The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-31
WEBSTER'S LAST SPEECH
JUDGE A. A. PUTNAM GRAPHICALLY
DESCRIBES THE SCENE.
How the Magical Orators EIOquence
Impressed One Who Saw and Heard
Him for the First Time.

Judge A. A. Putnam, in Worcester Gazette.
In common, doubtless, with many others
1 had been in sore fear during the latter
days of his life that the great orator, jur-
list and statesman would pass away without
chance given me to hear or even see him.
But the opportunity came, and it was the
last afforded any one to hear him In public
address, for then was made his last pub
lie speech. 1t was in August, 1852, on the
occasion of his first return to Boston from
Washington after the Baltimore conven-
tion in which he failed to receive the pres
idential nomination. Then was accorded
him a memorable ovation. 1t was in the
afternoon. The day was very warm, but
clear and bright and all Boston turned out
in military and civic parade as perhaps it
had never turned out before. The long pro-
cession, to the music of many bands,
threaded the thronged streets of the city,
and everywhere on the way there were
banners and huzzas and bouquet presenta-
tions by pretty little girls in white. In the
carriage with the great secretary were his
son, Fletcher Webster and Franklin Ha-
ven. Other space therein was surely needed
for the inpouring floral tributes. The inten-
sity of the people to catch sight of the hero
of the hour surpassed anything have since
witnessed, though 1 have been in many
sidewalk crowd on similar occasions. AS
the carriage wound round street corner
I caught my first glimpse of the man. Even
now, after forty-five years, recall with
kind of shortness of breath the startling
effect produced on me, such were the fore
head, eye. brow, face, as with uncovered
head and impressive Stateliness he bowed
months afterward. on hearing George S.
Hillard in the funeral Grafton in Faneul
Hall, recognized the aptness of the sim
ile-"His brow was to other brows as the
dome of ST. Peters to the smaller cupolas
below and about it,"
THE EAGER ONES KEPT BACK
On the parade ground of the Common
had been erected spacious platform, and
a large area around it was inclosed by rop-
ing alorg which were stationed soldiers as
guard against the entrance of people till all
in the procession should first be massed
about it. As ithe procession was heading in
upon the Common / pushed to position on
rising ground next to the roping at that
point and was watching the interesting
movement. l saw the elegant barouche,
drawn by six fine gray horses, and heaped
in the fore part with flowers, enter and
presently stop. / saw Webster alight there
from with white hat, blue coat. buff vest,
and black trousers, and form so erect and
statuesque that by II alone; forty rods
away, he was distinguishabe from the
dozen or more other men gathered about
him I'm the few moments of pause.
Meanwhile the processionsts were flock
ing toward the platform, and my chances
fer a spot near 1t were growing slim.
Whereupon / ran the guard. | slipped un-
der the rope and started for the stage, and
two or three soldiers came hollering and
swearing after me: but they could not
chase me and keep back the crowd, they
retreated to their posts. and got up within
ten feet of the front of the objective struct-
ure. / got there just as the platform was
filling up with solid men of Boston, old
Wings, white and bald-headed and not a
few OF them with gold-headed canes. l
saw Webster himself come upon the stage,
and the reverence and awe with which the
assembly thereon beheld him, and | heard
the shouting. like the noise of many waters
that arose from the multitude in applause
of this king of men.
The address of welcome was made BY T.
Thomas Stevenson, literally educated
merchant Of Boston and one OF the able
speakers of the time Ills address was fer