Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1891-05-02
THE GRANT MEMORIAL.
Ground Broken for the Monument
at Riverside Park
In Honor OF America's Greatest Soldier
Thousands Of People Gather ut tho
Tomb and Pay Roverenco to
the Dead Hero.

NEw YoRK, April 2s.-Thousands of
people assembled in Riverside park yes
terday to witness the ceremonies at
tending the breaking of ground for the
erection of the monument to the late
Gen. Grant. The weather was clear and
cool with bright sunlight Yesterday
was the sixty-ninth anniversary Of the
birth of Gen. Grant and was therefore
selected by the Grant monument associ-
alton as the most appropriate occasion
for the ceremonies.
Elaborate preparations had been COM
pleted for fitting observation of the
occasion. Charles Fl. Freeman depart
ment commander of the Grand Army of
the Republic for the state of New York,
presided and ofiiciated as master of
ceremonies. He with his own hands
grasped spade at the appropriate mo-
ment and dug the first earth from the
mound upon which the memorial to the
hero of Appomattox is uto be reared
Hundreds of veterans of the war who
loved and obeycd and even now worship
the memory OF that hero participated in
the ceremonies
Shortly after o'clock the veterans
began to assemble. They were soon
Joined by Gen. o. o. Howard and n com
pany of infantry and battery of ar
tillery. The navy was represented by
Admiral Braine and his staff. The vet.
rams and the regulars under Gen. How
ard at once took up position forming
-, 1n ,,lN 4I,,
inaries were quietly and simply effected.
There was no marching ald counter.
marching and the strains of martial
airs were entirely missing. The mem
bers of the Grant monument associa.
ton and guests of the day were re.
ceived at the Clarcmont hotel Just di.
rectly north of the mound by the Alex.
andcr Hamilton post.
After the prelilninaries of the reccp
ton were finished the members of the
association and their guests were es.
corted to n larger platform which had
been erected near the mound and seats
were provided for them. This platform
accommodated about 1000 people. On
it were also seated the members of the
Grant family, including Mrs. Nellie
Sartoris, nee Grant, who recently ar
rived from England. The steamer Yam
tic, which lay in the Hudson directly
opposite the tomb, fred a salute in
honor of the dead general.
The exercises began with an overture
by the marine band. Rev. DR. Ctnrl;
Wright, chaplain ON the staff of Com.
mander Freeman, then led in prayer.
The prayer was followed by the sing.
ing of the "Star Spangled Banner" by
a large chorus under Silas G. Pratt, the
well-known American composer. Gen.
Horace Porter, who was then intro
duced, delivered the Grafton.
This was followed by the singing o!
America" by the chorus and audience.
The ceremonies ended with the laying
of the corner stone of the monument
and the benediction by the chaplain.
Before the regular ceremonies com
commenced Lawson n. Fuller, accom-
panied by 800 school children from the
Sheltering Arms institution and drum
and fife corps playing America,
marched by the tomb with flags
dropped. Each child carried small
bouquet of forget-me nots, which were
cast upon the tomb. Before breaking
the sod Commander Freeman made a
few remarks eulogistic of the late Gen
Grant. The breaking of the ground
ended the ceremonies and the crowt
dispersed.
The monument will be about 100 fee
square. 1t is intended first to build the
portion of the monument designated il
the plans for the reception of the sar
cophagus, and this will be completed a
if it were to be an independent struc
ture and without regard to the othe,
portion before anything else is under
taken. The fund already in hand, abou
$150,OoO, is more than ample to meet th'
cost of this part of the monument