Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-12
RESTING At ANCHOR
Ship Reproduced in the CoIum-
bus Statue dwelling.
MEANING OF THE SYMBOLS
Explanation of the Scheme Carried
Out at the Ceremonies at
Union Station.

| Many persons who witnessed the un-
yelling of the Columbus memorial last
Saturday were aware Of the fact that the
ceremonies were not such as ordinarily
attend events OF the kind, but the precise
significance Of several features OF the I'M
yelling was not understood. The arrange
ments for the unwilling were carried out.
under the direction of Col. Spencer Cosby.
by Frederick d. Owen of the office OF
public buildings and grounds, and Mr..
Owen today described to a reporter for
The Star the symbolism carried out in the
actual ceremony of removing the swath-
| ings from the memorial.
The scheme was twofold in nature.
Mr.. Owen said, representing in way
the part which the two continents had
taken in the great event. The idea OF
the ship with two masts very readily
suggested the main feature of the plan.
Therefore two sixty-foot poles were erect
| ed, one to the east, one to the west OF
the statue about 165 feet apart.
| Upon these was stretched steel wire
cable, with forward and after stays. as
| il secured to bow and stern OF the ship.
| Upon the cable were carried the colors
which played SO important a part in the
ceremony of unwilling and later Of deco
| ration.
Yardarms for the Flags.
Two yardarms. each twenty-one feet
long, which were secured to the wire by
hooks and pulleys, carried the largest
regular American flags, which, when
drawn together parallel to each other
and at right angles to this horizontal
wire, carried the flags SO as to encom-
pass entirely the central shaft and fig
ures. The two marble lions, one on each
| side of the base and fountain, were not
covered with American flags. but were
yelled In white; likewise the central fig
ure OF Victory, or Spirit of Discovery
was also shrouded in a pure white veil.
i Ten sailors from the Washington navy
| Arthur Callaghan, chief gunner's mate,
| were detailed by the Navy Department
to assist Mr.. Owen in carrying out the
plan and directions as previously arrang ed
great share Of the success of the plan
| AS the President arrived on the stand
the band played Hail to the Chief
and President Taft's flag was raised over
MS pox, with three other American en-
signs. which had previously been raised
Immediately two sailors, one on each
side. drew the wells off the two lions.
Later In the order of exercises and at the
proper moment: when the Italian ambas-
| sador had finished his remarks he drew
| the cord which surrounded the central
| shaft and the figure of Columbus the two
/ large fags were drawn apart by the yard
| arms and ropes pulled by sailors stationed
in the rear stands, thereby revealing for
| the first time the marble column and the
statue Of the great discoverer and bring
ing to view the two blue fields of the flags.
| with tt cir galaxy of stars, directly behind
the miniature world at the top 'of the
monument. q most appropriate. feature of
the unwilling.
Resembles Square Sail.
When, at the same moment. the cord
was drawn two jackies dressed in white,
stationed on the forward deck of the mar
BILE ship at the foot of the statue. stimuli
| taneously raised the white veil which COW
cred the figurehead, The Spirit of Discov-
cry and after furling it laid it across the
deck, so as to resemble the square SAIL
used by Columbus The two large flags
| were drawn apart, one to the east and the
other to the west, like covers Of big
book of history. with the subject standing
/ distinctly before the many spectators
"The flags were carried on the overhead
wire to the far ends of the tall masts,
where they floated out on the breeze
until the close of the ceremonies, and
until the parade had passed in review
before the President. These flags are
twenty feet hoist by thirty-six feet fly.
| AT this instant other sailors raised
aloft to the steel wire the Italian flag In
honor of the italian ambassador and the
Inatfve-rountry of Columbus, on the right
side of the shaft near the great American
flag. On the left the Spanish dag was