The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-03-23
POURING THE SILVER.
The Casting Of the Montana Statue
Witnessed by Many
MontanianS.
An Interesting Account of q Me-
morable Event for
This State.
Judgc RIckford in Helena and Talks Of
judge HickfOrd in Helena and Talks OF
Worlds Fair Matters-Tho
Montana Exhibit.

from OOlCuROs ll0 WlAk kO w
day to attend to the shipment of the horti-
cultural exhibit there. and then go to Chi
capo to attend the installation of the state
exhibit at the Worlds fair. MIR. Bickford
left Chicago Immediately after the casting
of the silver statue. which he says was the
big event in Worlds fair quarters last
week.
Chicago Sunday papers all contain long
accounts of the scenes attending the cast
ing Of the statue. The work was done by
thc American Bronze company. The silver
in it amounted to 1851 pounds and
was furnished by ex-Gov. S. I.
HaussE and Hon. w. A. Clark.
The prime question. says the
Chiagco Post, in Its account. was the mold
ing. Julius Berohem, superintendent OF
the American Bronze company. has had
twentv-ssven years of experience. He Wis.
tied France, his native country, to learn q
few secrets and get tho sand for the mold.
The artisans told him that he could not
successfully cast SO large a statue Of silver.
II was impossible. they said. The casting
would be full of blow-holes and blisters.
1t would not be perfect. 1t was too big an
undertaking. The New York silver statue
of Psyche was only q little over three feet
in height.
Not deferred by the faint comfort given
him by his countrymen, Mr.. Berchem came
back and went to work. The clay model
over which Sculptor II. H. Park labored 80
long and so hard was ready to mako its i'm
press on the sand, and which in turn was to
envelop the molten silver and shape it to a
perfect, glistening creation. For three
weeks Berohem toiled, packing the sand
and putting the core in the twelve-foot pit
sunk into the floor OF the foundry. Fl.
nally the mold was completed. the flask
tichtened, and the big hollow space which
represented Ada Rehan standing on her
head was ready fox the pour.
Since eight O'Clock. in the morning a
largo furnace had been pouring its hot
breath in and around the big plumbago
crucible which contained the charge of
silver. The time set for the event WAS high
noon. and at the approach OF the hour
Paul Berchem grew nervous, and small
wonder, for q reputation and a large
amount of work was represented, and
move.
Fred j.. v. Skif was to have assisted at
the operation. but could not be present, SO
Mrs. Clara l.. Meadow. q Montana woman
and large mine owner, was selected to as
sist. her duty being simply. to place hsr
AukSko VIZ SAS sANASD Va Wv "0sS SHo
was introduced to the audience, which now
numbered nearly two hundred. and, after
a short but fervent prayer by DR.. Q. 2.
Clifford, the superintendent approached the
furnace and at 1895 drew out the cruclble,
which contained a small fortune i'll molten
silver. Six sturdy men seized the handles
of the ladle and carried the pot to the
mouth of the flask, which was not a dozen
feet away. Mrs. Meadow daintily per-
formed her task and stepped back
Betchem showed a little scum back and the
fiery silver cleaned and sparkled for an in
slant a. the crucible was tilted to the proper
angle.
Pour! Pourn.' he shouted exoitedly.
In less than two seconds the entire charge
was emptied and in a moment tho expect
ant look on Rerchem's face changed to one
of exultant joy. The metal had risen in
the overflow clean and pure and the casting
30 far was q success. A few splutteriuRs, a
few crystal sparks and the metal settled
down into the %orevices to harden and take
on the curves and form Of Sculptor Parks
beautiful model. Then the enthusiasm
broke forth and three rousing cheers were
given for the statue and three more for the
worthy foreman, who stood with his grlmy
face wreathed in smiles, his cap off and
bowling his Acknowledgements to the enthu-
siastio audience. AS there was nothing
more to be done they Boon left. The big
statue will slowly cool for forty-eight hours
and to-morrow the she'll will be broken and
the final inspection OF smiling Miss Jus
tice'' will take place.
Among those who witnessed the pouring
were Marshall p. Wilder. New York; Arthur
7. Curtin, Helena; W. Il. Kenyon. Butte;
o. W. Jackson, Helena; A. G. Logan, Hell
s. N. Nicholson, Helena; DR.. Charles E..
Hardy, New York; Mrs. Clare l.. Meadow,
Spotted Horse Mine. Montana; Judge Wal
ter NJ. Bickfotd, Missoula; James II.
Meade. New York; j. Nj. Palmer, Butte;
James Chalmers, Butte; j. Fl. Coram.
David Hiebee, Grinnell, Iowa; B. l.. B.
Cole. Helena: J. w. Provard. Helena: w.
W. White, st. Louis; ID. q. Gallagher, Dill
lon, Mont; John Ford, New York; Charles
F.. Nolkes aud wife, Missoula; w. F. Har-
velle, Big Timber; William Hough, Man
chester, England; l. s. Demsn and wife,
Butte; W. Bennett, wife and daughter,
Butte; Miss Carmichael, Mrs. Crane, Miss
Madison, Miss Cora Palmer, Miss Catherine
Palmer and Major G. c. Smith, of Mon
tana.
MI. Bedford said yesterday that the
officials at the exposition are rushing the
completion of the buildings. and that the
Montana exhibit will get to Chicago just in
season TO avoid the present confusion
caused by the wind up of building opera
tions. Referring to the declination o,
Prot. r. e.. Young of the position Of supet.
intendent of the Montana educational e1
hibit, he said he had not accepted it be
cause he did not see how he could accom-
riish what he had laid out to do unless Nj r
Young gave his aid in starting the exhibit
Prof. Young said Mr.. Bickford, "hal
spent more time in gathering the Montana
educational exhibit than anyone else, aud
believe knows moro about the proper ar
rangementt than anyone else. The plans fol
is installation are his, and he shoult
do the work. AS l understand it he doe
not decline the position because he is I'm
willing to do it., but because he canno
afford TO do it at the salary offered by :h
board, and though the trustees of the He
ena district have. as understand 1t, agree,
20 act fairly in the matter, Mr.. Young doe
not feel that the general public under
stand the condition of affairs, and he i
not willing to go If there is any chance 70
criticism OF his motives or the action Of til
trustees. ! know that Prof. Young can il
this matter do Helena more good than hi
salary for a month would amount to, and
know also that the entire state would b
satisfied with his work. | hope I will b
able to arrange tho matter before / leay
Helena"
Secretary Ramsey was busy yesterda
shipping the mineral exhibit from Helsn1
1t amounts altogether to Al, 600 pounds, Il
addition there Is about a carload at Grea
Falls, which will! be shipped to-morroy
BY next Monday all the Montana exbihi
for the Worlds fair will be on the wav /
Chicago.
Eny the Foster hook kid gloves At Tho Re
Hive, price Si.2h Every pair warranted an
fttal tn tho hand.