The evening times., 1899-09-06

NEW LONDON, Conn. Sept 6.-An
historical commemoration of national in
terest is taking place today at Groton and
New London, Conn. namely. the massa-
ere at Fort Griswold under the command
of the traitor. Benedict Arnold, in 17S1.
To the indefatigable industry of Mrs.
Cuthbert Harrison Slocomb, regent of the
Anna Warner Bailey Chapter OF the
Daughters of the Revolution, the renewal
OF interest is largely due.
The defence of Fort Griswold. located at
Groton, on the Eastern Point, by a hand
full of volunteers. under command OF Colo
mel Ledyard, against the onslanghts OF two
trained British companies, has beeen com
pared TO the Pass of Thermopylae. With
sad solemnity the massacre at the fort
was celebrated for many years; then inter-
est evaporated. In 1895 fine monument,
which still stands, was erected near the
site OF the fort, of which nothing remains
today but the earthworks and subterra-
mean passages of the Thames River. Dur
ing the war last summer when it was
feared the Spanish might enter the har-
Dor, cannons were stationed behind the
breastworks and a company OF regulars
camped on the inclosure.
Public observance of the anniversary
had almost died out when Mrs. Slocomb
organized in 1891 the Anna Warner Bailey
Chapter of the Daughters OF the Reyo-u-
ton, which has a membership OF l4O.
Anna Warner Bailey lived at Groton.
During the War OF 1872. when on the
streets of New London one day, she met
soldiers bewailing the want of flannel to
wad their guns TO fire at the British COM
ing up the harbor. Anna Bailey came to
the rescue by dropping her red flannel
petticoat in the streets.
Through the efforts of, the Anna warner
Bailey Chapter, under the inspiration OF
the regent, a monument house has been
erected under the shadow Of the monu-
ment, in which are preserved historical
souvenirs of varied Interest and value. Ju-
liza A Burrows. Daughter OF the Revolu-
ton, is the custodian. and Rose Haw-
thorne Lathrop is the poetess Of the chap
ter.
BY persistent labor Mrs. Slocomb secured
in 1897 an annual appropriation OF $500
from the Connecticut Legislature toward
the maintenance of Monument House. The
chapter now proposes to erect an addition,
and to that end it is laboring to secure a
building fund of S., 200.
Mrs. Slocombs latest work in the inter-
est of the fund is the organization of the
connecticut Cnll0ren OF lne heNCiutiou
They with the Nathan Hale Sons Of the
Revolution, are taking part in the COM
memorative exercises at the old burying
ground on the Fort Trumbull side Of the
river and at Fort Griswold. The children
are to make the first contribution to the
building fund. Mrs. Slocomb has had 10,-
600 buttons made, bearing facsimile of
the State flag of Connecticut. Connecticut
has distinctive and legally adopted State
flag. The idea originated with Mrs. Slo-
comb, and the bill was piloted by her
through the legislature.
The regent contributes the buttons to the
children, who are pledged to sell them at
cents apiece. In this manner it is ex-
pected that $500 will be raised as a nest
egg to the building fund. Mrs. Slocomb
is the widow of the commander Of the ia
nous Slocomb Battery, that withstood
twenty-one guns at the taking of the Span
ish fort. the last Confederate stronghold
to capitulate in Mobile Harbor during the
civil war. She sails shortly for Italy,
where she will spend some time with her
only child. the Countess de Brazza Savorg-
nan, whose labor to ameliorate the condi-
ton Of the Italian peasantry has endeared
her to Queen Marguerite.