The National tribune., 1910-09-29

National officers and especially the Ma
tioral President for the honor of the
appointments In"conclusion she gives
thanks Ito the Assistant National Press
Correspondents. Lois NJ: knaun; Eliza,
beth Robbins Berry and Isabel Worrell
Ball, veterans in the work. That you
have been worthy aids is proven by the
space you have filled in the interest OF
the W; r. G Accept my thanks for the
same"
The Andersonyille le Prison Board.
Mrs Sarah D. aNinans, Chairman Of
The Andersenville Prison Board of
Managers. after several years of ardu-
Gus labor in that capacity, gave her
final reportIto the eSth National Con-
vention ofrthe W.R.C. Mrs. Winans
has labored indefatigably to make this
sacred spot one of the most beautiful
IN earth, and she has succeeded far
beyond her highest expectations.
The Andersonville Prison Park was
given to the Womans Relief Corps in
1893 by the Department of Georgia,
GAR. 1t was n barren waste, bits or
the old stockade showing above the
ground; excavations all over it where
the poor, starving prisoners had dug
nles to shelter themselves from the
Ditiless elements: numerous wells dug
by the prisoners, often with their
hands, and not a tree, a shrub or even
ground. which seemed accursed. There
was no desire on the part of the wo-
men to perpetuate the sad memories
of AnderSonville, so the stOckade was
all uprooted, and in its place were
planted vines and trees, with wire
fence to outline the park. The trees
would not grow, and the vines died.
Grass was sown again and again on
the red and yellow clay, but the seed
would not sprout a bit more than If
planted on the asphalt pavement. For
five ySars or more the W.R.C., thru its
Board of Managers, worked to get the
grass started and to get things to grow.
At last sod was brought from Ber-
muda, and that grass. alien to the
country. took sickly root. and in later
years has grown luxuriantly. Trees
We're finally cOaXed to grow, and Mrs.
! Winans reports that the pecan orchard
is in splendid condition now, and in
few years will be bearing nuts for
profit. She also reports that both the
wells are now in good condition, tho
a short time ago the quicksand had
been filling them up. They are 80
feet deep. with IS feet of water. There
is windmill and an abundance of
water for use on the rose garden and
! trees. Providence Spring, she says,
was never in so fine a condition as
now. The floor of the pavilion is newly
cemented. The water is running thru
the fountain furnished by the EX-
Prisoners of War Association into Il
basin and into pool in the floor and
out thru the pavilion as clear and
sparkling as when it first burst forth
to quench the thirst of the starving
prisoners The ground aroILd the
spring is beautifod by growing ferns.
The WirZ monument, which was for
so long menace to the Prison Board
of Managers, because of the fact that
the Georgia Daughters had purchased
a little square of land just outside the
entry gate of Andersonville Prison
Park, intending to place the monument
there. now stands in the town OF An
dersonville.t half a mile away. When
the daughters found that such howl
was raised about its being placed at
the Andersonville entrance, and the
probability, that the thing would be
dynamited ont L of existence very
| shortly. they undertook to give the
monument TO the city of Richmond,
but Richmond would not have it. They
wanted to give it to three or four other
towns, but none of them would accept
the monument to the little beast. Firal-
ly the little gone,to-seed. rundown
town of ,AndersSnyille said that it
would like to have the monument. and
so ii was erected there. The body of
| WirZ lies in the malefactors' corner of
Mount Olivet Cemetery. Washington,
D. c.. and is unmarked. Very few peo-
pie know that it is there and it is
/ never pointed out. Mrs. Winans says:
THE Wirz monument standing in the
village - It's own condemnation. 1t
| need only stand there A time Will
come when the South will be glad to
bury 1t from sight" Mrs. Winans men
tions number of presents that have
been made to Andersonville. Among