Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-17
Statue to Famous Naval
Commander Located at
Washington.
PRESIDENT A SPEAKER
Admiral Dewey Pulls Cords That
Drop Flags Covering the
Memorial Shaft.

dsnlngtOn, April IA statue
of John Paul Jones, the first great
commander of the American navy,
moulded to show him as he stood on
the deck of the Bonhomme Richard
in the terrible fight with the Serapis
l25 years ago, was unveiled here to-
day with simple but impressive cere-
monies. President Taft and General
Horace Porter were the only speak
ers on the program. To Admiral
Dewey was assigned the task of pull
ing the cords that released the flags
about the statue.
The unveiling of the statue brought
to close a movement begun several
years ago to provide some appropri-
ate testimonial to the memory of the
great naval hero.
WORK COSTS $4,000
II started when wave of public in
terest was excited by the discovery in
France and removal to America of the
remains of the early sea fighter. Much
difficulty was experienced in selecting
design for the memorial from the
large number Of models submitted by
famous sculptors. The choice finally
fell upon the design offered by Charles
H. Niehaus of New York for a statue.
A setting for the statue included a
fountain, pylon and approaches, the
whole work costing $4,000.
CLOSE TO WHITE HOUSE.
The memorial is located on the
northwest shore of the Tidal basin In
Patomac park, at the foot of Seven
teenth street. not far from the White
house, the Pan-American Union build
ing, the Home of the Daughters of the
American Revolution and other beauti-
ful buildings. 1t is the first statute to
be erected within the limits of the
new Potomac park, and Is also the
first purely naval monument to be rails
ed in this city since that unveiled in
memory of Admiral Dupont in 1884.
DIFFERS FROM OTHER.
The Jones memorial differs in many
respects from other similar structures
IN the national capital It consists of
marble pylon of Cassie design as the
background for a colossal bronze fig
ure of the intrepid naval commander
oil the early days of the republic,
The pylon is a massive rectangular
tower about Is feet in height. 1t oc-
cupies the center of an ornamental
fountain, water for which is supplied
from the bronze heads of dolphins, on
each side of the pylon.
OF HEROIC PROPORTIONS.
Of
stands at the base of the monument in
front of the pedestal. 1t is of herorc
proportions, being about 10 feet high.
The great naval commander is shown
in full uniform, with an expression and
pose suggestive of his indomitable
will and unconquerable spirit He has
been modelled as though watching a
naval engagement. His rigbt hand Is
clenched and his left hand clutches
sword. AS the sculptor put it, Here
is the representation of a man capa-
bic of doing almost anything and not
simply a man who can do only one
thing"
SEVERAL INSCRIPTIONS.
There are several appropriate in
scriptions on the memorial suggested
by Representative Lemucl p. Padgett
of Tennessee, chairman of the house
committee on naval affairs. and ap-
proved by the Jones Memorial commits
sion. consisting of the secretaries OF
war and navy and the chairmen of the
congressional committees on library.
Under the statue is inscribed
| "1747 1922
First
To compel foreign men-of-war
( To strike coIors to the Stars and
Stripes"
There are two inscriptions on the
rear OF the pylon. One OF these is on
the stone forming the cap Of the shaft.
REILLY TO BRITON.
II embOdies the language popularity
attributed to Commodore Jones when
called upon by the commander Of the
British frigate Scraps to surrender
the American ship Bonhomme Rich
ard. The inscription is arranged in
/ two lines, and without quotation
marks as follows:
| Surrender
/ ! have not yet begun 10 fight.
l The other inscription is just below
/ the base relief representing Commo-
I core Jones raising the United States
/ flag for the first time on an American
warship. II reads:
In life he honored the flag