The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-10-15
A TRIBUTE OF THE WEST TO THE
WARRIOR PRESIDENT.
The Scene in Lincoln Park One Of Grand
and Stirring Splendor Thousands Of
People Assembled to Do Honor
to His Memory.

the sky-that was what, suddenly
outlined against the heavens, through
= front and rear of artillery, the huge
bronze statue of Gen. Grant looked
like today to nearly hundred thou.
sand people on shore and ship at the
long beach in Lincoln Park. High in
air, topping the hill, the gay shape
less bunting, surmounting the massive
, pedestal of granite, had quickly been
withdrawn, disclosing, as if by magic
the old commander in magnificent
proportions. Scores Of bands at
the instant crashing forth the Star
Spangled Banner, troop upon troop
presenting arms, the mighty assem-
blaged in the park ground almost as
far as eye could reach, bursting into
cheers reverberating like the surf in a
storm, while out on Lake Michigan
through a tangle Of masts and flags
whistles Numbered the deafening
boom Of a presidential salute. 1t was
the unwilling of the tribute of the
West, the largest, and perhaps the
most entire, equestrian casting ever
made in America. 10 the multitude
present the great silent figure OF
Grant, firm in saddle, looking steadily
across the broad eXpanse of waves,
seemed for Il minute as if he were
again in life, and to the excited throng
about him as if he was sean
ming the horizon for enemies of
the land which in Gods providence
he had been called to majestically de-
fend. In the enormous crowd, it was
noticed, though it appeared to be an
informal gathering, that the never
theless extraordinary pageant in
Guiding in it's marvellous bulk and
brilliant array, not only the high civil
and military dignitares of henation,
state and city, but those also gathered
| from far and near, who were close to
the General personally, the wife, who
stood by him for years, and the vet
Grams of his original regiment, the
! famous old Twenty-First Illinois In
fantry, with the identical colors, I'M
furled at his first headquarters tent.
The spectacle in it's magnitude and
picturesqueness was reminder of
some vast conception of Gustav Dore.
On either side in tiers up green slope
behind the speakers distinguished
guests to the number of 500 had been
given places. Among them Mrs.
Gen. Grant. Her white hair showing
beneath her widows bonnet was the
cynosure Of thousands of eyes. Mass
ed to the front of the platform and to
the immediate right and left in one
immense solid square, leaving no
vacant inch of driveway or grass, were
close upon 10000 uniformed men, gilt
tering infantry, cavalry and artillery,
the Eightieth regulars and militia,
griZzled veterans of the Grand Army
of the Republic, bright plumed
Knights of Pythias, and seemingly
countless similar organization. Back
of all these, separated on one side by
a narrow, but a mile long lagoon or
regatta course, there sWarmed over
( the side of the far stretching shore
! beach and esplanade to the waters
| edge a veritable locust cloud of the
general public, old men and young,
women and children, and every one
intent on proceeding as if their lives
depended on the outcome. Beyond
this living panorama could be
seen in beneath an evolution through
waves, an imposing flotilla Of nearly
two hundred vessels, three abreast,
was the order in the marine display,
and a noble sight it was, as the squad
ron made it's way along almost within
mailing distance, all decorated in reg
ulation style. From bow to stern, up
over the mast tops there hung line
of fiuttering flags. On the inside,
next to the shore, tugs, small yachts
and little passenger steamers were
ranged. Leading up to this superb
elimination in Lincoln Park the day
had been memorable one for Chicago
Three miles distant at LakefrOnt
park, on the edge of the business dis
tricts, a large parade had formed
along Michigan avenue north and
south from the Auditorium. Major
General Miles, u. S. A, commanded
the procession in person. Traffic was
practically suspended by the whole
city, but particularly in the wholesale
quarter through which lay the be-
ginning of the parade route and the
scene everywhere was enc of martial
splendor.
MIS-. bIuut ICNlt llle l)dIdue dU
the monument, and Right Reverend
Bishop John p. Newman standing
with uplifted hands, his silvery hair
stirred by the freshing breeze, offered
the invocation. Thousands of heads
bowed and hearts throbbed as the
bishops fervent words were waited |
out over the vast assemblage. When
the last amen had ceased to echo, Col. |
Edward S. Taylor in an eloquent adj
dress made the presentation on behalf
of the monument association to the
commissioners of Lincoln Park in
trust for the people Of Chicago.
At prearranged signal the Young
daughter of Gen. Strong loosened the
cord binding the bunting that con-
cealed the eighteen foot bronze horse
and rider on the great pile of stone,
and as every curve of the noble steed
and soldier stood out and the stern
face of the dead sprang into view,
great plaudit and salute arose that
was American from the heart. When
the last rumble of the last gun had
ceased Hon. w. G. Goudy, as presi-
dent of the Lincoln Park commission