The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1912-04-17
WHOMAN'S MONUMENT
UNVEILED THURSDAY
Vast Crowds Gather to Wit.
ness Ceremany.
PRESENTATION ADDRESS
BY JOS. w. BARFNWELL
Beautiful Monument Erected by Pub
lie Subscription to Honor Memory
of Southern Women Unveiled in Co.
lumbia Amidst Impressive Ceremon-
les Thursday.

les Thursday.
Columbiaa, April 1.-THE memorial
to the Confederate women of South
Carolina, erected by the state, was
unveiled here at noon today with ap-
propriate ceremonies and before q
crowd representing every section of
the state. The monument, erected on
the state house grounds, is a beauti-
full work of the scluptor's art, and rep
resents the first memorial ever erected
independently by state to women.
Long before the hour set for the
beginning of the exercises attendant
ument erected by the men of a State
to their women, the crowd, which
aggregated 5000 people. began gath
ering in the south plaza of the State
house around the monument and
speakers stand, built half-moon fash
ion at the intersection of Main and
Senate streets. The granite steps
leading up to the south portico of
the State house were converted into
seats by a portion of the crowd, but
these soon overflowed and the peo-
pie who arrived late took places
where they could find them. Along
the sidewalk just in front of the
speakers stand chairs were placed
for Confederate veterans. All through
the crowd there was a sprinkling of
gray uniforms, gallant remnant of
the chin gray line" which held back
the tide of invaders for four years.
The speakers stand, upon which
were seated the monument commits
sion and the representatives of the
Confederate organizations, was draped
In red and white, the colors of the
Confederacy in which graceful bamboo
vines and yellow jasmine were inter
twined
Memory Fresh rs Flowers.
A mound of flowers, symboizing
the pristine freshness in which the
memory Of the women of the war will
ever be held, was built around the
pedestal of the monument by loving
hands. The girls of Winthrop college
contributed huge wreath of yellow
narcissus. Gen. Ell Torrance, for
mer commander of the Grand Army
of the Republic, sent two wreaths
from his home in Minnesota The
representative of the Daughters of
the Confederacy and many others con
tributed to the mound of blossoms
which covered the base of the pedes-
tai of the monument.
The unveiling exercises were op-
ened at 1915 p. m. when Gen. C.
Irvine Walker of Charleston, chair
man of the commission appointed to
erect the monument introduced Rev.
John G. Richards, Srp or Liberty Hill,
who offered the invocation.
After the invocation, Gen. Walker
introduced the orator of the day,
Joseph w. Barnwell Of Charleston, a
member of the corps of cadets from
the Citadel, which volunteered for
service during the war.
Toward the close of Mr.. Barnwel's
! address bugle blew, and four chill
dren who unveiled the monument left
the speakers stand. A moment later
with the aid Of rolling framework,
they drew back the banners from the
monument. The unveil!ng took place
at :22 p. m.
Arthur L. CASTOR, of Chester, com
mander of the South Carolina division,
United Sons of Confederat Veterans,
accepted the monument on behalf OF
the organization which he represent
ed.