The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-10-29
P0RTLAND'S BRAVE.
The Monument to Her Soldiers and
Sailors Dedicated.
Miss Liberty Held a Great Reception
in the Square.
Speeches and Other Exercises in
Crowded City Hall.

The city of Portland at last possesses a
monument to her sons who fell In defence OF
their country in the War Of the Rebellion,
and one that is fitting and in every way q
credit to the city and to the brave men whom
1t commentaries. The monument has been
here for some time and everyone has become
pretty we'll acquainted with 1t. But 1t has
been private property until last night Now
1t is the property Of the city and every citl-
1t or shows it to stranger guest.
The exercises last evening commenced
quite early. In fact one branch of them.
the decoration of buildings, began during the
daytime, so that by nightfall there was quite
general display Of bunting throughout the
city. The square around the monument,
which had by the strenuous efforts of the
street commissioner been fully paved, was
swept clean and made ready for the great
event.
The monument itself was tastefully decor
ated with stand Of colors on the front and
wreaths on the sides. A small marquee was
set up on the upper side of the monument. In
which the executive committee of the Monu-
ment Association gathered. On the other
side. nearest the United States Hotel, was
placed the city band stand, in which the
American Cadet Band was stationed.
The three pound cannon. which was ex-
pected by some to break all the windows in
the square, was posted In front Of the
marquee and the fireworks were discharged
near by.
The first gun of the A was fired at 7.2O and
several rockets and bombs were sent off at
the same time. At the same time the gas
lamps around the monument were lighted,
brilliantly Illuminating the pedestal of the
monument. The monument itself was made
light by locomotive reflector placed in
one of the windows of the theatre on one
side, and red fire In the windows of the Lin
coin Club rooms, in the Brown Block, on the
other.
In spite of the chilly air the square was
crowded with people who listened to the
music Of the band and enjoyed the fireworks
and the national salute. r
In due time the procession from Boswerth
Post Hall, by way of the Sons of Veterans
hall, arrived in the square, circled the monu-
ment. took in the committee and Thatcher
Post. and resumed its line of march to City
Hail.
City Hall was as generally and as beauti-
fully decorated for this occasion by Captain
George E Brown, as 1t ever has been, more
than when the Army of the Potomac
held its meeting here. Broad steamers of
red, white and blue bunting depended
from the ventilator in the ceiling to the side
walls, and hung in graceful festoons along
the walls and the front Of the galleries.
Corps badges and small American flags hung
on the Corinthian pillars on the sides of the
hall, with an immense Grand Army badge
on the rear. and the United States seal, sur
rounded by flags, was in the rear of the
stage. By the sides of the seal were tablets
bearing the names Of the battles in which
Portland soldiers participated. together with
military emblems. stands Of arms, swords,
drums, etc. Over the seal was the tattered
battle flag of the 9th Maine. The reading
desk was covered with an American flag, and
the front of the platform was decorated with
evergreen and chrysanthemums.
At exactly o'clock, Chandler's Band.
which was posted in the upper corridor, en-
tirely out of sight of the audience, struck MP
when Johnny Comes Marching Home
Again." and the Grand Army posts entered
the hall by the rear doors and marched up
the aisles to the reserved seats In the body
of the hall. The Women's Relief Corps and
Ladies' Aid had come in through Reception
Hall earlier. and were all In their seats, at
the extreme front of the hall.
In few minutes more the invited guests
marched on to the stage, and in an incredi-
big short space of time the different bodies
of men. women and children were all seated,
and that without any confusion or crowding.
Last of all, Shepley Camp. S. Of ", in COM
mand Of Captain f. B. Welch. clad in their
new overcoats, and looking every inch SOL
diers, came up the aisle. marched across the
front and took seats In the left hand gallery.
The following were among the gentlemen