The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-04-22

cedar box already much decayed From
this outer box the rustled nails had dropp-
ed. loosening a massive silver plate, upon
banks or quicksands. When the subject
of building a monument to Nancy
Hanks" the mother of President Lincoln,
was recently agitated, Col. Culver imme-
diately wrote to the Governor of Indiana
and offered to place a monument at the
grave without cost. The offer was ac-
cepted, and the memorial will soon be
erected. Some of the stone used will be
taken from the Lincoln monument.
While the design of the old monument
may not conform to the present standard
of artistic taste. it certainly was in accord
with the best ideas of the time when 1t
was built; and, considering the source of
the funds that made its construction pos
sible, and that the great majority of those
who contributed to il have passed away.
those who have the rebuilding in charge
concluded to make no change except to
add sixteen feet to the hight of the original
shaft, which was always thought not quite
high enough
Almost the first work in the dismantling
process was the removal of the bronze
figure of Lincoln and the groups of statu-
airy representing the various. branches of
the army and the navy as they existed
in Civil War days. Each group weighs
from 5000 to 1900 pounds, but after the
machinery was adjusted they were swung
easily from their positions, lowered TO a
low truck and pushed away to a re-
mote spot in the grounds. A stockade has
been built about them, behind which they
look like imprisoned giants, and where
they will remain until the rebuilt monu-
ment is completed.
There was something weirdly impress
i've in the moment when the statue of the
President left the spot where it had stood
so long. The majestic figure seemed to
thrill with life as it swung off in the gray,
frosty light of last Christmas day, and
sank slowly earthward. 1t seemed as if
the great heart might beat again, as If
the long closed lips must open with some
message of wisdom needed in the councils
Of the nation to-day; and surely there has
been no more noteworthy instant in the
history of the monument since its dedica-
ton, when Gov. Oglesby said: "Under the
gracious favor of Almighty God, 1 dedi-
cate this memorial to the memory of the
obscure boy, the honest man, the great
liberator and the martyr President, Abra-
ham Lincoln. Behold the image of the
mani
Stone by stone the memorial structure
was taken down until the catacomb was
reached, and the caskets containing the
bodies of President Lincbln, his wife and
their children, We're lifted from the vault
and laid in the temporary tomb nearby,
which will shelter them while the rebuild
Ing goes on.
There were very few to witness this
new sepulture. The Lincoln Monument
Association of recent years was repre-
scented by two members Three members
of the Lincoln Guard of Honor two of the
present board of control, the state treas
urer and superintendent of public instruc-
ton of Illinois. the adjutsnt general of
the state. the department commander of
the Grand Army of the Republic the Gus
todian OF the Lincoln monument and a
few chance spectators comprised the
group who sro d with uncovered heads as
the workmen lifted to the light of day the
long. narrow casket containing the body
of Mr.. Lincoln, bore it across the sward
and lowered it in the new vault
The leaden casket was inclosed in a