Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-04-28
ON GRANTS BIRTHDAY
The Cornerstone of His New York
Mausoleum Is Impressiyely Laid
BY THE HAND OF THE PRESIDENT.
4 Crowd Of Forty Thousand Witnesses
the Solemn Ceremonies.
SPEECHES BY PORTER AND DIR. DEpEW

NEW YORK, April 27.-The SEVENTEEN
anniversary of the birth of General U. S.
Grant occurred to-day, and the occasion was
selected for most appropriate commemora-
tion-the laying of the cornerstone of the
imposing monument which is to mark the
last resting place of the soldier-patriot, on
the bank of the Hudson. in Riverside Park.
The day dawned clear and beautiful, with
balmy breezes and a genial 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 eve at every turn.
The Legislature ordained that the solemn
ceremonial of laying the corner stone of the
nations greatest General should be recog-
nized as State affair, and that from noon
to midnight the day should be legal holi-
dav. 1t was generally observed as such,
not only in the departments of the munich
pal and Federal Governments, but also in
the exchanges. Most of the factories
knocked off work at noon, and building
operations ceased for the most part
throughout the metropolitan district
The Large Crowds at Riverside Park.
Interest, of course, centered in River
side Park, the scene of this afternoon s
ceremonials, and in the earliest hours of the
day people began to set out to pre-empt
places of vantage at this Mecca of the
patriotic citizens A grand stand had been
completed to seat $4,000 persons. 1t was
built upon and around the concrete founda-
tion of the 100-foot-square mausoleum, at
the northern end of which rests the casket
containing the body of the dead General.
Below, on the ground, were built rough
benches for the Grand Army veterans, 5000
of whom were arranged for.
On the southeast corner of the irregular
shaped grand stand platform were seats
assigned to the Legion of Honor, while
seats for the Presidential party and dis
tinguished guests were placed in the center
of the platform, facing the. speakers ros-
trum, and to the east of the corner stone.
The corner stone is at the southwest
corner of the mausoleum, and this morning
it hung in mid-air, suspended from power
full derrick. 1t is 6x6x3 feet of solid
granite, and weighs more than ten tons
AT $50 this morning the Miantonomoh,
which had steamed up the river from the
navy yard, dropped anchor in the Hudson
opposite the tomb, and Commander Seegart
sent body of sailors ashore laden with
bunting and signal flags, and these were
testooned over the unsightlv derrick, and
the Stars and Stripes were displayed from
every available point.
Interest in the Presidential PARTY.
At noon there was a big crowd about the
Fifth Avenue Hotel, awaiting the departure
of the Presidential party for Riverside Park.
Troop A, cavalry, Captain c. F. Roe COM
handing, drew up on Fifth avenue and sa-
luted the President as he entered his carriage
at 12:45 When President Harrison ap-
peared at the ladies entrance of the hotel
the crowd cheered. The President lifted his
hat and stepped into big barouche drawn
by four horses. With the President were
General Horace Porter and Lieutenant Par
ker. In the second carriage sat Vice Presi-
dent Morton and T. d. Tappen; in the third,
Secretary Elkins and General Butterfeld:
in the fourth, Postmaster General Wana-
maker and John H. Starln, and in the fifth
Secretary Noble and H. W. Cannon. Other
carriages which followed contained Secre-
tsry Rusk, Cornelius Bliss, Chauncey NJ.
Depew and others.
The cavalrymen then wheeled into column,
end with four platoons preceding and three
following, the highest Executive and his
party took up the march.
The ceremonies were to begin at o'clock
Long before that hour, however, the II, 900
grand stand seats were filled, and the green
sward adjoining was swarming with push
ing crowd of spectators. The Loyal Legion
and members OF the Grand Army of the Re-
public were the first TO arrive.
BY 2 o'clock the crowd had swelled to 4O.-
900. The arrival OF the old veteran, General
Franz Sigel, about this time was the signal
for an outburst of cheers by his G. A R.
comrades Among the distinguished guests
on the platform were Generals Schofeld,
Howard, Dodge and Slocum, the only men
now living who commanded army corps
during the late wal.
President Porter's Initial Remarks.
President Harrison and party arrived at
2:15 The crowd cheered vociferously as
General Horace Porter escorted President
Harrison to the speakers stand. After the
David's Island Band had PLAYED Hail to
the Chief" and an invocation by Rev. DIR.
John Hall, General Horace Porter, Presi-
dent of the Grant Monument Association,
said in part:
We gather here to lay the corner stone of
a temple of the dead, to celebrate an event
which Will be forever memorable in history.
because it is the anniversary of the birth
of the illustrious soldier and citizen whose
ashes Will repose with the structure. We
meet here to perform this ceremony in the
and the brave men who followed him to vic
tory.
Although the fund required for the com
pletion of this monumental tomb is large ft
was decided to lay the corner stone to-day,
in the confident belief that this patriotic
work. once begun, will never be allowed to
stop until completed. Two hundred and fif-
teen committees are now actively at work
They have enlisted for the war, and if nee
essary will fight it out on this line if it takes
all summer a report of the progress made
IN obtaining subscriptions up to last evening
has been received. l have great satisfac-
tlon in announcing to you that the total sub
scrlptions made up to that date, as the result
OF its four weeks work amount to 500, 500.
The work of obtaining subscriptions will
continue until every company, firm and in
dlVldual has been offered an opportunity to
subscribe. While some generous subscrip-
lions Will be received from other cities. the
people OF the nation have seemed to say to
New York, You have secured the honor of
entomDlng within your borders the ashes of
Amerlcas greatest captain: the memorial
to be reared will be the chief ornament of
your city, pilgrimages will be made from all
quarters OF the globe to visit that Mecca.
You are the metropolis and the center;
you must unalded, build the structure. New
York has accepted the challenge and will
make good her word.
The Laying OF the Corner Stone.
AS the moment drew near when the stone
should be placed in position the mighty
throng of persons on every side became
very quiet Workmen manned the wind
lasses on either side of the immense lump
Of granite. With heads uncovered they
waited for the President to scatter the
mortar, when they would receive the signal
to lower the stone. The President stepped
down from the platform. A gold troweI
placed in his hand, ne stepped over to the |
southwest corner of the foundations. The |
crowd, which was equaled only by that |
which saw the body of the dead General |
placed in the tomb. became so still that the
chirp of robin calling to its mate from the |
trees Just behind the stands was heard dis |