Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1912-06-15
One Of Biggest Demonstrations
I'm Washington Since Civil
War.
Banquet, Illuminated Process
sion, Oratoray and Fire-
works.
GREATEST MARINER IN HISTORY

At the threshold of the capital Of
the greatest nation born in the hem.
lsphere he discovered four centuries
and two decades ago a memorial tc
Christopher Columbus was unveiled
Saturday. Facing the majestic marble
figure of the greatest mariner of all
time, President Taft paid tribute
to his persevering genius and lofty
imagination. The cord which swept
aside the flags that veiled the
memorial was drawn by the great
discoverer's countryman, the Italian
Ambassador, and one of the chief
addresses was delivered by Justice
Victor J. Bowling, of the Supreme
Court Of New York, an eminent
member of the Knights of Columbus,
through the activity of which Con-
gress was induced to authorize the
rearing of the memorial which
stands in the Plaza before the Union
Station, three blocks from the Cap
ltol. The non-sectarian character of
the official ceremony was indicated
by the presence of Bishop Wilbur T.
Thirkield, a Methodist, who pro-
nounced the benediction.
The ceremony was attended by a
huge demonstration. An imposing
parade-military and civic-with
thousands Of men in line, passed in
review before the President, who
stood on the grandstand at the base
Of the memorial. The greater part
of the pageant was composed of
Knights of Columbus from every
section of the country. AS each
Knight passed in review he saluted
the head of the nation. Bluejackets
from the First division of the At
lantic fleet, several battaliQns sf
nAarlles;a and. troops from,
Meyer and offfef- f--neErrDy posts
formed the first section of the par
ade. Philander c. Knox, Secretary
Of State, presided at the unveiling
exercises. The Marquis Cusani Con-
falonieri, the italian Ambassador,
released the American flags which
hid the statue of his illustrious
countryman from view. AS the
effigy was released a battery of
United States artillery fired a salute
Of twenty-one guns.
President Taft pronounced the
country's eulogy upon the intrepid
sailor who tore the mantle of mys-
terry from the unknown Atlantic and
revealed a continent. "The greatest
mariner of history" was the Presi-
dents encomium. Justice Victor J..
Bowling, of the New York Supreme
Court, eulogized Columbus, and
urged law for the setting apart of
Columbus day. as a national holi-
day. He deplored the fact that the
discoverer had been deprived of the
prestige of having his name given to
the land he devoted his life to make
known.
AT night Washington was brilliant
with a display of fireworks in cele-
bration of the occasion. The exer-
cises were closed for the day by a
public dinner at which Cardinal
Gibbons made the principal address.
The memorial stands on the plaza
of the Union Station. A granite
shaft rises forty-six feet out of the
fountain, forming the background of
marble heroic statue of Columbus,
wrapped in a cloak of his period.
ouIhouhtlhB the Shdit lS BlODe,
supported on the wings of four
American eagles. The statue stands
on the prov of ship. At the feet
is graceful feminine form typify-
ing Discovery" The fountain is
semi-circular, seventy feet long and
sixty-five feet wide. Ferdinand and
Isabella of Spain are honored with
medallion on the rear Of the shaft.
The figure of an Indian on one side
OF the shaft, about to take an arrow
from his culver, and a patriarchal
Caucasian on the other, represents
the New and Old Worlds. Two lions
guard the extremities OF the granite
balustrade in front of the fountain.