Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-16
MEMORIAL TO WHIT
Monument to Brigadier Gen.
eraI Unveiled at Arlington.
TRIBUTES FROM COMRADES
Fitting Testimonial From State of
Pennsylvania.
HIS CAREER IS EULOGIZED
Addresses by Judge Edwards and
Gen.. Bell-lnfantry, Cavalry
and Artillery Make Pretty
Scene.
HIS CAREER IS EULOG1ZED

duO AIL141eIy m66o 31cCty
Scene.
On the green slopes of Arlington. with
the great trees in their bright autumnal
coloring forming a natural canopy. an
| impressive ceremony was conducted today
the unwilling Of the heroic monument
erected to the memory of Brig. Gen.
Theodore ]. Whit. United States Army.
Surrounding the memorial stone, just
south of the Arlington ampitheater. long
lines of troopers of the 18th United States
Cavalry were drawn up. their bright
Guidons f1uttering and their arms glisten-
ing in the warm October sunlight. On
the ridge surrounding the ampitheater
was the cavalry band. while battery of
field artillery was masked in the nearby
woods. the whole suggestive Of the active
service Gen. Whit had experienced in
every war in which this country has been
engaged since 1861.
On the speakers stand, just in front Of
| the monument. we're Judge H. NJ. Ed
wards Of Scranton Pa, chairman of the
pennsylvania monument commission: Maj:
Gen. j: Franklin Bell. chief of staff. US.
A. and personal friend Of Gen. Wint,
who delivered the principal address; Rev.
DR.. Staley. who served under Gen. Whit
IN the civil war: members OF the 9th
Pennsylvania Cavalry-Rush Lancers-of
| civil war fame: Mrs. Whit and many la
dies and Pennsylvanians.
Judge Edwards Address.
Following the rendition of a patriotic
air by the 18th Cavalry Band, Judge Ed
wards addressing the assembled veterans
OF the civil war. the war with Spain and
those of the Philippine and China cam
paigns. and the civilians. explained that
the commonwealth Of Pennsylvania, de-
string to honor the memory of her gal
| liant soldier son, Brig. Gen. Theodore J.
Whit. appropriated the sum of 5000 for
the erection of the monument which is
city Of the dead. Arlington cemetery. A
commission was appointed. and this COM
mission. having completed it's work. is
now ready to present the monument to
1.-THE nation.
The commission. through its acting
chairman. desires to thank the War De-
partment for its assistance. We had
hoped that the President would be with
us today, but that Is impossible. owing
to other pressing duties. In explaining
the reason why he could not be present
it is proper for me to state that the Presi-
dent refers to Gen Whit as his old COM
pleasure. he has made a brigadier gem
eral."
In conclusion Judge Edwards paid a
! high tribute to the character of Gen.
duty" One of the Inscriptions on the
monument. he added, is in five words:
Served in the Civil War Just FIVE
small words! Many times five volumes
have been written to tell the history Of
that period. Where are the long marches,
the roar Of battle, the cry Of the wound
ed, the pale faces Of the dead and the
nights and days OF suffering and disap
pointment? All these are included In the
one short sentence. Served in the Civil
War"
Miss Ethel Pabst Of Wilkesbarre, Pa.
grandniece of Gen. Whit. then stepped
forward and pulled aside the large
| ument. The long lines Of cavalrymen
came stiff1y to attention. the band
played The Star Spangled Banner"
while the masked battery fred salute
for the dead which sent flying echoes
| through the surrounding Virginia woods.
Gen. Bells Remarks.
Gen. Bell followed with an address, in
which he lauded the character Of the
dead soldier. He began by saying: Il
am not speaker. am a soldier"
No words of eulogy were necessary.
Gen. Bell added. The records of Gen.
| Wint's service furnish sufficient eulogy.
The transcript from the official records Of
| the army show that he was devoted to
| duty, that MS service IN war was second
to none given in the records. 1T Is a
| singular fact Of great honor to a soldier
| that Gen. Wint's command never par
| ticirated in campaign or took part in
a battle that he was not present. He
reinquished pleasant army assignments
that he might join the forces in the
| field"
Gen. Bell read from the inscription on
the monument that Gen. Whit had served
| honoraby. bravely and faithfully in the
| Indian ha
| with Spain. in China. in the Philippines
and in the army OF Cuban pacification
This record. Gen. Bell declared. Cow
ers absolutely every campaign in every
country that occurred during the time
| this soldier served his country as a SOL
| der
He served in the civil war as private and
| officer. At the close OF the war he en-
tered the regular cavalry as private and
won his way up to brigadier general.
Had Gen. Whit lived a few weeks long
er. said Gen. Bell. another star would
| have been added to his Shoulder straps as
a reward for honorable service. He spoke
Of the severe wound Gen. Whit received
in the Santiago campaign, and the fact
that he still continued in active service.
In conclusion. Gen: Bell related incidents
trating his devotion to duty. One of his
maxims was that he never made objection
or asked for the postponsment of any or
der he received in the many years he was
quickest and most thorough way to COM
ply with all orders.
| The monument commission. through
Judge Edwards. thanked Gen., Bell for
his cooperation in making the dedica-
ton a success. Mrs. Whit thanked all
who had rendered assistance In the mat
ter The ceremonies were brought to a
close by the sounding of taps and
music by the Cavalry Band.
4 Among the members Of the 9Th Penn
sylvania Cavalry present were J. D. Will
Hanson of the government printing Office,
George D. Whitcomb. w. w. Sweisfert,
secretary and treasurer; Rufus G. Jor-
dan, F. Fries and F. W. Staley.
+ B. AND o. FINANCES.