The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1912-02-02
VANDALISM IN
| THE CAPITOL.
Cutting Of Battle Of Lake Eli9'
! Recalls Other Acts.
PAINTING COST $4,000.


Indian Picture Which Was Afterward
Found In the Home of Prominent
Representative.
| A vandal bent on destruction cut
strip of canvas thirty inches long and
three inches wide from the frame OF
"The Battle of Lake Erie" one of thC
largest and most valuable paintings
that hang in the senate wing of the
United States capitol. The painting
was defaced near the left hand corner
thereby marring the water scene
"The Battle of Lake Erie" by Pow
ell, is one of the most popular works c
art I'm the capitol The canvas is thin
ty-five feet long and twenty-five fee
high. The picture represents Commo
dore Oliver Hazard Perry in the mids
of the battle as he leaves the disable,
flagship Lawrence in the foreground (,
transfer his battle dag to the Niagar;
on the right in order to renew Tho
fight.
The mutilation of "The Battle OF
Lake Erie is regarded as the worst
act of vandalism In the history of the
capitol. The authorities are frequently
worried by souvenir hunters, but rare
| ly has an effort been made to destroy
In the capitol or other public buildings
In Washington merely for the purpose
of destroying. In this case the vandal
dropped the piece of canvas cut from
the frame on the grand stair leading to
! the painting. A sharp knife was used
in the work. The cut was a clean one
but apparently was not accomplished
without difficulty. An examination of
the picture showed that the vandal
had made two unsuccessful efforts to
push his knife or other sharp instru-
Eent through the canvas before he
made an opening.
| Various theories have been advanced
as to the reasons that prompted the
mutilation of the painting. Some are
inclined to believe the canvas was cut
by a disgruntled or discharged en-
ployee. 1t is suggested also that the
act may have been committed by a
4
vent to his resentment over the at
| tacks made on the Russian govern
ment In the debates on the resolution
proposing the abrogation of the treaty
of 1882. The police have no substan-
tiation of this theory.
| The cutting of 1.-The Battle Of Lake
Erie" has recalled many acts of de-
struetion and defacements of works of
art In the capitol. Something of sen
sation was kicked up decade back
when II was discovered that one of the
great toes OF the Greenough statue of
| George Washington, which stood In
the plaza facing the east front of the
capitol was missing. Search for the
toe and the person responsible for its
disappearance was made, but without
result The toe was replaced.
The bronze doors at the east front
OF the capitol were defaced at the
time of the Spanish war. Parts of the
bas-relief depicting soldiers at war
were knocked off and carried away by
souvenir hunters.
Another offense charged against sou.
venir hunters was the damage done to
the Bible used In swearing In presi
dents Of the United States. An effort
was made also few years ago to
make away with the hands on the
clock I'm the senate marble room. The
hands were bent out of shape, as II
an effort had been made to remove
them.
II A party Of prominent women was
taken to committee room Of the cap
itol about ten years ago to view an
Indian painting. The picture could
not be found. While the capitol au
thorities have declined to make any
comment on this particular case, 1t Il
known that the painting was located
In the home Of New York congress
man. How 1t got there was never sat
isfactorily explained to those who
were apprised Of the disappearance ol
the painting, nor would the capitol Of
ficials make any comment on its re
turn to the capitol. This particular
incident created a sensation at the
time, but the name of the Statesman
involved was never published.
''The Battle Of Lake Erie was paint
led by William III. Powell upon an or
der of congress. Under the terms O.
"a joint resolution passed March 2, 1865
the joint committee on library was di
Irected to enter into contract Will
Mr.. Powell ITO paint picture for thu
United States to be placed at the heat
lof one of the grand staircases In th'
llcapitol illustrative Of some naval vic
tory, the particular subject to be agrees
on by the committee and the artist.
The government paid $4,000 for th'
painting.