The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1889-10-26

Tie SHAFT that will Perpetaate the
Memsry Of Rrayt Indian Fighters.
Duly Dedicated.
correspondence Fairmop. Index.

! Correspondence Fairmopt Index
A correspondent at Rivesvills
sends us the following interesting
account of the erection and recent
dedication of the David Morgan
monument.
The Morgan family some time
siuce conceived the idea Of erecting
a memorial shaft on the John p.
Morgan farm below Rivesville, to
mark the spot and perpetuate the
memory of David Morgan's famous
encounter with the Indians in March,
177s. To this end they procured
the services of Hanes Jones. a very
excellent workman in stone, and
quarried from native rock-which
by the way is very light in color and
solid and durable in character-a
monument which will endure for
ages to come. 1t rests on founda-
ton stones deeply and securely
bedded. The bottom course is 81
feet square, and IS inches high. The
second square is four feet square,
and p feet high. The third course
is cube three feet every way. On
this stands the column or prism,
which is 8 feet high, 26 inches at
base and 10 inches at top, making
the entire monument, including foun-
dation exposed, l6 feet above the
surface, On the south side on sec
ond course is inscribed.
Erected in Memory Of David Morgan to Mark
the ground on which occurred his famous
counter with the lndians"
On the column in front is a gun,
tomahawk, scalping knife and pow
der horn, in sort of monogram
style, and on the reverse side is a
plain panel. The design is good,
and makes il look neat, and the
workmanship as well as quality of
material is most excellent.
Last Saturday, October 18th was
fixeo as the day for the dedication
of the monument, and about 400
persons assembled TO witness and
participate In the ceremonies. A
picnic dinner was spread and after
the delicacies provided had been
duly discussed, Ex-Governor f. H..
Pierpoint, lineal descendant of the
hero of the encounter, delivered an
address, opening with genealogy
Of the Morgan family, showing them
from Morgan Morgan, of the 10th
century, to the present day when a
portion became Pierpoint. He was
followed by Stephen Morgan, of Up
shur county, nephew of the boy
Stephen now gone down to history,
who related some "reminiscences as
he had heard his uncle relate them.
Next in order came paper read
by Prof j. w. May, late of Ben
wood, and prepared by Charles r.
Morgan, Esq, Of this county, Civ
ing the traditional description of the
fight as remembered by those who
participated therein. AS this ac-
count differs somewhat from DeHass.
Withers and others, it will be offered
for publication as soon as arranged
AipSi tit uUlldJlNC was 1tlD wi L.
w. E. Watson was called for and
spoke entertainly for short time,
which concluded the dedictory GER
emonies. 1t was proposed to enact
for the pleasure of the crowd, in all
its historic details, the brave fight of
Mr.. Morgan with the Indians, but
one of the red men cast for the play
failed to be present, and it had to be
abandoned The other Indian was
on the ground, however, in the per-
son of Pen Radcliff, who gave some
clever exhibitions of horsemanship
and skill in throwing a lariat, de-
lighting all who saw him. Scott
Stewart, the photographer, was there
and secured several good photos of
the monument and the crowd. The
day was favorable and the occasion
will long be remembered. Quite a
number were prevented from coming
from Upshur county on account of
insufiiciency of the notice. Still the
projectors should be proud of their
success.