The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1894-06-09
"REMINISCENCES OF GRANT.
J0HND. BOYLE TELLS OF HIS VISIT
In 1869.

~ Aotos
The Anniversary Of the HERDS Birth
day Recalls How the General Placed
Box in the Corner Stone Of the Town
Hall. He Did Not Want TO Make a
Speech. Another Visit When the Pan.
lie Of '73 Commenced.
Washington Pa. Observer
Friday was the 72nd anniversary
of the birthday of General U. S.
Grant and in honor of that departed
hero of the late rebellion, flags were
displayed in many cities and towns
of the United States. G. A. r. Posts
everywhere hung out the stars and
stripes. The flag of Post No. 100 of
Washington loated in the breeze all
day in memory of the dead soldier.
Apropos of the anniversary the
following interview with John d.
Boyle is printed in Fridays Dis
patch.
Il we'll remember the first public
reception ever rendered General U.
S. Grant in Washington county,
said Mr.. Boyle, yesterday. "Grant
paid frequent visits to w ashington
during his administration, as he
had relatives there; but, strangely,
up to the time that / refer to, his
coming and going had been treated
like that of any ordinary person
The town council previously had
been Republican, and its indifference
upon the matter of Grants visits
caused no little censure to be heaped
upon that body. We learned that
General Grant was coming to Wash
ington, to arrive from Pittsburg
September Is, 1869. Here was a
chance for the Democrats, who were
then in charge of the councils, to
take the laurels that their Republi-
can brothers had failed to avail
themselves of. | was burgess at the
time, and a public meeting was
called at which it was resolved to
give General Grant public recep-
tion and welcome upon his entry in
TO the town. Committees were ap.
pointed and the councils and public
schools were invited 10 participate.
There was no railroad between Pitts
burg and Washington at that time,
and so, on the day he was expected,
we formed calvaleade of about l.
900 men to meet the President. We
went out the Pittsburg pike and met
him about three miles from the Dor
ough line. He was driving in a
carriage; seated beside Judge Nc
KEENAN,. He was somewhat sur.
prised at the procession and drew
up his carriage. Major Ewing then
arose in his carriage and announced
what the demonstration meant, and
] in turn offered him the hopitality
of the town. It is not difficult to
remember General Grants accept
ance, it WAS characteristic of him.
He arose and merely bowed, not say.
ing word After he evidently
thought he had made sufficient &C
acknowledgement, he turned and said
pleasantly IF this is public re-
ception, suppose l must get in the
carriage with the Burgess" He
then got into my carriage, and the
procession started for town. The
General chatted pleasantly, as we
drove along, about the beauty of the
scenery, the development and evil
dent prosperity of the country, but
as soon as we met the tremendous
crowd near the borough line, which
was waiting to greet him, it seemed
to seal his mouth. From that time
on he said nothing, but simply bow
ed. After a short distance we met
Colonel William Hopkins, at the
head of 1000 school children, who
had turned out to greet the Presi-
dent. 1t was thought that the sight
of so many children would surely
move him to speak few words; but,
Notwithstanding the rousing well
come he received when we drove
through the two lines of the little
ones, the General still held his peace
We drove through the town out to
the Smith residence, the owner of
which was relative to Grants
mother, and then left our honored
guest"
THE corner stone of the town hall
had just been laid and it was decid
ed to invite General Grant to place
a box containing memorials of the
present and past in it so that future
generations could learn our history.
Armed with letter from the Bur-
CESS and Councils asking the Pres
ident to perform this ceremony, on
Saturday, September Is, we went
out to the Smith residence the next
day. We found Grant enjoying a
rest, and he received us in one of
the rooms. We presented the letter
and, without moments hesitation,
General Grant picked up pen lying
upon the table and sitting down at
the table dashed off a letter in which
he said at will afford me pleasure
to comply with your request-en-
HANGED pleasure, because your coun-
ty and town we're named in express
honor of the Father orour Country
(whose name they bear, whose name
is revered by every American citi-
zen who loves his country" As the
ceremony was fixed for 2:30 O'Clock
We had arranged to call for the Pres
ident at 2. / remember he asked
what the programme was to be, and
when told he added in way that
expressed his feelings: swell, am /
to speak? When told he could use
his own pleasure about that, his face
frightened up a little and he seemed
contented. He wore a troubled look,
however, and all through the cere
monies kilograms were brought to
him, which he opened eagerly, and
after reading thrust them into his
hat which he had before him. When
it came his turn to place the box in
the corner stone he did so without a
word. After the ceremony the pres
ident was escorted to the courtroom,
where a general greeting was given
him. During this part Of the day
the president told me that he would
be compelled to leave for Washing
ton the next day, as there was a.
financial panic. We then discovered