The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-09
A MONUMENT DEDICATED
MEMORY OF ELIJAH p. LOvEJOY
HONORED AT ALTON, ILL.
Tribute to a Fiery AbOIitiOnist Who
Was Murdered by FellOw-Citi-
gems Sixty Years Ago.

ALTON. ILL., Nov S.-The Lovejoy monu-
ment in this city was formally dedicated
to-day. 1t was sixty years ago yesterday
that Lovejoy was assassinated in this city
because Of his outspoken and fiery editor
ials against the slave trade. Lovejoys re-
mains would have been lost had it not been
for Thomas Dimmock, of st. Louis, who
had the grave located by an old sexton, the
only person who knew where his coffin was
buried. The coffin was placed in vault
until a suitable lot could be secured and
here a modest scroll now marks his rest
ing place. Two hundred yards to the south
is ninety-foot shaft erected to his memory
by citizens of Alton and people of Illinois
at a cost of $50, 900. The exercises to-day had
to be changed on account of the heavy rain.
Instead of being at the monument the ex-
ercises were held at the Temple Theater
in the presence of a large audience.
Elijah p. Lovejoy was murdered by a
mob of well ordered citizens" who did
not like his anti-slavery sentiments. Love-
joy was a New Highlander by birth, having
been born in Kennebec county, Maine Nov.
8, 1902. He began his active life in st. Louis
as journalist, but was converted during
a religious revival, and was licensed to
preach after a course of study in Philadel
phia. He returned to st. Louis, however,
and aided by some friends established the
Observer a religious weekly, the first num-
Der of which appeared Nov. %, 1888. In 1884
he announced himself an anti-slavery man,
and put his convictions into his columns.
Finding it impossible to carry on the paper
on slave territory he removed his presses to
Alton, where just sixty years ago he fell
a victim to mob violence while defending
his presses and his person.
John w. Harmed, of Greenville, ILL.,, is the
only living witness to the tragedy wherein
Elijah P. Lovejoy was martyred for ex-
pressing his opinions about the rights of
man. Although Mr.. Harmed is now eighty
eight years old, his memory of those stir
ring times is quite distinct and he enjoys
relating the details of many events that oc-
CURED in the early days before the war;
He remembers having met Daniel Webster
during that Statesman's remarkable cam
paign for the presidency. In 1884 Mr.. Har-
ned shook hands with Black Hawk, the
noted Indian chief. He also met Gen. Win
field Scott after the Black Hawk war.
OF the killing of Mr. Lovejoy, whose his
tory is now recalled by the dedication of
the monument to his memory, Mr. Harmed
says that his father, the elder Harmed, was
standing at the side of Mr.. Lovejoy when
four buckShot struck the abolitioniSt in the
breast. Mr.. Lovejoy walked fifteen feet aft
er he received his wounds. The last and
only words he said after he was shot were
Il am dead man." Mr.. LovejoyS remains
We're followed to the grave next day by but
few, and the cortege was hooted at by the
dead mans enemies. His widow was at
home in feeble health. The details leading
up to the killing are familiar to all who
have read the literature of the abolition
movement. The climax was reached when
warehouse near the river. The mob stormed
the warehouse and Mr.. Lovejoy and his
friends within We're determined to defend
the press with their lives. In the fight that
followed Mr.. LoveJoy was killed.
Speaking of the matter Mr.. Harmed says
Governor Reynolds, a strong prosavery
man, who has written a history on this
subject, says that what Infatuated the mob
was that a man raised a window upstairs
and fired a shot, killing one of the mob
Governor Reynolds IS mistaken here, for l,
as an eyewitness, know that at that time
there wasn't a glass nor a piece of window
sash left in the whole side of the building.
My father went to the window and asked
those in the crowd who were not taking
any part in the mob to get out of the way
as the struggle was getting so bitter some
thing had to be done. He did that as a
warning to spectators
"A man named Bishop fired at my father
the bullet Embedding itself in the window
casing right by his side. Soon a gun was
thrust out of a window by one of Lovejoy S
men and Bishop was shot. The mob fell
back and left him lying in the street. They
soon rallied, picked him UP and carried him
a
the first shot fired from the inside of the
building. Then the firing became general on
both sides. About midnight the mob spliced
ladders together and put them up on the
east side of the building, where there were
no windows and man muffied in overcoats
as a protection against the bullets of Love-
joys men climbed the ladder with lighted
torch and fired the roof After it had
burned through the sheathing Bert LoOmiS
punched the fire out and threw water on it,
while bullets flew all around him.
After they found that the building was
afire Loveioy and others went out of the
south end of the building and turned around
the southeast corner to shoot at the men
firing the roof. This was repeated a number
of times and there were number of shots
exchanged. Among those first wounded
were A. B. Rolf, shot in the ankle; Royal
Weller, in calf of leg, and others with Slight
wounds. 1t would appear they didn't aim to
kill them. About the third time Lovejoy
came out to shoot at the man on the roof
he was shot, four buckshot penetrating his
breast. 1 thought he was hit, seeing so
many shooting at him, but he turned and
walked fifteen feet to- the door and climbed
the flight of stairs. When he reached the
head of the stairs he fell, his feet hanging
over the steps,"
Mr.. Harmed is a native of Texas where
he was born in 1919. He moved with his
parents to Illinois in 1929, and in 1888 settled
at Alton.