The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1892-04-30
President Harrison Performs the Cere
mOny in Presence of Vast
Multitude.
The Wife of the Dead Hero Among
the Distinguished Per-
sons Present.



anniversary of the birth OF General
Ulysses S. Grant occurred today, and
the occasion was selected for a most
appropriate commemoration, the laying
of the cornerstone of the imposing mon
ument which is to guard the last resting
place of the great soldIer-patrlot on the
bank of the Hudson in Riverside park.
The day dawned clear and beautiful
with balmy breezes and generous sun.
Flags were unfurled to the breeze from
the peaks Of federal and municipal
buildings and hundreds of private houses
were decked with gay bunting, and the
national colors met the eye at every
turn. The legislature ordained that the
solemn ceremonial of laying the corner
stone Of the monument to our nation
greatest general should be recognized as
state affair and that from noon to mid
night the day should be legal holiday.
1t was generally observed as such, not
only in the departments of the municipal
and federal governments. but also in the
exchanges. All factories quit work
at noon and building operations
ceased for the most part throughout the
metropolitan district. Interest of course
centered in Riverside park. the scene of
this afternoons ceremonies, and in the
earlier hours of the day people began to
set out to pre-empt places of vantage at
this Mecca of patriotic citizens. A
grand stand had been completed to seat
1900 persons. At $50 this morning the
Monitor and Miantomomah, which mad
steamed up the river from the navy yard.
dropped anchor in the Hudson opposite
the tomb and Commander Segart sent a
body of sailors ashore laden with bunt
ing and signal flags. and these were put
over the unsightly derrick and stars and
stripes were displayed from every avail
able point. At noon there was big
crowd about the Fifth Avenue hotel
awaiting the departure of the presiden-
tial party for Riverside park. Troop A
cavalry drew up on Fifth avenue and sa
lutcd the president as he entered his
carriage at l2:45 When President Har-
rson appeared at the ladies' entrance of
the hotel. on the Twentythird street
side. the crowd cheered. The president
lifted his hat and stepped into big
barouche drawn by four horses that was
waiting for him.
With the president were Cen Porter
and Lieut.. Parker. In the second car
riagwere Vice President Morton and f.
d. Tappen, and the third, Secretary
Elkins and Gen. Buttertield, in the
fourth. Postmaster General WanAmaker
and II. W. Cannon. Other carriages
which followed contained Secretary
Rusk, Cornelius Bliss, Chauncy NJ. De
pew and others Cavalrymen then
l,I Il
platoons preceding and three following
the chief executive and his party took
up the march.
The ceremonies were set to begin at
o'clock. Long before that hour, however.
$1,000 grand stand seats were filled and
the green sward adjoining was swarming
with a pushing crowd of spectators. The
speakers space on the grand stand was
fenced or with red, white and blue bunt
ing and was surmounted by a paraso
canopy lined with national colors The
United States band from David's island
was stationed just beneath the Loyal
Legion stand BY 2o'clock the crowd
had sweled to 10000. Among the dis
tingushed guests on the platform were
Gems. Schotield. Howard, Dodge and
Slocum, the only men now living who
commanded army corps during the
late war
President Harrison and party arrived
at 1:2J. The crowd checred vOcifcrously
as Gen. Horace Porter escorted Presi
dent Harrison to the speaker stand
After the band had played Hail tn the
Chief and an invocation 10y Rev. DIR
John Hall. Gen. Horace Porter, presi
dent of the Grant monument association
, made IA brief address, outlining the work
of the association.
The crowd. which was equallcd only
; by that which saw the body Of the deao
general placed in the tomb. became 50
| still that the chirp of a robin calling t.
its mate from the trees Just behind the
stand was heard distinctly. The presi
dent stood on the foundation directly ii
front of the stone. Then he passed thu
gold trowel between the stone and tn,
bed of cement beneath it and thu
. wiDdlasscs began to creak. In mo
ment the stone was in place. The cor
ner stone had been laid. President Har
, rison stepped on the small stand tina
had been erected in front and made
: brief address He spoke, in part, as fol
, lows:
/ My assignment in connection will
these exercises has to do will
} mechanics, rather than with ora
, tory; no oratory, however gifted
; can overpraise tien. Grant. Cheers,
, The most impres sive and cost.
memorial thai an architect can plan o
wealth can execute is justified whel
the name of Grant Is inscribed upon IT
Cheers This stone which has nov
been land, accompanied by this magniti
cent expression of public interest, i
only.the top stone of the foundation. |
I speaks to us of the structure, imposin!
and graceful in its completeness, whicl
| shall rise with steady progress withou
/. check or tardiness till the capstone is Sc
=. amid the plaudits of the liberal ant
patriotic citizens of this great city.