The Greeley tribune., 1911-06-29

thursday Wneu tne SeHteh"A"' NI"f
tsr, Daughters Of the American Rev
slution, with appropriate exercises
marked tho site Of old Fort st.
Vrain with . monument OF COLORADO
sranite, suitably inscribed.
Nearly zvv persons gathered at
the old fort, which is close to the
Denver-Laramie track about -four
niles south OF Milliken and 4h
miles northwest of Platteville, op-
posito Wild Cat Mountain.
Tho monument, which is set in
the center OF the old adobe enclos-
ure, was covered with the stars and
stripes, as members and officers OF
tho D. A. R., their friends and
many old pioneers took position In
front Of it, while Rev. T. G. Brock
way, in solemn invocation, recited
Kipling's "Recessional,
Lord, God Of Hosts, be with us yet.
Lest we forget-lest we forget" !"
After a song, 1.-The Star Spangled
Banner" by the audience, Judge
John T. Jacobs spoke briefly Of the
old fort and it's history.
The Judge was followed by
several old pioneers with short re-
miniscences of events occurring In
and near the old fort fifty years ago.
Among those who spoke were
Judge W. s. Hammitt, of Platte
vile, Weld county's first probate
Nudge; M. F. Coffin Of Longmont.
Who visited the fort many times in
the early sixties; and c. w. Bur-
bridge, of Platteville. who rode the
hills in the same years. Mrs. Mary
Sopris, wife Of General Sopris, OF
Denver, a niece Of Colonel Ceran st.
Vrain, was born inside the walls OF
the fort in 1S4S, and was present
1t the unveiling, and was presented
to the audience.
Mrs. E. r. Thayer, Of Greeley.
state vice regent of the order, spoke
Q few words Of explanation Of the
WORK and aims of the D. A. R.,
whose self-imposed task 10 that Of
tracing and marking battlenelds and
seAsr historic spots with permanent
nonuments. OF the $4,000 mem
hses Of the order. 500 live in Colo
saAo, and four chapters are In sx-
fstsnce in northern Colorado. Cea-
tsanial State Chapter. Of Greeley.
WAS organized in 1894.
Following the presentation Of
Ars. Sopris and the singing Of the
RED. White and Blue" the monu-
mont was unveiled by Mrs. B. D.
Hanborn, regent of Centen atal
cAapter, D. A. R. and Mr.. Sopris.
After the unveiling. which closed
the formal ceremonies, the crowd
repaired to grove on the banks
Of the river a half mile distant and
had an old-fashioned basket picnic.
returning to Greeley on the after
noon train.
Mrs. Mary Sopris was accompan-
led by her son. Albert sopris. and
her daughter, Mrs. J. B. Wiggen-
horn of Salt Lake City, who happen
ID in Denver yesterday quite by &C
eldent. Mrs. sopris, who was born
fAside the walls of the old fort in
le4s, remembers little of early
days, having removed to New Mex
ico when quite small. She is a
daughter Of Marcellus st. Vrain. a
brother of Colonel Ceran st. vrain,
after whom the fort was named.
OF the officers Of Centennial
Chapter there were present at the
anveiling. Mrs. B. D. Sanborn, re-
gent; Mrs. E. R. Thayer, vice re-
gent for Colorado; Mrs. Elsie De.
vine, recording secretary; Mrs
Jesse Gale, registrar; Mrs. G. D.
Horne, treasurer, and Mrs. ]. MAJ
Clark. historian.
The monument is substantial
a1air of Colorado granite. rough
Aewn, four feet high by three wide
aounted on a larger base OF the
same material, all standing six feet
shove the earth. On the front
which faces west, is the following
inscription:
FORT ST VRAIN
Built about 1887 by
Colonel Ceran St. Vrain
Gen. Fremont reorganized his
historic exploring expedition
here, July 90, 1843. This fort
was also visited by Francis
Parkman and Kit Carson.
Erected by Centennial State
chapter, d. A. R., 1911.
While the exercises were in prog.
ress, little grandchildren of these
pioneers of past generation. anus
Cd themselves by picking Indiar
beads and arrow points from the
sands about the ruins of the ole
fort.
Judge Jacobs speech in part fol
lows:
The first white man to pass thil
historic spot, of whom we have rec
ord, was Major Long. for whom
Longs Peak was named, who pass
ed here ninety-two years ago.. HI
has pictured the general appear
ance of this country as 1t was Al
that time; st. vrain and Boulder
Creeks and the Cache la Poudre
then unnamed are mentioned By