The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1897-05-04
THE DEDICATION OF GRANTS TOMB.
IMPOSING CEREMONIES AT The
RIVERSIDE PARK.

Splendor-President McIIinley's
Tribute to His Illustrious Prede-
cessor,
With military pomp and splendor
never before witnessed in this country,
was dedicated on the 9th of April the
magnificent monument erected by the
people Of the country to the memory
of Ulysses S. Grant. The ceremonies
took place in the presence Of u great
multitude Of people. Six miles Of
str cts were lined with people ostimat-
ed to number over 100000 1t was q
tribute Of the populace to the great
American general that has no parallel
in American history. AS all Europe
honOred Napoleon's interment under
the dome OF the lnvalids, 50 did all
America honor Grant. There was
assembled on the high knoll Of the
drive, on the numerous stands erected
about the tomb, such q gathering OF
men OF ominenCe from far and nsar, AS
was strange to even cosmopolitan New
York. Standing within the very
shadows OF the monument itself were
the President and Vice President. the
members Of his cabinet, all the living
noted generals Of the country, tho
diplomatic corps, representing Great
Britain, Germany, France, Russia,
China and other nations members OF
Congress-, the Governors OF scores OF
States. members of different lcgiSla-
tive bodies throughout the country,
prominent Confederate soldiers with
whom sGrant crossed swords in the
sixties, all bent upon hOnoring the
m"MOry Of Americas celebrated
soldier.
The parade from Madison square to
the tomb vas a dazzling spectacle,
Fifty thousand men marched in solid
column amid the hurrahs Of the multi
tnde, In the North river over 200
crafts OF all description joined in the
demonstration. The warships of the
NOrUh Atlantic squadron were assem-
bled III doubled lndented column i'm
mcdiatcly opposite tho monument aud
back OF them rode at anchor a fleet
OF foreign warships which gathered
here IN honor Of the occasion. I'M
mediately behind the visiting ships
was a fleet Of United States revenue
cutters, and further down the river
were an immense fleet OF merchant
vessels.
The ceremonies began with the
marching OF the soldiers and civilians
toward the noble temple which
shelters Grants body. 1t was 1890
when Grand Marshal Dodge gave the
order for the first column to move.
V"1V hour unIll 'VCnInS GnC air
was hIled with marital music. The
Tas -arurg the route were uupro-
cedented. Hundreds of stands, each
seating thousands, had been erected
and were early in the day bcsieged by
those who were willing to pay any
where from 81 to $40 for a seat. The
greatest crowds were at Park place,
Flfty-ninth street and Fifth avenue,
the Park circle, Fifty-ninth street and
Broadway, and in the vicinity of the
tomb. The crush at the latter place
was enormous and dangerous. The
stands about the tomb and along the
driveways were particularly jammed
those just about the tomb seated up.
p~roXimately 30, 900 and the other
stands possibly go, 900 more. AS the
marching columns passed the monu-
ment on the west side, each column
gave q silent salute, which was re-
peated on the opposite side of the tomb,
where the men passed in review of the
President. The whole line Of march
>wa" beautifully decorated with flags
ID uniting. There was scarcely a
> along the route which did not
~ the national colors. Flags flew
|hopsctops, while in many in,
nces buildings were almost smother.
le cd behind p~rofuse decorations. The
"iSS cVhLiuo Ok uCCola Jtu "lUI
royal purple bunting and American
flags. The speakers desk, at which
the President presided, was covered
with the presidential Official flag. Or
other stands suspended from poles
were hung the Is army corps II gs OF
the army. From the tomb itself there
was no decoration except double vic.
tory palms bound on the face Of each
column Of the front. They were
fastened on the columns with purple
silk, which is the color used in the
windows Of the tomb to subdue the
light from without. On other munich
pal stands were placed the flags of the
foreign countries. In the centre Of
the main stand worked in national
colors was the motto: Let us have
peace" This inscription was also
carved over h facade of the tomb in
gold letters and was the first thing tc
catch the eye at close quarters.
Surrounded by his cabinet, his ger.
erals, and his friends, President Nc
Kinley stood and reviewed the grand.
est military parade ever seen in this
city. There were regular soldiers
regular sailors, national guardsmer
OF the sea and land forces, Grand Army
veterans, Confederate veterans, and
the striplings who in the future may
hight as g~allantly as their fathers did
When the cheering was at its loudes,
and when the wind had somewhat died
away, a touching scene was enacted,
which was seer by few. Silently Mrs
Grant stole away from the Presidents
reviewing stand, where she had beer
watching the gallant troops go by
and, leaning on the arm of her son,
Col. Grant. made her way to the tomb
followed only by the members OF the
Grant family. The bronze doors were
opened and the widow of the here
passed from the outside world into the
quiet of the tomb. For about ter
minutes she stayed there, and then.
with her face hidden in her hands, she
left the scene
Soon after this. President Mckinley
went aboard the Dolphin amid the
booming of guns and reviewed the
great warships that lay in the shadow
OF tho tomb. The dense crowds still
stayed in their seats and watched the
end Of the land parade. Then wher
the last company had passed out O
sight on the white roadbed, the
hundreds of thousands OF spectators
sought their homes. All traffic wa.
congested end 1T was hou. g before the
tide OF travel fell to its normal condi
tion,
b. At 100 o'clock President Mckinley
enGered the speakers stand and was
followed by the others who were tC
participate in the ceremonies. The
President, with barred head, YVES the
fret IN pntar tna afan6 Hp laapa6 mn