The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1896-01-11
IN MEMORY OF FREMONT.
a Monument to Be Erected In the
East to Marx the Hero's Tomb.

A Monument to Be Ere oted In the
East to Marx the Hero's Tomb
A Beautiful Spot ON the Hudson River
saIeeted for the Famous Soldiers Last
R~sting Piace-Those Engaged
In the Work.
In the far west, mountain, cappeu
with everlasting snow, is an enduring
monument to Gen. John C. Fremont,
and it is now proposed that he snail
have one in the east. The Associated
Pioneers of the territorial days OF Cal
ifornia have started movement to OBJ
tain funds for statue to be erected
on the grave Of the pathfinder, who
made it possible to settle the states OF
the Pacific coast and who preserved
the territory for the United States.
The final interment of Fremont's re-
mains took place in 1894. lie died IN
the city of New York July 13, 1890. The
pody was placed temporarily in the
vault of Trinity church and was alter
ward removed to the receiving tomb OF
RockIand cemetery on the Hudson. The
site selected for his grave overlooks Zap
pan Zee and the Hudson. The pam
Drama of nature, which the great ex-
plorer loved so well, is no more beauti-
full on any spot on the globe. The
quaintlittlevillages of Hastings, Dobb's
Ferry, Irvington, Tarrytown and Sing
Sing are on the opposite shore. In the
distance the waters of Long island
sound add to the beauty OF the location.
The long delay between Gen. Ere
mont's death in 1890 and his burial in
1894 arose in part because it was unde-
termined whether to lay his body in the
earth or in a mausoleum to be erected
above ground, and the final deter1nina-
ton was not 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 undinchingly met them IN his
life of toilsome duty DONE"
It was Mrs. Fremont's wish to have
the final interment private and without
publicity, but his old comrades in arms
and others who loved and revered 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 Difference to this
feeling the final interment and services
incident thereto took place under the
auspices of the Associated Pioneers.
When the question of erecting me-
mortal was spoken Of at the grave of the
Pathfinder, and afterwards moro 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 to be priv
ilege and also duty to cooperate with
the Associated Pioneers IN contributing
and in raising funds necessary for a
.:lonument. The opinion was also ex-
pressed that if the general public were
invited to contribute to this grateful
and patriotic work fund sufficient to
erect very expensive and imposing
structure, a monument worthy OF the
man, would be readily contributed; but
upon the suggestion that this great
publicity would probably wound the
feelings and the sensitiveness of Mrs.
Fremont, it was deemed best to confine
the cost of the monument to $4,000,
and also confine the movement to the
pioneers of California, as also his mill
tary, political and personal friends.
Mrs. Fremont was notified and sent
the following answer:
'sThis will assure you that the idea Of
a memorial by the Pioneers and Loyal
Legions is entirely congenial to my
feelings, and for some reasons better
than any personal memorial. The gen
eral did belong to his country, and did
do it great and unselfsh service, aud,
while l could not ask, l can value and
thankfully accept so appropriate and
friendly a tribute
Upon receiving this response num-
bcr of artists ard sculptors were asked
to submit designs for monument that
would express artistically and impress
ively 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 great rock LOCO miles beyond
/ the Mississippi, to which the national
name of Rock Independence" has since
been given, he wrote:
''Here, not unmindful 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.
I made ON the hard granite the inn
preston of large cross, which I COW
cred with black preparation of india
rubber, well calculated to resist the in
fuence of wind and rain"
A number OF designs were received;
several Of them were very artistic and
beautiful, but the design submitted by
Mrs. Clio Hinton Huniler. of this city.
! whose genius and fame as sculptor
will soon become Worldwide, was unan-
imously preferred and accepted. The
| statue is to be Of heroic size and the feet
| Of the figure viii be on pedestal IA
| feet high, making the total height of
the monument e feet Chicago Trib-
/, une.
Chinses ARTILLERY and Dinnsr.
| II q the custom Of the best Chinese
| axtillerynen to go to dinner punctnaliy
as the hour strikes, even in the middle
| Of n engagement The better dis
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