Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-11-25
Remains Of the Brave General to
Rest at Arlington.
THE CHANGE TO BEMADE NEXT SPRING
The Interment to Occur When His
Statue is Unveiled.
S L A L U E D E L A Y E D

1t has at last been settled that the remains
Of Maj. Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock shall
be removed to the Arlington cemetery, there
to keep company with Sheridan, Porter and
Crook and the host of other heroes of the
war of the rebellion. Since February, 1856,
the remains of the hero of Gettysburg have
reposed quietly in the cemetery at Norris
town, Pa. Ever since their interment there
have been innumerable projectsfor the cree
ton of shaft to mark his resting place, but
none of them succeeded. Meanwhile the
walls of the tomb containing the remains of
the great soldier have gradually crumbed
away. They were made of poor quality
of sandstone and We're badly constructed.
Thus, while for nire years the people of
Norristown have added much to the repute
CT their abiding place by boasting of the
presence in their vicinity of one of the
nations most distinguished dead, nothing
was done to keep the tomb in good condition,
nor does there appear ever to nave peen
serious effort to mark the sacred spot with
a monument of the character 1t deserved
The condition of the tomb finally became so
bad that 1t impelled a Pennsylvania officer
to offer to defray alone the expenses of re-
building the wretched structure-a plan that
would have been carried out had 1t not been
recently made apparent to the would-be
benefactor that the Second Army Corps AS
scciation has secured the consent of the
relatives of the deceased hero to remove the
generals remains to Arlington.
Action to accomplish this purpose was
taken at a recent meeting of the associa-
ton in this city, and committee was ap-
pointed to carry the project into effect Ihis
committee consists of Gen. Batchelder
quartermaster general of the army; Gen
Joseph S. Smith, Gen. j. e. Brady ana COL
George A. Arms.
To he Brought Here.
The purpose of the Second Army Corps is
to bring from Norristown the remains of the
general and renter them at Arlington.
When the proposition was first made 1t
caused great Indignation at Norristown ard
vicinity. According to a press dispatch from
Norristown at the time. Gen. Hancock per-
Sonally selected Montgomery cemetery as
his place of sepulture. The tomb vas
erected" says this dispatch, soon after the
death of Gen. Hancock's daughter, and he
gave minute directions as to the details OF
its construction, even to the inscription on
the door. which, he said. in letter dated
Governors Island. N. Y, July 49, lSS',
should be Hancock and be placed some
where the inside Of the vault. 1t was
his emphatic declaration on numerous coca
sons, in the presence of persons still living,
that it was there he desired his remains
should repose. Within 800 yards of the
tomb are the walls of the little old-fashioned
house into which Hancock was brought
when seven weeks of age, after the removal
of the family from Montgomeryville. this
county, where he was born. Equidistant In
the opposite direction is the grave of Gen.
John f. Hartranft. and in the same cemetery
are the tombs of Gems. Zook and Slemmer.'
Consent Given.
Notwithstanding these representations,
the committee of the Second Army Corps
Association has decided, with the full APP
prevail of the surviving members of Cen
Hancock's family. to remove the remains Of
the illustrious soldier to Arlington cemetery.
The last obstacle to such action has been
removed, and 1t would have been lone this
month, but for an unlooked-for delay in the
erection of the Hancock statue at the site
selected for it, at the northwest corner of
Pennsylvania avenue and 9TH street. 1t was
generally expected that this statue would
be in position during the present month, and
arrangements had been made to have the
interment of Gen. Hancock's remains in
Arlington cemetery occur at the same time
with the unwilling of the statue erected to
his memory. The failure Of the contractors
for the casting of the statue to have it in
position this month, however, has necessi-
tated an entire change in the original pro-
gram.
To De Done Next Spring.
1t being practically settled that tine statue
will not be in position before next spring,
the committee having charge of the transfer
of Gen. Harcock's remains from Norristown
10 Arlington mas decided to postpone such
action accordingly.
The action of the committee is due to the
desire of the Second Army Corps Associa-
ton to have the ceremonies attending the
two events occur simultaneously The de-
lay in the completion of the statue on time
is said to be due entirely to the failure Of
the Gorham Manufacturing Company in
making the bronze castings within the con-
tract time.
CONGRESSMAN IN TOWN.