Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1891-10-17

n The enormous crowd formed an eS
q traordinary pageant, including in It
k marvellous bulk and brilliant array no
c only high civil and military dignitarie
t OF nation, state and city, but those ais
y gathered from far and near, who wer
s closest to the general PERSONAL---VERY.,
!, wife who stood by him for wears anC
f the veterans of his original regiment
: the famous old Thirty-frst Illinois In
l fantry, with the identical coors un.
furled at his first headquarters tent.
The orator of the day was worthy the
occasion, distinguished like his subject
in camp and council the soldier-iurist.
lien, Walter Q. Gresham, Judge of the
United States court of appeals. An
impressive hush fell on the thousands
as Gen. Gresham, facing the lake,
stepped forward to the edge of the tenn
porary platform erected at the base OF
the monument, At this juncture the
spectacle, in its magnitude and pictur.
esqueness, was reminder of some vas
conception of Gustave Dore
On either side, in tiers up the greer
slope behind the speaker, distinguished
guests to the number of 500 had been
given place. Among them Mrs. Gen.
Grant, her white hair showing beneath
her widows bonnet was the cynosure
OF thousands of eyes. Massed to tn,
front of the platform and to the imme
diate right and left in one immense
solid square leaving no vacant inch OF
driveway or grass were close upon 90.
600 uniformed men-glittering infantry.
cavalry and artillery, both regulars and |
militia, grizzIed veterans of the Grand
Army of the Republic, bright plumed
knights of Pythias and seemingly cornt
less similar organizations. Back of all
these, separated on one side by the mar
row lagoon or regatta course, thore
swarmed over the wide stone beach and
espanade to she waters edge, a veritu,
bic locust cloud of the general public
old men and young, women and chill.
dren, and every one intent on the prc.
ceedings, as II their lives depended OF.
the outcome.
Leading up to this superb elimination
IN Lincoln park, the day had been a
memorable one for Chicago Threa
miles distant at Lake Front park on the
'dge OF the business district, the large
parade had formed along Michigan ave !
,ue north and south from the Audi. s
orium. Maj. Gen. Nelson A. Miles 6
commanded the procession. Traffic was I
practically suspended by the whole city. c
'ut particularly in the wholesale quar- I
err through which lay the beginning of G
he parade route, and the scene NIL t
long the line was one of martial +
plendor. a
When the division containing the dis. p
guests had reached the base
the monument Mrs, U. S. Grant
esse Grant and his wife and their chill. d
ren were escorted to seats on the right =
Judge Gresham, and the immense :.
altering was called to order. PRAYER =,
as offered by Bishop John p. New. u VI
an, after which the statue was pre-. ~
nted on behalf Of the trustees of the ,r m
to the commissioners of Lin =.
I'm park and the people of Chicago by ~
dward I. Taylor. As the statue wa, -
lveiled a naval and military salu.,
as fired. Hon. w, g. Goudy made u,
eoch OF acceptance on behalf of the =.
rk commissioners and Mayor Wash. ar ~
lrne spoke for the citizens of Chicago ,ni m
dge Gresham was then introduced as Al,
orator of the day aud delivered an ta
,Quent address. e