Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-10-17
Notes About the Dedication of the
W@ Correspondents Memorial.
an ADDRESS BY GOVERNOR LOWNDES
Talks by WeII-Known Newspaper
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Men and Others.
Ii T E R AIRY EXERCISE s
Of The Evening Star

GAPLAND, Nd, October IL, 1886.
1t would have been impossible had the
day been made to order to arrange better
weather for the dedication exercises of the
correspondents monument at this pIacel
which took place yesterday, as reported in
The Star. A large number of invited guests
enjoyed the hospitality of Mr.. and Mrs.
George Alfred Townsend, and spent a de-
lightful day rambling around the handsome
grounds and enjoying the magnificent views
to be seen in every direction. Among the
guests were Gov. Lowndes, Gen. Wilmer,
Mr.. Edward w. Mealey Of Hagerstown,
Mr.. Nathaniel Page, Mr.. James +. Taylor,
Mr.. Crosby S. Noyes, Miss Noyes, Gen.
Carmen, Gen. H. V. Boynton, Mr.. Charles
II. Boynton. Gen. fullerton, Mr.. and Mrs.
w. B. Shaw, Mr.. and Mrs. E. b. Hay, Mr..
Ed. Garrett, Mr.. and Mrs. Tom c. Noyes,
Mrs. Groynes, Mrs. Paul Jones, Mrs d. NJ
Whip, Miss Henriette Bonaventure, Miss
hay and Miss Collins of Hagerstown, Mr..
NJ. w. Burchell, Miss Tillie Montgomery
Adams, Mrs. A. s. Carmen, Miss Pomeroy
McCrney, Miss Maught, Capt. and Miss
Me Elroy, Mr. John L. Smithmeyer, who de-
signed the memorial, and many others.
LUNCH and dinner were served the guests,
and, after listening to the ceremonies,
viewing the monument from all sides, and
passing altogether day long to be remem-
bered, nearly all left on a special train at
$40.
( The exercises at the dedica ton were of a
generally informal character. Gov Lowndes
made the opening address, as follows:
-.,.. Speech of Gov. LOwndes.
Gov. Lowndes said: 'Thirty-seven years
ago today John Brown, of Puritan blood
and pertinacity, having devoted his life to
one single purpose-that of abolshinS
slavery, believing that he was Gods mes
senger to destroy it-marched from his
temporary home in these mountains with
fifteen white and four colored men, armed
and equipped for war, seized the United
States armory buildings at Harpers Ferry,
stopped all railway trains and held his posi-
ton for some thirty hours. His hope was
that the slaves of Virginia would rally
around him, throw off their shackies and
assert their freedom. He was sadly disap
pointed. Thirteen of his band, including
two of his sons. were killed or mortally
wounded and Brown and his six followers
were tried, convicted and executed. Eir
ginia was aroused and the country was in
the greatest state of excitement This act
was the opening scene of a panorama of
death and devotion the like of which We
pray may never happen again.
We have met this day to dedicate this
monument as memorial to the army cor
respondents, who were band of men equal
in heroiSm to any who fought upon either
side Of the rebellion. The armed legions
whose mighty combats and thrilling
achievements have rendered these noun
tains forever famous in history would
never have been assigned their rightful
place in our Country's annals but for the
heroic and devoted performance of duty
on the part Of those the memory OF whose
deeds this beautiful arch is designed to
commemorate If the general in command
of an army must be able to plan and exc
cute with rapidly of lightning, the success
full war correspondent must be ready TO
grasp the situation and to divine the pur-
pose of those directing the movements Of
the military.
The men who sent forward the news Of
the army and the particulars of every
event ii tranSp:red We're of heroic mold,
and their influence was felt in the field AMI
ia the cabinet. They illustrated the truth
of the saying that In the hands of men
supremacy great, the pen is mightier than
the sword Their lives We're not beds of
re ses. They moved with the first line of
advance. and were expected to keep in
formed as to the situation in the rear. To
get the first news of every movement of the
army and to write the best account of
every engagement or skirmish kept them
always on the lookout, and to be successful
they must have had the elements of cour-
age, industry, knowledge and the power of
vivid description. Justice has never been
fully accorded to that class of devoted men
who risked their lives and health that the
truth might he written and the story of
the army correctly told. In their honor,
and to perpeIuate their deeds, this magnifi-
cent monument mas been erected in this
historic gap. May it ever stand as me-
mortal to their glory.
Among the names which will go down
to posterity along with the history of that
eventful period of our national life and the
great struggle for its preservation NONE
have achieved more brilliant and lasting
reputation as reliable correspondent al
ways on the spot than that of the re-
nowned Gath and it is, therefore, pecu-
larly appropriate and fitting that to the
happy conception of George Alfred Town
send we are indebted for this beautiful
memorial and to his executive ability for
the mastery execution of his plan"