The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-31
HE SAW STRANGE SIGHTS
MOUNT VERNON, o., MAYOR PASSES
OBSERVATIONS ON US.
Saw a observation-disclosures Monu-
ment, but Couldn't Get His
Mail ON Time.

Leroy G. Hunt for long time stood on
the platform of the railroad station at
Mount Vernon, o., and solicited trade for
his omnibus, which was backed up and
ready to receive passengers for the hotel
up town. Mount Vernon has 5000 people,
and is about thirteen years older than In
dianapolis. The main street of the village
is paved with brick. The others are paved
with dirt. The first courthouse was smashed
by its tower falling off in a storm and
crashing down through the roof. The clerk
of the court slept in the basement of the
courthouse, and when the tower fell through
the building it awakened him. Friends
dragged him out from the debris, and the
whole incident formed many-sided subject
of conversation, which lasted the railroad
station sages for many years. Leroy G..
Hunt had plenty of time to talk about the
courthouse, and through the proficiency in
discussion he attained he at last became a
candidate for mayor and was elected. Leroy
G. Hunt is now mayor of Mount Vernon.
He Joined the knights of Pythias and be-
came known as Colonel Leroy c. Hunt. He
attended the encampments for several
years, and came to Indianapolis to attend
last weeks gathering of the Knights.
1t is not known whether or not Mayor
and Colonel Hunt belongs to the League of
American Municipalities, as the Indianapolis
city officials do, but his executive brain re-
ceived many impressions of Indianapolis.
In fact Mayor and Colonel Hunt things
while he was here. His muse swooped down
on him one day while he was here. and he
was moved to write a piece to his home
paper. AS Mayor and Colonel Hunt was
much pressed for time as he says in his
letter. because of consultations with the
high officers of the Uniform Rank pertain
ing to his conviction that the encampment
should be abandoned because the conditions
at indianapolis were so unafvorabe, it was
great sacrifice for him to take the time to
write to the paper. There are several mat
tiers, however, which Mayor and Colonel
Hunt observed in indianapolis, and which
heed intelligent criticism that he felt bound
to express his views in the press. AS Mayor
and Colonel Hunts ideas about the seven
nlilion-dollar monument, the poor mail serv-
ice and the general debility of Indian
apolis, when compared to Mount Vernon,
will be of inestimable value to the people OF
indianapolis as guides TO correction of
those conditions and as all-around eye
openers as to the kind of a city the deluded
people Of indianapolis are living in the let
ter is printed. 1t is to be remembered that
Mount Vernon has a soldiers monument
just opposite Bill Jones's grocery store on
the public square. therefore Mayor and Col
Hunts tribute to the Indiana soldiers and
sailors monument is to be the more APP
preciated The writer's pride for the Mount
Vernon monument cannot prevent him, as a
just man. from complimenting the Indiana
monument.
THE MAYOR-COLONELS LETTER.
The letter was printed in the Mount ver-
non Democratic Banner Aug. q, and is as
follows:
Editor Banner--I have tried very hard
since i came to the city to write you, but
the duties of my office have kept me con-
stantly employed until this morning, and |
find / can now take a moment for you.
Camp Colgrove is situated in North Indian
circle that surrounds the great seven
million-dcllar monument and fountain, one
of the grandeSt tributes ever paid TO the
soldiery by any state or nation.
THE camp is not up TO the standard of
our camps at Milwaukee, Kansas City and
Cleveland. The sanitary condition of the
camp is simply awful, and many are sick
and in the hospital. had just now a con-
sultation with General Minshall about the
adVisablity of breaking camp tomorrow
afternoon, thus cutting short our stay by
several days on account of the foregoing
conditions.
..The parade on Tuesday was mag
nihCent affair, the grandest, the papers say,
ever seen in this city. General Carnahan
u 600 The crowd along the line of march
was immense and very enthusiastic One
man from the Columbus troop. escort for
General Minshall, was thrown from buck
ing horse and badly hurt just before pass
ing the reviewing stand. This caused some
confusion. The colonel OF one OF the Penn
sylvania regiments was thrown from his
horse and three ribs were broken. / believe
these were all the casualties. but the am
hulance was kept very busy during the
parade taking care OF those who were over.
come by the heat. -,
Mrs. Hunt has been on the sick list ever