Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1897-05-22

PHILADELPHIA'S WASHINGTON MONUMENT.
and Spruce streets. At 1 o'clock the
members of the Society of the Cincin-
natl started in carriages for the Green
street entrance to the park to await
the coming of the president and his
party. President Mckinley and party
left the hotel Walton in carriages at
130 o'clock, escorted by the City
Troop AT the monument the distin-
guished guests were formally received
by the Society of the Cincinnati, the
Municipal band playing Hail to the
Chief" AS the president passed
through the streets his march was a
continuous ovation.
The services at the monument were
directed by Major William Wayne,
president of the State Society of the
Cincinnati, who made brief address
explaining the origin of the society and
the work resulting in the erection Of
the monument, after which there was a
prayer by Bishop Whitaker. Then,
taking the arm of President Mckinley,
he escorted the chief magistrate to
the statue, where the president pulled
the cord which freed the drapery COW
ering the monument. At this moment
the artillery fired the national salute
of 81 guns, which was repeated by the
war vessels in the Delaware.
President Mckinley was then es-
corted back to the rostrum and made a
brief address, and was followed by the
orator of the day, w. w. Porter. Then
Major Wayne formally presented the
monument to the city. 1t was accept
ed in a speech by Mayor Warwick and
in turn turned over to the park COM
mission, President James McManes be-
ing the last speaker.
Then the greatest military parade that
Philadelphia has seen in many years
passed in review before the president
The formation of the column was, first,
the cavalry, artillery, engineer corps
and infantry of the regular army, fol-
lowed by the naval battalions from the
French and italian warships and the
forces of the Texas, Terror, Columbia,
of the North Atlantic squadron. After
these came the militia in the order
in which their respective states ratified
the constitution of the United States,
this being the custom at all the inau-
gural parades. According to this reg
ulation the National Guard of Deia-
ware took precedence, followed by
that of Pennsylvania and New Jersey
in turn. The Delaware troops were led
by Governor Tunnell and those of
Pennsylvania by Governor Hastings.
The parade occupied nearly two hours
in passing a given point.
The night was devoted to various
phases of celebration apart from the
dinner. The wheelmen's parade with
over $1,000 in line, was the principal
feature. So far as the wheelmen were
concerned, it was brilliant success,
but the police arrangements were
wretchedly inadequate, the populace
being permitted to crowd the park
roadways and force frequent delays.
Nominations from the monument, the
city hall, the Union League and other
points added to the jubilee's brilliancy.
The monument was designed by ISu-
dolph Siemering, a celebrated sculptor
of Berlin. The pedestal, bearing an
equestrian statue of George Washing
ton, rises from an oblong platform of
Swedish granite six feet six inches
high and reached from four sides by
10 steps, symbolic of the 10 original
states Washington is represented in
the colonial uniform of the American
army, a large military cloak being
thrown artistically around his COM
manding figure. While dignified, the
whole conception is full of animation.
In his left hand Washington holds the
reins of his horse, one of the animals
forefeet being raised in the act of
moving.
At the four corners of the platform
are fountains, served by allegorical
figures of American Indians. represent
ing four rivers-the Delaware Hudson,
Potomac and Mississippi. On the sides
each of these fountains is guarded by
typical American animals, eight in all.
At the front and back of the pedestal
are two allegorical groups.
The equestrian statue, the figure and
the bas-relief, as well as the numerous
other concentrations, are of bronze,
while the platform, pedestal, ETC., are
Of Swedish granite.