Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-05-03


PUT IT UP-THE BALANCED HORSE TIGHTLY
SECURED TO AN INVISIBLE BRASS PLATE-THR
STATUE CAST IN THIRTEEN SEPARATE PARTS.
There has been a good deal Of discussion
raised lately as to the feasibility of removing
the statue of Gen. jackson from its present Site
and much Of it has gone to show that the con-
structiOn of the statue is not generally known
and understood. There is one man in town,
however, an old resident of the city, who does
know all about it aud who can speak from the
actual experience he had i'll helping to con-
struct the statue and erect it on the site it now
occupies. This is Mr.. Philip McAleer, who was
brought to this city by Clark Mills and who was
associated with him throughout the whole of
the time that the statue was being made. He
is probably the only man now alive who was
actively connected with it and who is in a po-
sltlon TO speak one who knows.
Il see there has been considerable talk about
moving the statue" said Mr.. McAleer to a STAR
reporter In talking upon the subject last night.
1t could be moved. suppose, but certainly
not so readily as some people seem to think.
On the contrary, il would be quite difficult
task and would require thorough knowledge
of how the whole thing had been put together
think L am the only man who knows about
this, for the rest. far as know, are all dead.
brought me to this city fl om Baltimore, where
! served my apprenticeship, and l had full
charge of putting up the horse and rider i'll
their present position. Ii easy job,
you may be sure, and it would not be an easy
loD either to take them apart and down again.
HOW THE HORSE Is SUPPORTED.
"In the first place the horse does not stand
directly upon the rough stone surface Of the
pedestal, as it appears to do. The pedestal it.
Sa,If ic Of nlr
and the white marble that one sees on the out
side is only thin veneering cemented on. On
top of this blue stone foundation there is q
solid plate of brass weighing more than two
tons. 1t Is eight feet long. three feet wide and
three inches thick. and to this plate the legs
of the horse are fastened directly, so that it is
not merely the balancing of the horse that
keeps 1t up In position. The rough
stone top was placed on afterward
and was merely a stone mason's task
The legs are of solid iron as far up as the
thigh and are only coated with a thin sheet of
brass. like stocking. The irons inside the legs
were forged at the navy yard. From the brass
plate there runs up small brass pedestal sew
eral inches in height that was cast solid with
the plate. Into this the hoofs are planted and
then rlvet or key was driven in to make il all
solid. The rough stone was built on afterwsrd
up to the height of this pedestal, making it all
flush with the hoofs."
CAST IN MANY PIECES.
as the statue all in one pieee?" asked the
reporter.
NO" said Mr.. McAleer, ''as finally cast, it
Is in thirteen pieces. There are the base the
two sides OF the horse. including the legs the
tail, the head. the riders two boots. the hat,
Gen. Jackson's head, which was firmly set into
his stock or necktie. the two arms and the
upper and lower parts OF the body. His sash
now conceals the seam where the upper and
lower parts OF the body are joined. The boots
are riyeted on and the spurs are screwed in The
tail Is solid and heavy and of course. helps to
balance the rest of the statue, which, as rule
Is very thln-ln fact, not more than a half inch
IN thickness. The tail has an iron rod which
runs inside the body and is there fastened by
means OF large nut. If the statue were yer
To be taken apart the head would have to be
taken of first and then the tail unscrewed
from the inside. SO as to get the weight off the
legs. think that with proper aid and facilities
conld take 1t apar; and move ii, for remem-
Der very well how it was put together, although
II Is now SO long time since it was DONE"
TUE STORY OF THE STATUE.
''HOw came Mr.. Mills to undertake the con-
struction of an equestrian statue?" asked Mr..
McAleer's inquisitor.
Il remember very we'll hearing him tell
about II many time. He used to tell the story
that after he had executed "a bust of Calhoun
for the citizens OF South Carolina they con-
celved the idea OF raising sum of money to
send him to Munich for the purpose of COM
pieung his art education. On his way he
stopped of in this city, and it happened to be
Just at the time that the plan of erecting a
statue to Gen. jackson was being discussed
Although he had never done anything of the
sort before he decided to uuuert take the con-
tract and agreed To complete the statue for
$4,000. As 1t turned out 1t never could have
been done for that sum, but he started to work.
First he got suit of Gen. Jackson's clothes
from the Patent Office and stuffed it out to
give him an Idea of the figure and uniform
Then | remember he had an old sorrel horse
THAT ne used to take out and make prance
around Oh his hind legs and then would study
his actions and attitudes. With these for his
subjects he made the model. Several Ger
mans, who claimed to come from Munich
came on to this city when they heard about
the statue and they agreed to cast it in one
piece. Mr.. Mills at once employed them,
but just previous to completing the mold for
pouring IN the metal they wanted him to sign
a contract agreeing to pay them u certain
amount OF money IN case the casting was per-
fect; II not. they were to receive only days
wages Mr.. Mills saw that this was likely to
take the wind out of his sails and he broke UP
the mold. Then he brought over a German
IRON molder from Baltimore by the name of
keilhOltz. He undertook the contract but
soon found that he could do nothing with it
and he threw up tine job. The next man that
Mr.. Mills engaged was a Frenchman named
La Rue and he assisted Mr.. Mills in modelling
and finally completed the casting in thirteen
pieces, just as IL Is today.
THE DESIGN NOT COMPLETED.
"Mr. Mills was poor man then and before
the casting was half finished the money for the
statue was all expended. A number of gentle
men III this city raised sufficient money to COM
plete 1t and Congress afterward appropriated
SZO,OOo. one-half OF which went to him and the
other half TO his family. Six hundred dollars
was then appropriated for the completion of
the tablets on the side, but the monument to-
day Is not complete. according to the original
designs. 1t was always intended that the side
panels should have upon them "a representa-
ton OF the battle of New Orleans including
the historical cotton bales and ali the other ac-
cessories. Whether the country is too poor to
do II or not do not know, but the fact remains
that 1t never has been completed.
WHERE THE WORK WAS DONE.
The casting Of the statue was all done in an
old shed or stable down in the White Lot
remember that when the horse was first put up
on his feet Mr. Mills invited President Fillmore
down to inspect it, He did not come that day
The next day Mr.. Mills said to me: Mac let no
one. not even the President himself. see that
statue now. He had hardly disappeared when
saw Mr.. Fillmore coming down toward the
building. | went out and told him what
my orders were. He did not seem to
like it biz, for he drew himself
up and said to me though he meant it, Tell
MIR. Mills that Mr.. Fillmore, the President Of
the United States. was here to see his work
hon h atn1 Led OF h,,t he a h.