Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-11-15
GRAFTON IS DELIVERED BY TAFT
Shaft to Memory Of Revolutionary He
roes Who Died Aboard British
Floating Prisons Presented to State
Taft Declares Horrible Conditions
Not Premeditated by British.
UBv Associated Press.)

NEW YORK. NCr. la.--N ME va"
nrn Doomed. awakening patriotic
memories OF these sailor and soldier
heroes. who died in British prison
ships in the Rev GlItionary war. the
Prison Ship Martyrs Monument, nj
Fort Green Park. Brooklyn, was dtui-
Gated with impressive ceremonies 10
dav in the ;irt srncc or PrtSidant'e'rc'
TAFT. Secretary OF War Wright. Gov
ernor Hughes and thousands Of people
who throngcd the knoll on which tn"
tall Doric column stands.
Mr.. Taft mad" The o. alton of the
occasion and after the ceremonies.
i"ct for WaShir gtOD. where he VIII
NEE. President Roosevelt tomorrow.
Monument a Plain Shaft.
The monument. a plain SHAFT in IN"
form of roric column. Surmounted by
a funeral Urn. stands on Il steep Knoll
beneath whi, n lie. inferred, the bone
of fifteen thousand American prison
ers. who persisted from fever and star
walton in the rotten hulks of The Jer-
sew and other English prison ships.
which lay in Wallabout bay during
the war Of the Revolution.
The sranit~ shaft -stas -aassaisdssy
Miss Esther King Norton. grand
daughter of General Horatio G. King
Parade preeedes Unwilling.
Previous 10 the unveiiinG there was
a parade Of ten thousand soldiers and
members Of civic organiZancns.
A gentle snow. which later turned
to rain. fell throughout the ceremony
Mr.. Taft was introduced by stephen
V White, master of ceremonies. The
applause.
In his tribute to the ten thousand
men who sacrificed their lives in the
prison ships, Mr.. Taft said he did not
wish to be understood as charging
that the horrible conditions which
obtained on the ships were due To
reconciliation of the English com
manders in chief or 10 any one in au'
thority.
Conditions ReeuIt Of Neglect.
Such charge would make the
British commanders human mon
s,crs.' said he. The conditions were
the result OF neglect. not design lie
coutrasted the treatment of prisoners
in those early years with that Of re-
cen; times.
Defends washington.
He defended Washington against
the charge which has been made that
upon him should be placed at least
a portion of the responsibility OF the
; i'll treatment OF the ship prisoners. as
result OF Washipgton's refusal IL
! exchange the imprisoned American
! sailors for imprisoned British sol
! dicrs.
He said the conditions. which pre-
| vailed made il absolutely essential Tor
Washington to retain his British FOL
! der prisoners What should be en-
| phasized." said he. lis that the To-
fusaI Of Washington end the Ameri
, can au; horit;cs TO make the exchange
| was no; III" slightest justification foi
! The neglect and cruelty with which
! the prisoners Of war upon the prison
; hu!ks were treated"
hfter Century Of Agitation.
After more than century Of agifa
ton by individuals and examinations
ZONES representing approximately ID.
900 martyrs" CT the Revolutionary
War. who died on the prison shiT
! Jersey" and other lesser vessels In
I WaiIabort Bay. Brooklyn. lie at ias'
| n a f'tingIy marked burial place
for which the Cove :nmcnt. New YORK.
STATE and hundreds OF individuals
! msdr contributions. An imposing
Dorio column Of granite. -" feet high
| surmounted ~ fuCers! arm and fsa
; staff. rises above the tomb al Fort
Greene Park. brooklyn. and iis dedi
cation. today is marked by remark
able military parade Of nearly 2c.o0e
! soldiers ard marines. and meTdSabls
addresses by President Elect William
II. Taft and Governor Charles :.
| Hughes.
Thr procession OF naval and miIi
tary ORGANIZATIONS. said 10 be enc o'
the Isrscs: in the history Of BROOKLYN
IN. tremendous outpouTinE OF people
from all over Greater New Iorr
crc~ding d"Tseiy the line of march
aaH al Fort Greene Park nagsed by
tens Of thousands. presented an In
\ spring spectacle. Majcr General
| ChsrI.s 3. Roc. commanding the ma
! tionaI Srsrd Of the state. was grand
| marshal OF me parade. which con