Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-05-03

the Boulevard TO RIVERSIDE drive TO the
Memorial 1t was estimated that nearly
$4,000 men were in line. There were
three grand divisions those, respectively,
of military, veterans and civics.
There were fully 10000 Union and Con-
federate veterans in the old soldiers
division, while the civic grand division,
which included patriotic societies, mu-
nicipal brigades, etc., was about, $4,000
strong. On arriving at Riverside park
the parade surrounded the tomb, being
reviewed by President Mckinley and
distinguished guests upon the platform
with him.
While the land parade was in progress
the vessels composing the naval parade
were making their way up the North
river. The parade was in four grand
divisions; the first division consisting of
the North American squadron and for
eign war vessels, the second of other
naval vessels and those belonging to the
United States lighthouse department,
the third of United States revenue cut
tiers and other vessels and the fourth of
vessels of the merchant marine.
The ships formed their columns between
Twenty-third and One Hundred and
Twenty-ffth streets and proceeded up the
river to a point opposite the monument,
when they took up positions according to
assignment. When the last division of the
land parade had passed the Memorial,
we're escorted to the Dolphin and re-
7iewed the feet.
All vessels carried flags at full mast,
giving the color salute to the President
IS the Dolphin passed up and down the
inc. Salutes by gun or whistle had been
prohibited by Rear Admiral Osborne,
spectacle was a gorgeous one. At the
conclusion of the review the presidential
party was driven back to it's hotel
Solid Pile of White Granite.
One hundred feet above mean high
water of the Hudson river, the Grant
monument stands. a solid pile of white
granite 100 feeI III height. The first
70 feet of this height is cube of the
Grecian Doric order which measures 80
feet on all sides.
The entrance on the southern side is
enclosed by porticO made up of row
of recessed columns. Above and behind
the portico rises an almost blank wall,
which will one day be relieved by the
four equestrian statues shown usually in
plans of the monument, and finishes. III
a parapet which shows UPON it's face the
sculptured figures of Peace and War.
Above the parapet, there starts
abruptly cupola, 20 feet in diameter,
surrounded. as a relief, with Ionic col
line of faces, surmounted with eagles,
connects the columned drum with the
pyramidical top.
The hawless granite of which the
tomb consists is of dotted whitish gray
taken from a quarry of uniform grain,
and is so light in tone that in the strong
sunlight it is hardly distinguishable
from marble.
Passing up the great steps which @x-
tend three quarters of the way across the
front of the structure, one comes first to
the doors of the tomb, filling a space To
E0O&A No. LoS1 Il Foo
width. Of bone-dried ash. covered thick
ly with a composition of copper and tin.
| these doors weigh three and one-half
tons. In each door are three panels,
OFnamented with 148 bronze rosettes, the
twenty-four on the larger central panel
being each twice the size of a MANS fist,
and all riveted to the doors with heavy
bolts.
Beyond the doors, after clear space
of thirty-eight feet, is a twenty five foot
opening directly over the crypt beneath.
The interior of the monument is cross
shaped and the four corner arches are
fifty feet above the floor. On these
arches rests an open gallery with an IN
ner diameter of forty feet, which is ap-
preached by two circular corner stair
ways, each with sixty-nine steps. Above
the gallery extends the paneled dome,
and below through the opening can be
seen the lower floor, and still lower the
crypt with the sarcophagus.
The pendentlveS formed between the
circular dome and the arches are decorat-
ed in high relief sculpture, emblematlc
of the military and civic life OF Gen.
Grant. The windows are twelve IN num-
ber three in each side of the cross
shaped interior.
The crypt is reached by side stairways
which lead directly into the passage en-
circling the space in which rests the sar-
cophagus. This passage is shut IN by
oh ~
eled marble ceiling.
e The, sarcophagus rests in the center Off
the crypt, 40 feet below the dome. Of,
all the perplexing questions which arose
in connection with the new tomb the
greatest was that of obtaining suitable
material for the sarcophagus. The
proper quality was found, after long
search, in the quarries of Montello, Wis.,.
a porphyry of fine texture, brilliantly red
dish in color. Cut from the solid rock,
it is highly polished, rejecting the near
by surfaces as it rests in the crypt. The
great block is 10 feet 4 inches long, o.
feet 6 inches wide and 4 feet inches
high. and weighs tons. In this inn
mense block space was followed QUIT
into which the cofined remains of Gen..
Grant were lowered. Then the cap
stone was set, and the sarcophagus again
became as solid block. 1t is plain, save
for the simple engraved inscription at the
head of the capstone, ulysses 5. Grant,
The pedestal on which the sarcophagus
rests, is a square of 10 feet 10 inches.
The lower course of foot 8 inches is
made in sections, above which is a 5
inch indented course. Still above this are
two heavy blocks Of marble on which the
saneophagus directly sets. The total
height of all is ~ feet.
Some day the body Of Mrs. Grant will
repose beside that of her husband in a
duplicate of the sarcophagus now in the
onypt of the tomb
The Cuban junta chartered a. pas
senger steamer for the day. It was dec