Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-04-27

An event In which the whole nation wa
Interested occurred ON April 9th, 1892
when President Harrison laid the corner
stone Of the Gran. tomb recently com.
pleted in Riverside park, New York. The
structure rises to the height OF about III
feet and is conspicuous object from Q
long distance. Its interior contains hall
capable of holding 1000 people, and from
a gallery, about Gfty feet below the top,
visitors command fine views through win
dows made specially for the purpose.
The sarcophagus Of Gen. Grant rests in
the crypt, which il reached by a marble
stair case leading from the hall. In this
part OF the monument, which may be
known as Memorial hall, are displayed
mementoes and emblems associated with
or related to the achievements of the great
soldier in honor Of whom the monument
was erected.
New YORK, N. r., April 27.--It
was estimated, last night, that fully
half million strangers had been
added 10 the regular population of the
city, while the arrivals on the early
morning trains. from the noftheastern
states, as well as from the west, In
creased this by many thousands. There
was no attempt at elaborate decora-
tion, but the stars and stripes floated
from every fag-pole from the Battery
to Harlem. People were early astir
and the streets uptown began to fill up
at an early hour. Stands capable of
accommodating half million people
had been erected between Fifty ninth
street and the tomb, at prices for seats
ranging from fifty cents to S1U; these
being in addition to the municipal
stands and those erected on their own
grounds by residents along the line.
The formal exercises at the tomb took
place at 10 O'Clock and occupied little
more than an hour. Stands and other
seating accommodations for $4,000
people had been arranged about the
tomb, but only tithe of the occu-
pants were able to get more than
birds eye view of the proceedings
The participants and distin-
gulshed guests Of the city as
sembled at the Fifth Avenue hotel
ut 9 80, and shortly after, this pre-
liminary parade moved to Riverside
drive. Troop A, acted as escort. Then
came carriage drawn Ivy four horses
and occupied by President Nc
Kinley, Mayor Strong and Gen.
eral Horace Porter. Following
came double column Of carriages
containing the diplomatic corps, mem
bers of the cabinet, senators congress
men and governors Of states with their
stats. The commonwealths represent.
ed were Delaware, Illinois, Kentucky,
Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New
Hampshire, New Jersey. New York,
Ohio, Pennsyl7ania, Rhode Island
Vermont and West Virginia. The
parade followed the route laid ont for
the military pageant for the afternoon
The sidewalks were crowded and dis
tinguished people who were recognized
were enthusiastically greeted. 5
Little time was lost IN commencing
the programme when the rear OF tht
presidential parade had taken positions
upon the platform. The memoria
services opened with the rendering Of
"Americar by a chorus Of 1000 voices,
accompanied by an orchestra of 100
musicians under the leadership OF
Frank Damrosch. Every head was
bowedaas Bishop John p. Newman,
General Grants pastor and most intl-
mate friend. and who accompanied |
him on his tour Of the world. stepped
forward and With uplifted hands de
livercd fervent prayer, alluding to the
progress that was made BY the country
during the administration OF the man
to whom they were now paying tn I
final honors that could be paid After
the prayer the chorus gave hymn Of
thanks, and President Mckinley was
introduced. His reception was enthu-
the extreme. He spoke for
some twenty minutes 10 bis usual clear
cut style. laying slfess upon the les
sons to be learned from study Fl the
life Of the great commander. Then |
the chorus and orchestra rendered
'sThe Star Spangled Banner,ss and
General Horace Porter, as president Of
the Grant monument hssooistion, de-
livered the formal orati0n. This
sketched the rise and progress Of the
which had cuimin tied in the
erection OF ths memorial and gave
some financial aud other statistics.
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