The Washington times., 1901-12-22
FAVORITE FIELD
FOR VANDALS.
Evidence Of Their Work at
Capitol and Monument.
BRONZE DOORS ARE DISFIGURBD
Tlose on the Senate Side Bad y
Defaced-Shameful Proof of the
Relic Hunters Greed IL the Nor
ument.


they bullded like giants and carved like
jewelers.. IT is to be regretted, however,
that their carving was left in the reach
of man. Souvenir stores are as plentiful
as saloons. but the visiting relic hunter
seems 10 prefer a small part OF the origi-
nal to a picture o. a miniature of the
whole. And as n result it is only the
closest watching on the part Of the guards
1T the several buildings that prevents the
committing of many more-to put it mild
ly-diabolical deeds OF vandalism.
The has net been much of this work
of late years. but last week sword in the
hand of figure on the famous bronze
door that leads into the rotunda of the
Capitol was discovered bent and twisted
almost of. Probably the approach of a
Capitol policeman or guide prevented its
severance. The door was designed in
Rome in 1858 by Randolph Rogers. who
received $500 for the plaster model.
First Attempt at MutiIntion.
1t was cast in Munich, in 1861. by Won
Muller for the sum Of 1000 in gold. 1t
is 19 feet high and weighs ten tens. The
door is divided, including the transom,
into seventeen panels each containing a
scene in alto-relievo of an event in the life
of Columbus and the discovery Of America.
The bent sword is the first mutilation OF
this door that has taken place, because,
probably, OF the conspicuous place il oc-
cupied at the entrance from the central
portico.
BY no means SO we'll, however. has the
door TO the Senate wing Jared. The por-
trayals thereon are still recognizable but
in enc panel washington's army have not
q bayonet left on their guns. In another
a pioneer defending his crouching wife
and babe, has lost his hand and pistol,
and the woman has lost the muzzle of the
gun she was loading fer the man. This
door. designed by Thomas Crawford and
cast by ]. 7. Ames, OF Chicopee, Mass,
cost for their work $4,000, and for the
fourteen tons of bronze used in it nearly
s5l, ,0oo. II represents one side war
and on the other peace.
Strange TO say, there are no delicate
instruments on the peace side to fall into
the hands of yandals. The fgires in
washington's Inauguration are about
twenty-four inches high-too stout to be
broken off easily. The cornerstone Of
the Capitol, as laid September IS, 1888
some one might have culled before this,
but being just square block Of bronze IL
is not SO desirable as a small gun or bayo-
net. The reception of Washington at
Trenton. while on his way to New York,
is. like the battle of Bunker Hill, out OF
reach.
yandaI's Work I'm The Monument.
But 1t was in tie atmosphere Of the
dark interior of the Washington Monu-
ment that vandalism flourishe1 in its day.
The Monuments long staircase is lighted
only By weak incaadescent lamps here
and there. There is an elevator in the
place. but many prefer to climb the steps.
and while on their journeys get to work
nltilatlng the beautifully sculptured
slabs that adorn the walls.
They are set in diagonal rows between
The plain stones and form a yeritable vast
checke.board. There arc more than $50
of them presented at the time Of the Mon
ument's erection by the States Of the
oni... and various institutions and or
ganizations throughout the country.
Many are in . disgraceful condition Of
nutilation. Heads. arms, legs, ard irapery
from the figures On the slabs bear con-
spicrous testimony by their absence to the
appreciation Of visitors. Most Of the
slabs presented b. the States bear simply
names and dates in large, bold letters
that defy umbrellas and the like. and
these remain untouched. except 10y pencils
that mark their owners initials which re-
main until the next cleaning day. But Of
the delicate carving there is little left.
shamcfuiIy Defaced.
The hardsomest slab, though one OF the
smallest. measuring three by five feet. Is
that which was presented by the Ameri-
can Medical Association. representing a
rroup Of the fathers OF medicine. II is
about midway up the Monument, about
where climbers rest, and about iou- feet
from the noor-a convenient reach. Hence
the condition of the ngures-two head
less and three armies.
Two landings above is slab represent
ing a locomotive. The locomotive looks
ns IL IL had gotten the worst of collision.
Not far away is a large slab occupying
the centre OF the wall for about six feet.
In It's present condition 1t would do for a
puzzle picture. Before the enthusiastic
tourists got at it it represented a fire
engine OF the old type. volunteer fire
department OF some city presented It.
Probably the name Of the city is in scme
old record. 1t is no longer Oh the slab.
on one slab there is fine carving Of a
polican, the emblem OF Louisiana. II is
nerf=ct. The reason is that instead Of
bas-bclief 1t is carved into the stone in
tagIlo fashion, and 10 predatory umbrella
can dig II out.
Checking System at Safeguard.
When most OF the vandalism took place
no one knows, but at the Monument il
occurred before the checking system was
inaugurated compelling visitors TO leave
all umbrellas, canes and like potential
Instruments OF destruction below. Great
pro,est is made against this order by the
camera iiend, who generally wants TO take
a bird's-eye view OF the city from lie
top OF the Monument. But he has 10 do
his best without his tripod, for that in
strument is prohibited Liz, canes and UNI
brellas.
At Mount Vernon there is the largest
army OF "apotters" on the lookout for
yandals; and it is more necessary there
than anywhere else. for Washington