New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-06
HAS NAME OF COLUMBUS.
Does Monument IN Baltimore Honor
Great DiScoUerer

Baltimore Dec s (speciaD.-On the grounds OF
private school IN this city there has stood for more
than century imposing shaft which many resi-
dents Of the Monumental City have for generations
taken pride in pointing to visitors the first
shaft ever erected In this country TO the memory
OF It's discoverer. Christopher Columbus. A romantic
story connecting the monument with the first
French Consul the United States has been
fully preserved IN all its details and has continually
thrust into the background humber but equally
tenacious tradition which declares that the shaft
was erected not in honor OF the famous navigator
but in loving memory Of n noble horse whose bones
buried by its military master beneath the pile
OF masonry that still perpeuates name which
happened TO be that Of the discoverer.
The researches OF the Maryland Historical So
cety have recently directed considerable attention
TO this monument and what many persons in
Baltimore would like 10 know is whether the shaft
is really a tribute 10 Christopher Columbus. the
explorer, Chris columbus, a horse After
this long lapse Of time when historical evidence at
first hand is lacking positively to settle the Ques-
ton there remains nothing but TO present the ira
oitional evidence for both stories IN the case O.:
one tradition the alleged facts are these:
At the time Of French assistance to the American
colonies in the Revolutionary War the Chevalier
glamour came TO America with the Count de
Grasse and present at the surrender OF Corn
wallis Yorktown. After the war d AnmouT, with
some hundred or more French officers and soldiers.
came 10 Baltimore, intending to settle here. He was
made the first French Consul to this country. mar
ried Baltimore girl and remained here until 1871.
ne
returned 10 the United States.
Some time about 1873 d'Anmour purchased from
Or. Van Dyck. Of Baltimore. an estate on which
he built a fine house. which is stin standing In
1887 he sold it 10 Thomas Tenant. a wealthy mer-
chant Of that time. Tenant sold it to Colonel
Samuel AIcClenan the latter sold IL TO Zenos Bar
num- and he. in turn. sold it 10 the trustees OF
the school now conducted on the property.
Il IS said that evening early IN the year Of
1872 while ChcvaIier d'Anmour was entertaining
party OF guests at his country residence. the fact
that IL was then the tricentennial OF the discov-
cry Of America was made the topic OF CONVERSE
hon In the course Of the entertainment the abb
sence Of any monument IN this country to COM
ulerorate the great deeds of Columbus was incl
dentally mentioned. WhereupOn d'Anmour is said
20 have made a that this neglect should be
Immediately remedied by the erection of en-
during shaft upon his estate. And pur-
suant to his VOW he had the monument con-
etructed, which. October Z. he and his friends
dedicated the famous voyager. II Is moreover,
asserted that French tourists who before leaving
their native country had heard OF this monument
through family connections Of its builder fire.
quently made special visits 10 view the shaft It's
erection in the year 1892, the trcentennial OF the
landing Of Columbus points strongly n a circum-
Etantial way toward the establishment of that
event as fits cause.
AcccpsaIs # this tradition 90 not agree upon one
point. Il is asserted by many that d'AnmOur did
not return 10 France, but remained in Baltimore.
died IN the house which he had built and was
buried near the base Of the monument in question.
It is related about fifty years ago two French
men arrived in this country and attempted TO claim
the property, alleging that they possessed an IN
settled mortgage upon it. They made every effort
10 discover the burial place OF the former French
owner Offering large rewards for Information, but
were unsuccessful An ingenious Irishman in the
neighborhood undertook 10 earn the reward, and
pointed out a grave in the old Quaker burying
ground hard by The BODY was eXhumed. but IL was
decided il was that Of colored few years
later states an aged woman on the old place named
Mrs Reilly there another mysterious French
man, who sat beside the monument for weeks,
pleading tor permission dig in a certain spot He
was refused. bat nna4iy opportunity offered and
he removed a stone slab the monument and
carried away the remains Of pet cat which had
been buried there.
So much for HE d'Anmour legend. The facts in
support Of the horse tradition these:
The grounds on which the monument stands were
unquestiouably fortihcatons in Revolutionary
times The contour Of the military enbankments
may still plainly seen. and histories OF Baltimore
q that t,ne confirm t1e story that detences were
thrown uD point anticipation OF attack
by me British from the direction Of the Patapsco
River, which Is only snort distance away ne
deferders al this fortifcation mixed body OF
Continental troops and Baltimore volunteers, said to
have been under the command OF Colonel Henry
f5rIIiresyorfr These forfidcations were main
tained until the War OF 1872.
klscl Mon which he had named chris Colum bus
The beast stumbled day. broke his leg and had
10 be shot. Men and materials were plentiful at
the time. large cargoes Of brick having been re-
Chesapeake Eay. the grief stricken commander
once set his soldiers a. work constructing a
monument over the grave in which he had buried
with great military pomp The body Of his horse.
The most convincing point IN this narrative is
found in the unoignhed title on the monument.
which spread over the bricks gives il hard.
smooth surface. On ais base Is the following in
scripton: