The Russellville Democrat., 1892-06-02
The RUSSELLWLLE DEMOCRAT PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY Democrat Printing Go. RUSSELLvILLE, ARK. -
 MEMORIAL. One of the Greatest Gala Days Ever Witnessed in
 Helena. THE MONUMENT ERECTED To the Memory of Beloved Confederate Dead is Unveiled To-day. SHORT BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH Of the Young Ladies Who Took an Active Part in the Proceedings. Addresses by Senator James H. Berry, of Arkansas, and Hon. John R. Eel
 lows, of New York.
  The City Elaborately Decorated, and
 Thousands of People in
 Attendance.
To the Memory of Beloved Confederate
 Dead is Unveiled To-day.
SHORT BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Of the Young Ladies Who Took an Active
 Part in the Proceedings.
Addresses by Senator James H. Berry, of Arkansas, and Hon. John R. Eel
 lows, of New York.
The City Elaborately Decorated, and Thousands of People in
 Attendance.

HELENA, ARK, May 25.-In the
 Grand Opera House yesterday after
 noon Senator James H. Berry pre-
 sented the Confederate monument
 to the citizens committee in the
 presence of a large and enthusiastic
 assembly. Among the audience
 were many ex-Confederates
 now bent with age. When
 acts of bravery in the late war were
 referred to the veterans yelled their
 applause. In behalf of the Ladies'
 Memorial Association of Phillips
 county Senator Berry pre-
 sented the beautiful monument to
 the committee. He praised
 Phillips county's women for
 the grand work. Phillips county
 was first to volunteer in the war and
 furnished more great generals, and
 now her noble women erect the first
 Confederate monument in this state.
 He was glad to see the old flag float
 ing to the breeze. In the North
 people denounced such acts as dis.
 loyal. They are not wrong. He
 believed every Confederate would
 forever cheer their old flag.
 Senator Berry's remarks occa-
 stoned outbursts of applause, and at
 times almost deafening, and espe.
 cially that part when he paid q
 glowing tribute to Gen. Dan Key.
 holds, who fought as hard at the last battle, when he knew there was no hope, as he did at first. He
 was one Confederate who would forever be remembered. In May, 1869, the Phillips County Memorial Association organized at Phillips Academy, about fourteen miles west of Helena, Ark, with branch at Helena. The object of the or ganization was to take care of the Confederate dead and decorate Con- federate graves at stated times. Later Mrs. John T. Jones, of Lexa, Ark, was elected president, Mrs, Mary Lambert vice president, and the association began at once to gather up remains of hun dreds of soldiers who were buried in haste after the bloody battle of Helena on July 4, 1863, and to re-inter them at present burial ground, which is beautiful plateau upon picturesque, wooded hill, three hundred feet above the majestic Mississippi, which now and then makes pilgrimages to the foot of this historic hill in honor to heroes who sleep on it's crest.
 This "God's acre" was a dona- ton from Henry P. Coolidge, Hen " c. Righton and Albertis Wilkins, which won the endless gratitude of the association. Every soldier buried there, whether known or m known, has a marble slab on his head and feet, and once each year, when earth is beginning to take on the garb of spring, do these loyal women carry the first and freshest flowers of the season and garnish their graves. One of the earliest acts of he association was to bring the dust of gallant Pat Cleburne from the battlefield at Franklin, Tenn, and giving it choice spot on the Confederate hill. The ladies worked with vim to ob- tain sufficient sum to erect this handsome monument. In May, 1891, the association felt that it could safely sign the contract for the monument. Shortly after Mrs. Jones, president, died. She was succeeded by Mrs. J. M. Hanks. The monument was made in Italy, and arriv,d at Helena about two months ago. The base was presented by Col. Zeb Ward, of Little Rock. The shaft cost 5000. Other mon- uments have been erected to the memory of the Southern dead more perhaps, and costlier than the one which now stands on the Confederate Hill, and other com have produced men and women as devoted and self-sacri6c- ing, but the small group of women composing the Phillips Coun- ty Memorial Association have accomplished a work un- surpassed in the annals of the South, and deserve much praise from all true souls.
 To-day is the grandest day known in Helena for many years. Visitors from Mississippi, Tennessee and Ar kansas towns are here to the num- Der of several thousands. Helena is beautifully and elaborately decor ated with national eolors and Con- federate flags.
 At 2 pm. the procession formed was composed of the Mccarthy Light Guards, Eagle Light Battery, sons of veterans, veterans them selves of the battle of Helena, and distinguished visitors. The process sion marched to the Confederate Hill where hundreds of spectators had surrounded the monument, when at 3 o'clock Miss Alice Mitch ell, of Little Rock, daughter of Col Jas. Mitchell, Misses Blanch Hind man, Mary Tuppan and Fannie