Evening journal., 1909-05-19
EXERCISES AT
PETERSBURG
Taft Present at dwelling
OF Monument to Penn
syiVania Heroes
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE
GREET THE PRESIDENT
~ United Press Leased Special wiru

PETERSBURG, Va, May 19--Pres-
ident Taft, the governors OF two great
states an ambassador from one Of the
mighty European powers: Generals.
Captains. and hundreds of other dis
tinguished men from military and civil
life. gathered here today to dedicate
the $4,000 monument that Pennsyl-
vania has erected TO the memory Of her
heroes who took part in some of the
bloodiest battles of the great war.
Veterans in faded grey. as well as
those in Federal blue. are here today
as they were during the CORY spring
of "a, but their ranks are sadly
thinncd
The Rev. r. W Burnel Of Peters
burg. delivered the invocation preced-
ing the oratory and speeches We're
made by Major Isaac b. Brown Presi-
dent of the Pennsylvania Battlefield
Commission; Milton A. Embick, secre-
tary of the commission, and by Prcsi-
dent TAFT The flags that veiled the
bronze features and form Of General
Hartranft, were pulled aside at tho
proper moment by the following ladies:
Mrs. Harold A. Gilbert, Williamsport
Pa; Mrs. Clarence g. Flower Harris
burg. Pa; Mrs. William H. McGnl.
daughter Of General Malone. after
whom the fort was named: Mrs Ma
hone, widow Of the famous Confederate
commander and Mrs. General l.. A..
Dodd, OF Baltimore.
The Presidents address dwelt upon
the lessons taught by the conflict Of
torty-hve years ago, and ended with
a plea for a better understanding be-
tween the north and south. Al the
conclusion OF the Presidents address,
Governor Stuart OF Pennsylvania,
turned the statue over to the state OF
Virginia. and Governor Swanson made
a speech Of acceptance. Rev j. W.
Planett then pronounced the benedic-
tion and bugler standing on the
steps OF the monuments pedestal
sounded taps" This beautiful call
was echoed by another bugler station
ed at Fort Sedgwick not far away.
TAFT in Petersburg.
Following the ceremonies at the
monument the President and his party
was turned over 10 the hospitality OF
the city OF Petersburg and returned
to town. A ride through the principal
streets of the city brought the Presi-
den 10 historic Center Hin Mansion,
where luncheon was served This was
one of the pretticst functions Of the
day. The president and his friends
We're served on the broad veranda, and
the rest of the guests. to the number
of 1000. partook of their luncheon from
tables Of real howerstrewn turf. on the
lawn. Gardeners had been working
on their tables for weeks and from the
natural appearance of the grass and
blossoms one would have thought the
tables had been there as long as the
venerable house itslef
A lawn fetc. and reception are schod-
uled for this afternoon and in the even
ing the streets will be Illuminated IN
honor Of the President. Ambassador
Jusserand, Admiral Sigsbee, and other
distinguished visitors will speak to-
night and at 1920 p. m. the prcsiden-
tial party will leave for Charlotte. n
G., whore the executive will attend
a celebration of the anniversary of the
signing of the Mecklenbugr declaration
of independence.
A Republican president. the first to
come since Lincoln, is the hero Of the
hour, and when he leaves for Char
lotto tonight he will know what hos
pitality means I'm Southern Virginia.
Twenty thousand men and women.
from the surrounding counties, as we'll
as from Pennsylvania, are in Peters
burg TO assist in making him feel at
home.
The Presidents car. Olympia, reached
Petersburg. shortly after O'Clock. at
tached to the train that brought Gov
crnor Stuart. and 1000 Pennsylvania
veterans and their friends. No stor
was made in the town, the Presidential
party. the Governors of Virginia and
Iva MI nd
guests being escorted Immediately tc
Fort Stedman. where the veterans
from the Keystone State dedicated &
tablet 10 the brave Third Division o
he Ninth Army Corps
This tablet stands on the spot wher,
General John +. Hartranft recaptures
the works from General John b. Cor.
don. AS soon as the ceremony wai
ended, the Presidential party wal
driven 10 Fort Malone. a mile and
half distant. Every step OF the wa,
70 the Fort had in 1864 been dronche,
with the blood Of Unionists and Con
federates and on the trip, the Presi
dents carriage was frequently stoppe,
20 allow his conductors TO point on
some especially notable scene
When Fort Malone was reached
Major A. c. Huidekoper. of Meadvills
Pa. the chief marshal OF the militar
exercises. called his command to order
A large grandstand had been erecte
in the clover field. facing the .monu
ment erected TO the memory of Genera
Hartranft and his men. and the Presi
dental party. which included Ambas
asdor Jusscrand. Of France. and Mrs
Jusserand. Captain Archibald Butt. an
Assistant SECRETARY Mischler. wer
soon seated. Others on the grand stan
were Admiral Sigshee, the Virgins
and Pennsylvania Governors. and Colo
mel John S. Mosby. The throng tina
focked from Petersburg assemble
around the base Of the monument
Musical for Elsnere Club.
Tomorrow evening. there will he