Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-02-19

son were elevated to their positions. ana
| there were the three greatest defenders
| Of American liberty and independence
proudly honored together.
After enduring the pelting storm lor
| some time the writer took refuge In the
Capitol whence the whole pageant could
| he viewed Even when out on the square
| h,. could not hear much that was said
until Governor Wise came TO speak.
| Then he could not refrain from auiiblv
| exclaiming: Thank God for stump
speaking" as IT had done so much to-
, wards training that eloquent tribune
WIDOW OF THE SCULPTOR.
The mourning widow of the lamented
sculptor. whose death had prevented him
from enjoying this grand coronation OF
his marked success was also viewing II
from the Captol-sadly enough. no
doubt: hut her gloom must have been
alleviated by the decided triumph Of him
whom she had loved and lost.
Before Crawford's decease changes had
been made as to the statues which he
was 10 execute. At one time the commits
sioners resolved to substitute General
Andrew Lewis. Monroe. and Madison for
Generals Morgan and Henry Lee ani
the allegorcal representation OF Virginia,
but at last George Mason and Thomas
Nelson were put in the place OF the tw"
Presidents.
Crawford died i'm London October 10.
1851. but had completed all the statuary
except Lewis and Nelson and the em-
blematic figures. He had even formed
but not perfected. the noel Of General
Lewis The completion Of the statuary
was committed 10 Mr.. Randolph Rogers,
/ OF New York who executed IL in sati--
factory manner This grand tribute or
| Virginia's liberality and patriotism To
the memories of her worthy sons. though
| slowly paid, was adequately paid at last.
! These statues and emblematic figures
| were erected at various dates from the
| fall OF 1851 to June "a. 1863. when the
| monument. az II now appears. was nm
/ ished Indeed it may be said that II -
J not finished yet for the contract with
| Crawford embraced two shields. repre-,
senting the coat OF arms Of Virginia.
| which were duly executed and are pro-
/ badly still stored in the basement OF IN"
! Capitol. These were To have been attach
ed TO the shaft Of the monument, which.
/ however, still bears that sole, simple an
scripton. Washington
The last commits siOners appointed were
/ William ". Crump and Robert Ould in
/ the places Of Richie and Munford. who
had ceased TO reside in the city. and VIII
liam Il. Myers in the place Of his father.
THE ENTIRE COST.
The cost of the entire monument was
SIX. sl3. 2G. Of which A7.2l2G7 was derived
from THE mcnument-iund" created 10y
TIE act Of 1873 For some Of the above
facts acknow lelgment is made TO the
pamphlet Of W. A. X. Nye. already re-
ferred TO.
\ MISTAKE CORRECTED.
At the time OF the unwilling Of the Lee
statue in May 1880 one Of the Richmond
dalies contained an account Of the Wash
! ingtor monument in which some of the
| statements were erroneous.
The drift Of the erroneous account ap-
| pears in the following extracts from II:
! "On the 22h of February, 1912 Mr.. Con-
way Robinson. one Of the most active
members OF the Virginia Historical So
| Getty. stimulated the Legislature to pass
an act TO erect on the Capitol Square our
equestrian statue Of Washington" etc.
How far Mr.. Robinson and the Legs
iature fell short OF the cost OF the monu-
ment can be seen" etc. and here comes
/ a list Of the successive appropriations
20 meet the expenses Of the structure.
Near the close of this cart before the
horse" medley, It's author says: mir. h.
/ W. Thomas presented the petition to the
! House of Delegates to provide Tor the
! speedy erection Of monument to the
! Father Of His Country 1t was signed by
| IL. II. Minor William II. McFarlane. (sic).
James Lyons. and Isaac $. Tinsley."
! Whose petition this was and how those
| gentlemen came to sign IL Is nowhere
/ mentioned: nor are we informed what be-
| came Of il. nor what II accomplished.
save that MIR. Thomas presented II to the
| House of Delegates. Mr.. Anderson would
| have gladly signed il, but was absent
| from the city
! 1t has been ascertained that the au-
! thority relied upon for one of the above
| statements is Mr.. Samuel Mordecais
"Richmond In By-Gone Days" etc, page
I 33S. But Mr.. Mordecai expresses himself
quite differently. He says: ION the 2.d
February. l49, the Historical Society
Of Virginia, or influential members OF 1t.
stimulated the Legislature TO enact that