.