The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-12-08
UNWILLING OF !.
THE MONUNRI
Tribute to the Memory Of the
Confederate Dead,
WITH BETTING CEREMONY
The Gigantic Pile Was Dedicated
to the South's Defenders.
FORMER GOVERNOR T. G. JONES
Was Orator, and ExtolIed Virtues Of
the Confederate Soldier.
PASSING OF THE CoNFEDERAcY
withiEloquent Words He Drew Striking
Parallel Between the Death
of Arthur and the Defeat of
the Lost Cause"
Was Orator, and ExtolIed Virtues Of
the Confederate Soldier.
PASSING OF THE CoNFEDERAcY

MONTGOMERY, OeCcliUSl t.-NoPSSae~iJ
Perhaps the last monumental pile to be
unveiled to the memory of the confederate
dead is the one that stands in the capitol
grounds of Alabama, having been today
rendered to the south's most illustrious and
prosperous commonwealth and turned over
to the crumbling ages of time to stand
silent sentinel to the departed
AS expressed by the orator of the occa-
sion. former Governor Thomas G. Jones, 1t
malks the passing of the confederacy."
peculiar coincidence is that former Gov
ernor Jones bore one of the flags of truce
at Appomattox and today he was the lead
ing speaker at the unveiling ceremonies of
perhaps the last confederate monument.
, The office, now occupied by the former
governor, was occupied at the outbreak of
the late civil strife by a telegraph COM
pany and from one of its instruments
flashed the message that set the cannons
roaring against Fort Sumter, the sound of
which reverbcrated throughout the world
for the ensuing four years.
Thousands gathered about the massive
pile today in the capitol yards. 1t was a
study to look down upon that surging sea
of humanity Here one saw a gray-haired
veteran with probably limmb missing and
holding in his hand bandana handker-
chief which absorbed a tear that coarsed
down his furrowed cheek at the outburst of
eloquence of some hoary-headed orator in
depicting a pathetic incident of war times.
There by his side stood a bronzed veteran
of the Hispano-American war, his young
heart pulsating with the patriotism with
which the air was laden. The mothers of
ha there n the fhrOOp 6ragSpd
in their plain unpretentious garments and
ready to give vent to feeling whenever the
occasion required Last. one saw in that
crowd the younger generation making up
the vast majority Attired in the prettiest
dresses and bonnets OF the season they
were there to give glow to the old age
that surrounded them. All were there to
do honor to the fallen heroes and when the
thirteen young ladies who had represented
the original states vanished from the plat
form, and the multitude was dismissed,
there was not an eye that had not been
dimmed with tears.
The late Colonel Warren S. Reese, while
mayor of Montgomery, started the move
ment which eliminated in todays auspi-
cious and historic ceremonies. He began
by organizing a committee which secured
a charter. Colonel Reeses first appeal to
the public in behalf of this project was an
address to the people of Alabama.
The articles of Incorporation of the mon-
ument committee or association, were filed
on Tuesday, September 80, 1885, the incor-
porators being e. A. ONeal w. s. Reese,
w. L. Bragg, Josiah Morris, william B.
Jones, w. w. Screws. William W. Allen,
Jacob Griel, John w. A. Sanford, H. A.
Herbert, ]. B. CASTOR, Thomas G.. Jones,
H. C. Tompkins, ]. L. Higgins and d. s.
Rice. W. 8. Reese was elected chair
.v,7 TT D.rfl lAI<
board of incorporators.
The Ladies' Memorial association took up
the work and the ceremonies of today DEM
onstrated how well they have succeeded.
The Monument
The base of the monument consists of
four successive layers of stone, making as
many steps. This base Is about thirty-fve
feet square. These four steps lead up to
four pedestals, upon each of which is now
statue. They emblemize the four
branches of the military service: The cav
airy, the infantry the artillery and the ma
rine. The monument being to the soldiers
of Alabama, it is intended that these typi-
cal figures shall do honor to those who
fell in each of those grand divisions of the
army. From out of a common center with
In these surrounding figures rises circu-
lar shaft of stone to height of seventy
feet; at its base this shaft Is about three
feet In diameter. tapering up to an apex of
thirty inches in diameter. The lower part
of the shaft is, In the technical language
of sculptors. a sculptured drum, a circular
base relief representing military march.
The shaft is surmounted by a column with
a Corinthian cap. Upon this the pinnacle
rests female figure In bronze typifying
"Partiotism and the womanhood of the
south as well. The figure upholds broken
flag In one hand and with the other ten
ders a sword to her sons as II sending them
forth In defense of the flag. This figure
adds ten feet to the height OF the monu-
ment. making 1t reach upward altogether
over eighty feet. The height of the cor
nice on the state capitol is about sixty-five
feet. so that the monument towers above
the roof of that building. Thus the monu-
ment stands.
The leading speech of the day was made
by Former Governor Tholnts G. Jones. who