The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-05-18
SCHMITZ AND SCHWARTZ
THESE TWO SECURE PRINCIPAL
MONUMENT CONTRACTS.
Bronze Work to BE Done in Germany
Cascade Groups to BE Adver-
tfsed Again.

The monument regents. yesterday after
noon. let the contract for the eight bronze
candelabra and lights and the buffalo
heads for the drinking fountains to Bruno
Schmitz at $500. This also includes the
hagstaffs. The bid of Rudolph Schwartz for
the four figures. representing the different
branches of the service. at ~ .SOo. was ac-
cepted. No contract for the cascade figures
and groups was entered into as the artists
competing all claimed they had not been
given time enough to work out proper
groups or to make suitable models. New
advertisements for the two groups were
ordered, and that contract will be let on
Aug. 16.
Besides these. three other bids were sub
mitted. c. Nienaus. OF New York, bid for
both cascade groups and figures. The two
cascade groups of injured soldiers and sail
ors in bronze were submitted at $35 500. The
four figures. in bronze. were put I'm at s22.-
$50. making the total bid $4,000. The bid of
Frank Englesmann. of Chicago. was on
four stone figures at $4,000. Herman Mat
zen. of New York. bid $1,000 on the cascade
groups and 5000 for the figures, one-third
size.
The bid of Bruno Schmitz was for four
principal candelabra. four fountain can
delabra and four buffalo heads. Two models
have been at the rooms of the regents for
some time, which were submitted by
Schmitz, and yesterday a third was re-
ceived from him, which is more ornate than
either of the others. The regents will have
the right to select any one of the designs
submitted. There was some talk yesterday
among the members of having the heads at
the drinking fountains of different animals.
elk, deer, bear. ETC., but no final action has
been taken on the suggestion.
Rudolph Schwartz, who secured the con-
tract for the four big figures, was sent to
this country by Bruno Schmitz to superin-
tend the cutting of the Peace and War
groups now on the monument. He decided
to locate here and. soon after his arrival,
sent for his family and they are now resi-
dents OF Indianapolis. The models he sub
mltted are handsome. That representing the
artillery Is an artilleryman standing with
a cannon swab In his hand. He has a sabre
strapped on his side and Is wearing his
blanket roll Just behind him is a portion of
a broken wheel OF a cannon and piled up by
his feet are a number of cannon balls. Capt.
j. b. Curtis will be called upon TO examine
the model and make any suggestions he
sees fit, to make IL more accurate.
The navy is represented by the figure of
a sailor standing with a cutlass I'm his
hand. A coil of rope lies by his feet. On the
the position OF the sailor will be made. as
he stands more as a soldier than a sailor.
feet by the admiral. The infantry is repre-
sented by a soldier in heavy marching or
der. just taking q step. His gun is over his
The cavalry is represented by a cavalry
man In full uniform. His sabre hangs at his
side and In. his right hand he carries his
raised to the eyes and he is looking intently
Forward. Tn conception Is a cavalryman
dismounted and acting as scout or on the
The four figures will be cut from Bedford
stone and each will be fourteen feet high.
They will be placed on each side of the
Mr.. Schwartz said he would to-day begin
to look for a site for his studio, "a he will
have 20 put up buildings In which to carve
the figures. He says that when the first two
are completed. he will place them in posi-
ton.
The models submitted by Mr.. Schwartz
isfactory OF those shown to the members OF
the board. although he did not bid on the
essary to deposit a certified check. His de-
sign to go under the War group shows three
soldiers sitting by a fire. One is resting on
the ground and has a bandage around his
head. The other two are sitting beside him,
with their guns thrown across their knees
and, apparently, listening TO his story. The
dropping out of a march to rest and hear
story of a ounde comrade who is
lying by the fire. The model for the Peace
group was not completed, but a sketch VI
the Idea was given. II represents an old vet
eran telling stories to a number OF children.
who have grown so enthusiastic that they
have armed themselves with sticks and are |
using them as guns. AL Of the figures were
modelled from life and in every case the
face Is that Of a young man. Mr.. Schwartz
was not able to make himself clear to the
by reason of his imperfect English
and General Knefer acted as interpreter
and the conversation was held in German.
The member Of the board said that the
for the candelabra was not let TO
an American firm because bronze work can
be done so much cheaper In Germany than
in this country. |
The awarding of the contracts yesterday
has definitely determined that the cascade |
groups will be Of stone. The regents have |
been undecided as to whether they shall be |
stone or bronze. but there will not be sufi-
cient money left to have them of bronze
and they will have to be of stone. About |
SO, 600 of the $4,000 appropriated has been |
spent for past debts and yesterdays con-
amounted TO $43. 800. so that the |
regents have but about $50, 200 left and this
win not be enough TO pay for the groups in
bronze. |