Semi-weekly independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1895-1897, 1895-12-07
THE TOMB OF a HERO.
Monument on the Grave of Gen. John
&. Fremont.


In the far West. a mountain. capped
with everlasting snow, is an enduring
monument to Gen. John c. Fremont.
and ii IS now proposed he shall have
one in the East. The Associated Pion-
GERS of the Territorial Days OF Califor-
MIA have started Il movement to obtain
funds for statue 10 be erected on The
grave of the Pathfinder" who made
it possible 10 settle the States of the
Pacific coast and who preserved the
territory for the United States.
Realizing hat Fremont. although par,
ticularly cndcared to Californians. is Il
man whom the nation revered and adj
mired. it has been determined 10 give
every citizen Of the United States an
opportunity to subscribe for the fund.
The Metropolitan Trust Company. No.
80 Wall street. New York city, has been
authorized by the Pioneers Associa-
ton to receive contributions. Persons
desiring to add their mite to the mon
ument fund should send it TO this COM
pany.
The final interment of FremontS re-
mains took place last year. He died IN
the city of New York, July Is, 1890.
The body was placed temporarily in the
vault of Trinity Church and was after
ward removed 20 the receiving tomb OF
Rockland Cemetery on the Hudson.
The site selected for his grave oyerlookS
Tappan Zee and the Hudson. The
{ al, %
explorer loved so well, is no more beau
tiful on any spot on the globe. The
quaint little villages of Hastings.
Dobbs' Ferry. Irvington. TarrytoWn
and Sing Sing are on the opposite shore.
In the distance the waters of Long ISL
and Sound add to the beauty of the To-
cation.
The long delay between Gen. Ere
mOnt'S death in 1880 and his burial in
1891 arose IN part because it was unde-
termined whether to lay his body in
the earth or in mausoleum to be erect
ed above grOund, and the final determi-
nation was moi reached until the fall Of
1894. when Mrs. Fremont made re-
quest To have the remains taken from
the receiving tomb and laid TO rest in
the ground-"in the open air. for suns
and SHOWS to fall upon his grave, as he
so often unfinchingly met them in his
life of to:lsome duty DONE
1t was Mrs. Fremont's wish to have
the final internent private and with
out publicity. bat his old cOmrades-in-
arms and others who loved and rever-
ed his memory felt that the name OF
Fremont and his remains belonged to
the nation, and that they should be
permitted to attend his burial. In def
crence TO this feeling the final inter
ment and services incident thereto took
place under the auspices of the ASsO-
ciated Pioneers.
When the question of erecting me-
mortal was spoken of at the grave Of
the Pathfinder. and afterwards more
fully discussed at the annual meeting
Of the Pioneers. the opinion obtained
that very many, if not all, of the early
day CalifOrnianS would feel it 10 be a
privilege an5 also a duty to cooperate
with the Associated Pioneers in con-
tributing and in raising the funds nee
cSsary for Il monument. The opinion
was also expressed that if the general
public were invited to contribute TO
this grateful and patriotic work. fund
sufficient TO erect very expensive and
IMPOSING structure. monument worthy
Of the man. would be readily contrib
uted; but upon the suggestion that this
great publicity would probably wound
the feelings and the constituencies of
Mrs. Fremont, 1t was deemed best to
cOnfine the cost OF the monument to
10000 and also confiDe the movement
to the Pioneers of California, as also
his military, political and personal
friends.
Mrs. Fremont was notified and sent
the following answer:
This will assure you that the idea Of
n memorial by the Pioneers and Loyal
Legons IS entirely congenial to my feel
ings, and for some reasons better than
any personal memorial. The general
did belong to his country, and did do
it great and unselfish service, and while
| could not ask can value and thank
fully accept so appropriate and friendly
a tribute
Upon receiving this response a num-
Der of artists and sculptOrS were asked
TO submit designs for monument that
would express artistically and impress
sively the following story:
In FremOnt's first expedition across
the continent in 1912 they had made
the ascent of what is called Fremont's
Peak. now in Wyoming, where, by act
of Legislature. it is reserved as State
Park.
Returning to their camp of deposit
near Il great rock 1000 miles beyond
the Mississippi, to which the national
name of Rock Independence" has
since been given, he wrote:
Here, not unm.ndful of the custom
of early travellers and explorers in our
country. I engraved on this rock of the
far West symbol of the Christian
faith | made on the hard granite the
impression Of large cross which L
oovoral win, n black prana of In