Bismarck weekly tribune., 1889-08-30
Ceremonies Of Laying the Corner
Stone of the Soldiers and
Sailors Monument.
The Streets and Buildings Aflame
With Decoration Colors in
Honor of the Occasion.
A Tennessee Excursion Train Jumps
the Track, killing Three and
Injuring Forty One.
Corner Stone Ceremonies.


INDIANAPOLIS. Aug. 22.-The corner
stone of the Indiana soldiers and sailors
monument was laid lhis afternoon with I'M
posing ceremonies, in the presence of the
president of the United States, many men
of ofprominence in the United States, and
thousands of veteran soldiers and sailors
If the monument commissioners themselves
had had the privilege of selecting the
weather they could not have done better
than nature itself. 1t was all that could
nave been asked. All day yesterday and
to-day trains brought thousands of stran-
gers to the city, and by noon there was not
less than 10000 on the streets.
The city was atlame with color in honor
of the occasion, with the scaffold Of the
monument in Circle park as the hub, the
streets radiated in every direction like the
spOkes of a mighty wheel, and glance up
any of them revealed to the eye nothing
save red, white and blue, the buildings be.
ing almost hidden by the decorations.
But the central interest and location was
the big scaffold of the monument itself,
looming up in the center of the city to a
distance of lao feet 1t seems to have been
built especially as form for decorator
to spread himself upon. In every direc-
ton from the top of the huge scaff0ld
ropes stretched away to the neighboring
buildings or trees, and each is strung with
a glowing rosary of pennons of countless
sizes and innumerable shapes, from gar
rison flags, thirty feet long, to tiny en-
blems of freedom, which are large enough
to crowd the three cOlors into. At the cor
ners of the scatfOld are 1000 candle power
electric lights, which will make the beauty
Of the scene as plain by night as day: The
exercises of the day, began at O'clock,
when the parade formed and began its
march through the principal streets. 1t
was made up of various posts of the Grand
Army Republic throughout the state, the
state militia and local civic org aniZatiOns.
It is estimated that 5000 were in line. In
Dick Ruckel, Immediately in rear of
the military, was the escort to President
Harrison. one hundred strong, all mounted
and in command OF Col. Oran Perry. BE-
tween the sections OF the escort rode the
president in a flag draped carriage, Mayor
Deming and Governor HOvey with him.
The president acknowledged the compli-
uclllS VI tllc CIOWu Wy ICpCdlculy llLGlu&
his hat. 1t was nearly o'clock when the
head Of the procession reached the mOnu
ment. All streets surrounding it were
packed with people, all anxious to catch
A GLIMPSE OF THE PRESIDENT
and other prominent personages who ap-
peared on the speakers stand and to wit
ness the ceremonies. AS the president
was recognized on the stand he was greet
ed with cheer, which he acknowledged
with a slight bow. The crowd watched
in silence the laying OF the corner stone by
Charles NJ. Travis, deputy commander of
the Indiana department of the G.. A. R.
The documents were consigned to their
resting place, and then the stone was
placed in position in accordance with the
ritual of the G. A. r. In performing the
ritual rites, Commander Travis was as
sisted by officers of the department and by
the presidents, respectively, of the
Sons of Veterans and the Womans
Relief Corps. When the stone had been
placed in position the national flag was
raised and "The Star Spangled Banner
ung by Mrs. F. F. Wallace. The imposing
ceremony which was too far within the
scatfolding to be appreciated by all, ended
with the firing of a salute. Following the
firing of the salute, Governor HoYey, as
presiding officer OF the occasion, made a
brief speech, and he was followed by Cen
eral NJ. D. MOnsOn, of CrawfOrdville, and
General John Coburn, of Indianapolis. AT
the conclusion OF the latter's address Pres
ident Harrison was introduced and spoke,
as also did General Rusk, Attorney-Gen
eral Miller and Private Secretary Halford.