The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-11-06
Beautiful and Inspiring Cere-
mony at Fort Massac Held
Yesterday Afternoon.
Metropolis Does Herself Proud
as Entertainer.
PADUoAHANs ARE HoNORED

Metropolis, H.. ov. G. Especial. y
A brilliant throng. representing all
that Is best socially and politically In
Illinois. perfect weather and impress
slvely patriotic ceremonies marked
the unwilling OF the shaft erected at
Fort Massac TO the memory OF Gen.
George Rogers Clark and his soldiers.
The throng literally filled Fort Mas
sac park. and as the crowd stood,
while 2.O0O Children sang America
on that beautiful promontory, histor-
tally related to the winning OF the
middle west to the white man, the
thoughts OF all we're carried back past
the day when Aaron Burr. fugitive,
rested himself on his flight south. TO
the time when the savage red man
roamed the plains OF Illinois and Ken
lucky and the hardy frontiersmen.
rife In hand, cleared the forests Tor
the outposts OF civilization; or as the
brave band. whose deeds are COM
memorated by this monument, pushed
on into the wilderness where the foot
OF white man never before trod, blaz-
ing the way for the restless hordes OF
saxons and Teutons, who centuries
before had overhowed Europe and
England in the same way.
The unwilling OF this magnificent
shaft, so feet high. marks the begin
ming Of an ambitious scheme for the
Improvement OF Fort Massac park.
and state officials and citizens alike
discussed the common subject OF Fort
Massac's future. Governor Deneen's
administration IL pledged to go on
with the work.
The Kentuckians we're greeted with
q warmth OF hospitality that made
them feel like the guests OF honor.
The Paducah delegation went over In
a body on the Cowllng and were met
by committee. In charge of Mrs.
Johns. They were conducted 10 the
Odd Fellows building. where a recep-
ton was In progress and then they
were entertained with the other guests
at an elaborate luncheon. All Me-
tropolls acted as host OF the occasion.
A pretty compliment was paid Ken
lucky by requesting Mr.. and Mrs. 4.
@. Boone 20 lead the way 90 the din
ing room. Governor Deneen escorted
Mrs. Matthew Scott, OF Bloomington.
chairman of the monument commits
sion. and author of the monument
movement. she also presided at the
ceremonies. and no woman ever per-
formed such a task with created dig
nifty and graciousness.
A Beautiful Feature.
At the reception Miss Kerr render
ed a charming song cycle. and then
the party proceeded 20 the fort In
carriages. The way was lined with
school children, who waved flags.
They extended along the driveway on
both sides for the whole mile. They
fell IN behind the carriages and.
grouped around the Metropolis band,
sang America" The effect OF this
simple. yet sublimely patriotic feat
ure. was 10 Undue the whole ceremony
with IN loftiest sentiment.
Paducah figured once more in the
proceedings Miss Beatrice Chouteau
Turner was I'll and unable 10 unveil
the monument: so Master James Rich
ard Mccullough, son of State Auditor
Mccullough. performed the ceremony,
and standing with him was Robert
Owen Voolfolk, of Paducah. Both
were introduced to the crowd as great
great-grand nephews OF Gen. George
Rogers Clark.
The remainder OF the program was
gone through with just as arranged
and there was not a hitch anywhere,
while. as the ceremonies progressed,
II was evident that the minds that
planned the unveiilag had left moth
ing undone that would add to the
impressiveness OF beauty OF Il all.
The Unwilling.
The monument was presented to
the state by Mrs. Charles V. Hickox,
OF Springfield. H.. state regent OF the
Illinois d. A. r.. and was accepted by
Governor Deneen.
Following a song. illinois," by
Mrs. l.. Z. Wager. OF Oak Park, Mrs.
s. W. Jamison. state regent OF The
Virginia ID. A. r., presented copy
OF the original OF the commission
from Gov. Patrick Henry, of Virginia
to George Rogers Clark. when the
latter was starting on his Illinois ex-
petition.
Prof. J. c. Blair. of the University
OF Illinois. who superintended the
construction OF the monument. and
is superintendent OF improvement OF
Fort Massac park. gave some inter-
esting facts regarding the monument.
A poem on Fort Massac, written
by Mrs. Emiline Tate Walker, de