Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-10-15
MONUMENT GOSSIP.
Extending the Facilities for Ascending
the Shaft-Me mortal stones and Cur.
Osities.

the elevate. an the Washington Monument is
doing It's best " give all humanity q chance TO see
the earth from height OF 500 feet above the sur
iace. 50 great have been the crowds during the
past Few days that custodian Thomas has had two
benches In the car removed, In order 10 give more
room He discovered the necessity OF this one
day when the crowd inside forced the people TO
stand on the benches, whereby one OF them was
broken Their removal gives room for fully ten
more passengers Before that the greatest load
carried was thirty-eight persons, while on Friday
afternoon on the last trip forty-seven made the
ascent In the car. Beside the car passengers
quite number Of visitors nave, in accordance
with general order from Col Wilson, been al
lowed 70 walk up the shaft Care Is taken 70
secure the name and address OF some responsible
person, who Is given charge OF the party: con
siderable annoyance, however, has been caused by
these parties, some OF them racing up and down,
making great confusion and noise.
THE OLD OFFICES
10 the northeast OF the shaft have been demol-
ished, except the eastern portion, which will
stand until the completion OF the lodge. The re-
moval OF the structure exposed TO view about
twenty dirty, rusty, muddy blocks OF marble and
granite In rows along wnat had been the wall
These were the memorial stones that are yet TO be
set In the interior face OF the SHAFT They Will be
removed 20 point In the eastern portion or the
grounds, and trimmed dow into slabs to be f1tted
into the walls. They are mostly from fire CON-
panies societies and public schools. one OF them,
a great block weighing an enormous number OF
pounds is half buried in The mud and Will nave
To be excavdJed A pit was started around IL the
other morning. IL was donated by the New York
nremen.
CCRIOsITIES.
BY the Side OF the office door are three or four
small slabs leaning against the wall These are
more precious as curiosities than as memorial
stones, and will be taken to the National Museum
One Is piece OF stone from the tomb OF Napo-
leon, anu for number OF years was hidden IN the
Brooklyn navy-yard, Its Identity being a mystery.
Finally some one discovered its origin and sent IL
10 the Monument Commission. Another stone
years, set IN the lace, cdrLUucne from an Egypt
ian TOMB carved, II Is supposed, over Two thousand
years ago. Another OF these stones Is fragment
from The original chapel built 10 the memory or
William Tell, III switzerland, and the other came
from the temple or Escuiaplus, in the island OF
ParoS and NaXoS.
HEAVY PASSENGER.
The elevator has made It's trips smoothly and
without accident or incident few ladies have
become dizzy in going up and down, but there have
been no Mysteries, no falnting and no pad cases OF
fright. The attendants laugh they remember
the day, several years ago, when the Car Was
holstlns stone 10 the top. very large man.
weighing over 200 pounds, was Passenger. When
ne reacned about the hallway poinJ, became
AFRAID that his weight Was too much Tor the cables
and Insisted on Ueing let out, whereupon he
walked back to the ground.