The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-04-28
BIRTHDAY
OF GEN. GRANT
CELEBRATED
In Philadelphia by the Unveiling
OF q Statue in Honor Of the
Hero OF Appomattox.
THE MONUMENT UNVEILED
BY the Generals Granddaughter.
President McKinlcy's Speech
At the Night Meeting.

PHILADELPHIA. April 27.-The
equestrian statue Of General Grant,
presented to the city of Philadelphia
by the Fairmount Park Art Associa-
tion, was unveiled with appropriate
ceremonies this afternoon by Miss
Rosemary SartorIs. granddaughter Of
the dead hero, in the presence OF Pres
ident Mckinley, members OF his cabi-
net. representatives OF foreign govern
ments and lnrgeg altering of distin-
suished citizens and guests Of honor.
Prominent among those participating
was Mrs. Grant. widow OF the general,
and other members Of the family. The
exercises proper began with the arrival
:, OF the presidential party at 1880 at
the Broad street station.
The entrances and outside Of the sta
tion were jammed with an immense
crowd OF persons. which fell back re-
spectfully and formed n long lane,
through Which the presidential party,
under the escort Or the reception COM
mittee OF citizens. passed. The First
troop. Philadelphia cavalry. formed
| the guard of honor from the
station to the hotel Bellevue. On their
arrival there the presidential party
were entertained at luncheon, after
which 4 brief rest was taken until .
o'clock. Promptly at that hour the
city troop reassembled and escorted the
party to the reviewing stand, in front
Of the monument. The President and
members Of the cabinet occupied the
leading carriages. Then came the for
elgn ministers. followed by the ladies
and other distinguished guests of the
party, headed by Mrs. Mckinley and
| MrG Grant nffirnrS M n u n
Governor Stone and staff, Adjutant
General Theodore S. Peck. represent
Ing the state Of Vermont In the una
voldable absence of Governor Smith:
the legislative committee, Mayor Ash
bridge. heads OF the city departments
| and other guests OF honor followed.
The carriages drove over the route of
the parade. and upon arrival at the
monument the President was received
with the national salute OF twenty-one
guns. simultaneously the guns of the
Raleigh in the Delaware river also fired
Il salute.
| Unvciling Ceremonies.
| The unveiling ceremonies began at 3
o'clock. and were presided over by
Mayor AshbridRe. who made the open
Ing address. Bishop Whitaker offered
prayer. after which John II. Converse.
| president of the Art Association. and
Colonel A. Loudens. on behalf Of the
I Fairmount Park commissioners, re-
spectivcly. presented and accepted the
statue. At given signal Miss Rose
mary Sartoris gently tugged at the
ropes and the drapcry fell from the
monument. Instantly cheer after cheer
came from the throats of the specta-
tors. and the guns of Battery D BOOM
| ed out a salute Of seventeen guns,
which was also taken up by the Raj.
elgh, anchored in the Delaware river
several miles away. The military pa
radc took up the line OF march ut 2:3O
o'clock. going north on Broad Street
from Spruce street, around city hall
TO Spring Garden street, thence west
TO the river drive In Fairmount Park,
where the troops were reviewed by the
President.
After the review the presidential par
ty-returned to the hotel Bellevue and
were entertained at dinner. Tonight
the President attended n public meet
ing at the. Academy OF Music. To-mor-
row he will visit the Raleigh.
The Monument.
The Grant monument rs It now
stands Is exactly the same size az the
one In Union Square. New York. !,
was designed by Daniel Chester French
and Edward G. Potter, both American
artists. The former modelled the fig
ure of General Grant. and the latter
the horse. They have endeavored to
depict the hero In the position OF n
digniilcd and quietly imposing silent
man on horseback" and In so doing
have departed entirely from the con-
ventional. There is an absence OF the
dramatic shown In the prancIng steed
| and the waving sword Instead, the
| general rides his horse deep In thought.
In expression and features the face Is
Indicative Of strong, though latent
and modest personality. He Is clad In
field garb. with high cavalry boots,
| close-buttoned coat, and a long cape
or coat falls In folds over the horse.
The latter stands firmly on his four
feet, with head turned slightly 10 one
side. The whole aspect Of the statue
Is one of restrained strength.
The idea was conceived BY the Fair
mount Park Art Association, and the
work IS presented by that body TO the
city to Il placed In the park. The
height Of the statue from the bottom
OF the plinth to the top of the riders
hat ls IL feet inch. The total weight
Is five tons. The pedestal Is built OF
Jonesboro granite, and the total cost
was S32.6I5 80.
| Academy of Music Meeting.
| The ceremonies of the day were con-
cluded By 4 public meeting at the Acad-
cmy OF Music Tonight. The spacious
building was crowded to the doors.
President Mckinley and all of the other
distinguished people who attended the
unvclling exercises were present.
Speeches euloglstIc OF the famous SOL
dier-presidcnt were made. The Grafton
was delivered by Hampton H. Carson.
one OF Philadelphia's leading lawyers.
President Mckinley did not intend TO
speak.
In response TO loud and persistent
calls from the audience. however, the
| President rose. bowed and rcsumed his
aent. The cheering continued and be-
came deGfeninG and finally the Prcsi-
dent rose and spoke as follows:
My fellow citizens, cannot add Il
single word to the Just and beautiful
tribute paid to the great warrior by
your fellow citizen In this presence to-
night.
l remember half n dozen years ago to
have been In G0ltna, delivering an nd
dress nt the unwilling OF n statue to
| General Grant IN thA little city IN III
| nois and this story was told me: That
General Grant. then n captain and out
of the service, presided over their first
union meeting In lSGl-ihe first meeting
after the call for volunteers. The meet
Ing wns a large one, held In the old
court house and Inquiries were made all
over the room who II was that was thus
called 10 preside over that important
patriotic assembly. Some one said: ut
Is Captain Grant"
well. who 10 Captain Grant? We
never heard OF him"
In four years from that time lie pre-