Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1905-05-03
THE NAVAL ACADEMY CRYPT
PROPER PLACE FOR JOHN
PAUL JONES' BODY.
The AdaptabilitY of The New
Academy Chapel For Such
P,.rooSpe

Now is the time for the graduates of
the Naval Academy. both in the SER
vice and out of it, writes Park Benja-
min in the Army and Navy Journal.
TO exert all the influence they can
bring to bear TO secure the placing of
Paul Jones body in the crypt of the
new chapel on the Academy grounds.
That crypt was provided for exactly
this purpose. and the chapel itself was
designed as much for great memorial
monument las for a church edifiee.
Its cost is over $400, 600, and it holds
more people than Trinity Church, in
New York. To make it Immediately
available for the reception of Jones'
remains nothing is needed but the ap-
preparation of the comparatively small
sum required to Finish the crypt in
terror. This has not already been
done simply because other needs have
been more pressing.
The crypt is Immediately below the
main floor, and is entered from the
outside of the building. There is a
circular passage tor ambulatory some
eighteen feet high, the vaulted roof of
which is supported on massive pillars.
This surrounds thick masonry wall,
which in turn eucloses a circular cen
tral chabmer. In the wall are reeep-
tacles disposed in several tiers, and
forming tombs for naval officers who
have earned distinction. Each is
sealed by tablet bearing the name
and record of the occupant.
The inner chamber is reached by
passages through the tomb wall and
at the center it is proposed sarcoph-
agus containing Jones's body shall
rest upon pedestal in full view, and
surrounded by his captured colors
and the battle flags of his ships. Both
the ambulatory and the inner cham
Der will receive light through glass
tiles set in the chapel floor, tinted,
perhaps, to heighten the effect. The
general idea is like that embodied in
the royal tombs of France at st.
Denis, and does not reproduce the ar
rangement of the Napoleon or Grant
structures. Not only the crypt. but
the exterior of the chapel itself has
been planned TO adapt it to this pur-
pose.
The tympanum of the great arch
over the door is especially arranged
to receive heroic group in high re-
lief representing Jones ON the deck Of
the Bonhomme Richard during his
action with the Serapis, and this will
be the most prominent decoration of
the facade. Below is tablet on
which it is proposed to inscribe Jones
famous defiance Surrender No
haven't begun to fight yet" And
OH the main portal are Robert Nj.
Thompson's superb bronze doors, the
design of which can easily be modi-
fed, il. the donor be willing, to in
clude some Jones motive.
OF course such q magnificent monu
ment as is here ready at hand, on Ma
tional ground, is not at all likely to be
erected at Arlington, Fredericksburg,
Philadelphia or any other of the many
places now proposed. The projected,
but now dormant, Naval Arch and
Water Gate ON the Battery in New
York city, if made to serve also as a
memorial to Jones, would not only
outdo the chapel. but every other
monument on earth, saving. perhaps,
the Tai Mahal, in India-but to con-
struct it would require the raising by
popular subscription of an amount
several times greater than the cost of
the whole chapel The matter is one
that needs Eprompt action, and it is
earnestly to be hoped that all naval
officers will give effective expression
to their desire. IT it be made plain
that they are practically unit in
favor of the chapel, there is little
doubt that popular opinion will sup
port their choice.