Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-08-05
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THE PUTNAM STATUE.
An Equestrian Figure in Bronze of the
Old Revolutionary Hero.

An Equestrian Figure in Bronze OF ths
Old Revolutionary Hero.
An equestrian statue of General Israel
Putnam, the famous old Revolutionary
soldier and the hero of the courageous fight
with the wolf in the cave, was unvailed re-
Gently on the public green in the historic old
town Of Brooklyn, Conn. The sculptor is
Earl Gerhardt and the statue was paid for
by an appropriation of the Connecticut
Legislature. The location Of the memorial
is not quite three miles from the mouth Of
the cave where General Putnam met and
killed the wolf, and it is within few
moments walk OF the fttie field the old
soldier was plowing when the cali to arms
brought him from his farm to the command
of regiment in the Continental army.
The statue is of bronze and stands twen-
ty-six feet high from the pedestal The
base Is Of granite, with wreath of oak
leaves carved about the top. On either
side Is bronze tablet bearing this inscrip-
ton:
6acred be this monument to the memory OF
Israel Putnam, Esq, senior Maior-General in
the armies OF the United States of America,
who was born at Salem, in the province Of Mas
sachusetts, on the 9TH day of January A. d.
lis and died the 18th day OF May A. D.
1872. Passenger il thou art o soldier. drop
tear over the dust Of hero who, ever atten-
tive TO the lives and happiness ofhIs men, dared
to lead where any dared to follow; if a patriot,
remember the distinguished and gallant serv-
ices rendered thy country by the patriot who
sleeps beneath this marble; if thou art honest
generous and worthy, render a cheerful trib-
ute of respect to man whose generosity was
singular, whose honesty was proverbial, who
raised himself to universal esteem and ofaces
Of eminent distinction by personal worth and a
useful life.
Governor Lounsbury accepted the statue
or. behalf of the State, and the citizens
gathered about the beautiful memorial and
cheered with enthusiasm. Every school
child is familiar with the name of the old
Revolutionary hero on account of his en-
counter with the wolf when he was a young
man full of the same spirit of daring cour-
age which characterized him later as
soldier. General Putnam was born In the
famous old town of Salem, Mass, January
z, IT'S He was the eleventh of a family Of
twelve, and the bare necessaries of life
were to him Injuries. He was boy of un-
usual physical strength and bravery, but
never had much Of what was called .school-
ing" When Israel came Of age he had a
few pounds saved up, and with the money
he bought little farm in Pomfret, Conn
1t was here that the illustrious Israel had
his encounter with the wolf. For several
years the farmers had been greatly
harassed by the midnight depredations Of
the animal, and day after day they awoke to
find their sheepfolds broken into. The
creature grew holder, and the cattle began
TO be attacked. At last young Putnam's
farm felt the effects of the ravages, and he
made inquiries to find out if the wolf was
an old resident.
The plucky young farmer was surprised
that the creature should have been toler-
ated so long, and he determined that he
would rid the neighborhood of the nuisance
if it could be done. The next night he sat
up and watched and towards morning the
wolf made her appearance. She was a
huge animal, and had become fat and en-
boldened by her long years of unmolested
thieylng. Israel made his appearance as
the wolf approached, and followed her off
through the wood To a cave. 1t was lone
some journey, but the young man felt re-
Joiced TO have located the beast When the
wolf reached the cave she entered, and
without moments hesitation Israel fol-