The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-04-02
IDEAL STATUE REAL
Remarkable Piece Of Work of
Sculptor Zolnay.

lNeW York Ilmes.)
some Tennesseeans say that the New
York sculptor, George Juuan Zolnay,
made sam Davis Mr.. Zolnay replies
that sam Davis made him." Made him.
that is, in the south. And indeed, If il
had not been Tor The young southern
hero Nh. Zo.nay might not today bear
the title OF Sculptor OF the Confeder-
acy, nor have MADE his famous Winnie
Davis monument.
1t is truly remarkable story. To ap-
preciate IL one must first know about
sam Davis. Some people have called this
boy the Nathan Hale OF the South. "
But while the northern hero made his
beautifully pF .riOtiC speech when about
10 lose life he BAD no chance TO save,
sam Davis spoke wonderfully similar
words when about TO meet death which
ne could have avoided by q single dvOwal.
Tie son Of a Tennessee farmer, sam
Joined the confederate army when j.
years old, and az - was one OF Coleman s
famous body Of southern scouts. In the
spring OF 1888 tTaitorous papers drawn up
Joy am officer high In the Union army, and
gi'Ing "a description of the location and
strength OF ali the federal fOrtidCatiOnS
In Tennessee. were intrusted 70 his care
&c carry over the lines TO confederate
General Bragg. He was captured while
sui IN The enemy's country. and taken
before General G. II. Dodge or the United
states army. The fate of The spy was 10
hang. BUt General Dodge was so much
impressed by the frank. courageous bear
ing of the bow. and moreover was so Ce-
sirsus of learning the name of the traitor
I'm his own ranks that he offered Davis
HE and liberty for the name Of the one
who had given him the papers. When
the boy refused the Information he was
sentenced 10 be hanged in three days.
During thar time he was pleaded with
constantly not 10 throw away his Young
life for a matter of foolish sentiment
SUll stcadf6st. he was az last taken 10
the scanCld, where he sat down calmly
on his coffin Ia pass the last fifteen min
Utes OF his life While he thus waited
with his arms piniorad behind him, a
messenger came i'm haste frOm General
Dodge 90 say that IL was not vet too late
for him TO save his life, and urging him
90 do SO.
Turning upon the soldier with indigua-
lion, sam Davis said;
IF I had a thousand lives. I would die
them all before 7 would betray a friend -
AR Loinay heard this story while visit
Ing in NASHVILLE, and became fired with
the desire 20 immortalize this sublime
herOism in bronze. He told no one Of
his intention, but called upon the bows
parents, VINO we're still living. upon his
sister, and upon many old veterans Of
the war who remembered him. He found
that no picture OF sam had been taken.
No likeness of him existed. He must
make his statue with only the description
or LfleN4S ana tne story OF the bow s
her0ism to guide him
Under the circumstances he did not Dro-
pose 20 make a physical likeness of Sam.
lie thought only 20 emhOdy in his work
the spirit OF youth and heroisn-t0 create
the sdeal Sam Davis. For weeks he
dreamed Of nothing else Finally q fixed
image of tne boy grew MP in his mind.
lie medeled this in Clay-Sam Davis as he
thought OF him, not, he was sure. as
those who had known him Thought OF
him.
When the bust was finished Mr.. Zolrav
sought out a Mr. Kennedy. then living ia
NastVilie, who had been Sans greatest
friend az his youth. IL was he. indeed.
who lad been sent across the Union lines
Wiz permit 70 bring the body Of the
hero home,
'CCne 10 my studio. I have something
60 shCw you, Mr. Zolnay said 20 the old
man
They went around together. and. walk
ing I'D 40 the work Just comuleeed. IRE
sculptor slipped OF the light COVERING
lie expected Mr.. Kennedy to saw. "A
pretty bust, Who IS it2''
Instead. the veteran gave s sui5en
start Nv sod SAINT he cried. ana
throwing his arms about the statue. ne
burst into tears
Miraculous as IL seems Mr. Zainav hs5
made sam Davis feature for feature -
in he such was afterwarl the tesff-
mony ol the ID VS. parents his sister. ana
ai who lad known an. The b11Sf -,o7e
BIZ 4oinSF famous throughout the south.