The National tribune., 1901-06-20

Spread the Flowers was sung, and an
Grafton by Comrade William H. Marston
was delivered in an eloquent manner. AT
the conclusion of the exercises in the GEM
etery the Pennsylvania delegation strewed
flowers over the graves of the 1,S49 SOL
diers from the Keystone State whose re-
mains are buried here.
The crowd then repaired to Providence
Spring, where the unvailing of the tablets
over the spring was held. National Com
mander james Atwell unvailed the tablet,
which bears this inscription:
This fountain erected by the
National Association of Union Ex-
Prisoners of War, in memory of the
52,345 Union Soldiers who were
confined here as prisoners
of war, and of the
13,94O comrades who died, and whose
remains are buried in the adjoining
National Cemetery; dedicated
Memorial Day. May 80, 1901
JAMES ATWELL,
National Commander
S. NJ. LONG,
Adjutant- General.
J. D. WALKER,
Chairman Elk. Committee.
Commander Atwell recalled the mes
sage sent by the Union prisoners confined
in Libby Prison to President Lincoln
tlllbu5A NCh. L O"GIlp Was
TO the President at the meeting of the
United States Christian Commission in
the Hall of House of Representatives at
Washington, as follows:
"Mr. President: Upon the eve of my
departure from Libby Prison a special
message was intrusted to my keeping by
my prison companions-the men who an
swered your repeated calls for help to put
down the rebellion and save the Union,
Ill %Ia+
them on earth to enter the service in de-
fense of the flag, they said to me: Say to
Father Abraham that in all our sufferings
endured in prison we remain loyal to the
flag, and if it is necessary that we shall
remain in prison to maintain the honor
and principles of the Government involved
in the existing contest, we are willing to
suffer on, even unto death; but if our con-
tinuance in prison is but the result of
mere technicalities in the rulings of Com
missioners of Exchange, involving no es-
sential principles, then We ask and de-
mand in the interest of our families, and
of humanity and of the Government that
you, as the President of the United
States and the Commander-iDC Chief of the
armies in the field. shall interfere and Or
der our exchange
''The Presidents heart was touched as
he listened to this message from his boys
in his eyes and following each other down
his furrowed cheeks. Remaining silent
for a moment, during which the great as
sembly was as silent as the grave, and
gaining his self-pOsSeSSiOn he replied with
deep emotion and with childlike simplicity
and honesty, in these words:
God knows that their continuance as
prisoners of war is purely and simply
question of principle and national honor
''Hnw mnph and moro said Com
mander Atwell, the Union prisoners of
war suffered at Andersonville than did
those at Libby. Lincoln's great heart was
full of charity for all mankind, and, there
fore, we have inscribed on the fountain
his famous words, With charity to all
and malice toward none We bear no
malice to our late foes. l will now in
troduce to you C0mrade w. G. Mckelvey,
who was confined here and suffered"
Comrade McKelvey's remarks were lis
tened to with great attention. He told of
the 13 wells dug in the stockade; of the
tunnels they dug out with penknives; his
escape with Comrade Gibson, of Knap's
battery; their recapture; the shooting of
Gibson; the horrors of starvation; men
biting their fingers off and the blood flow
ing down; the hanging of the six Union
prisoners by our own men, etc.
Adjt.-Gen. Stephen NJ. Long made
an eloquent duuTeSS. ne was lOIIOWeu Dy
J. D. Walker, who spoke forcibly and
earnestly of the men who resisted every
temptation to join the Confederates and
who preferred death before dishonor"
Comrade James p. Averill, Past De-
partment Commander of Georgia, made
an eloquent speech, in which he said:
Conn ades and Friends: We are assem-
bled together for the purpose of dedicat-
ing this beautiful pavilion and fountain
as a memorial to what has been most
feelingiy and fittingly named Providence
Spring, a name which will ever remain
most notable and historic on account of
the sacred and pathetic memories asso-
ciated with it. 1t came suddenly, as an
angel of light, during the dark days which
tried mems loyalty to the uttermost, and
by its ministrations restored reason, faith
and hope to many a deSpairing soul.
While the phenomenon may be easily ex
planned from natural causes, the special |
hand of Divine Providence Is none the
less directly traceable. Pure water sprang
cOpiously from the fountain to refresh the |
feverish lips of thousands of dying heroes |
1t leaps and sparkles in the sunlight to-
day, just as it did nearly 81 years ago. |
With the protection that has been placed |
over and about it by the loving wives, |
daughters, friends and comrades Of those |
who suffered here, it is destined to flow |
on for ages. Future generations will sip |
from it, and draw patriotic inspiration. |
These waters will murmur perpetual |
song of sweetest cadence to the sympathe- |
tic cara song of joy and peace the rich |
heritage which has come to us through |
the self-sacrifcing Of those we honor our
selves in perpetuaing."
Addresses were also made at the unyail-
ing Of the pavilion by Mrs. Sarah d.