Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-05-10
CORNERSTONE OF
BLOCK HOUSEFOR
centennial LAID
Interesting and Impressive Ceremonies
Held at Fort Armstrong This
Afternoon.
rs IN CHARGE OF AUGUSTAN4
Principal Addresses are Delivered by
Mrs. K. T. Anderson and John
II. Hauberg.

marked the laying OF the cornerstone
O. the block house at Fort Armstrong
at o'clock this afternoon. The at
fair was in commemoration of the cen
tennial Of the landing OF troops on
Rock island.
The program was in charge OF Au-
gustana college. A procession headed
by the Augustana band and composed
Of school children. students of the
college and others interested formed
at Spencer square, Rock Island, at
2:30 and marched TO the reconstructed
block house Davenport school chill
dren gathered at LeCl2ire street, Day
export, al 2:30 and also marched to
the historic grounds to participate. .
Welcomed by Mitchell.
Following a selection by the band,
Phil Mitchell, chairman of the block
house committee, extended a royal
greeting TO the company and among
other things said:
One hundred years ago about eight
hundred soldiers of the Sth infantry,
L. S A, under command Of General
Thomas A. Smith, landed on the spot
where we stand now and established
Fort Armstrong.
In a spirit of wisdom and prepared
ness our government, by this means,
sought TO provide adequate defense for
settlers and the advance of civiliZa-
ton, from the powerful Sac and Fox
Indians. At that time the Sac village
occupied the low lands near the foot OF
Black Hawks Watch Tower and the
Fox village was on the Illinois main
land, within the limits of the present
city Of Rock Island.
THE villages Of these allied tribes
constituted one Of the most populous
Indian settlements in North America.
Sixteen years thereafter, or In 1882,
occurred the memorable Black Hawk
war and the wisdom of our forefathers
in building Fort Armstrong was made
manifest. But the Indian tactics never
involved the attack Of a fortified post.
hence the theatre of the Black Hawk
war was up Rock river, and down the
Wisconsin to the Mississippi and final
defeat of the Indians occurred at the
battle OF Bad Axe. While none living
witnessed the activities on this spot q
century ago, there are number pres
emit who are familiar with the old fort
up to the time of its demolition in
1863, when Major Kirgsburg of the
ordnance department RACED the re-
naming buildings of the old fort, ex-
cept the building known as Scott S
headquarters, which remained for sew
eral years.
1T seems eminently fit and proper
that some ceremony be made in honor
of the actual centenary Of Fort Arm
or,I
logical seminary of Rock Island
through its president, DR.. Andreen, is
entitled to credit for the initiative, and
when / shall have finished this short
talk DR.. Andreen will conduct the
ceremonies.
AT the instigation Of the Rock Is
land County Historical society and the
historical section of the Davenport
Academy Of Science, all schools and
educational institutions in the two
counties were invited to participate in
these exercises. We bequeath to the
sturdy youth of today glorious herr
tage, with full confidence in its 10y
atty, bravery and patriotism"
Dir. Andreen Replies.
In replying, DR.. Gustav Andreen
president of Augustana college, said
ION behalf of Augustana college,
desire to express deep gratitude to
you and to the executive committee OF
the Fort Armstrong Centennial cele-
bration for the honor conferred upon
our institution in entrusting to US the
laying Of the cornerstone of the re-
stored block house, which is to occu-
Ply such an important position in this
celebration. Additional interest is
added to these exercises by the cir
cumstance that May 10 marks the ex-
act centennial day of the coming of
the troops to this island, who were to
protect the early settlers of this re-
gion, and TO bring the blessings OF
civilization to the great territory con-
tiguous to and drained by the north
ern portion of the Father of Waters
now flowing majestically at our feet
In accepting the trust of laying this
cornerstone on this important ami
versary, Augustana joins with the
community at large in doing honor tt
the noble and self-sacrifcing pioneers
as well as to their soldier protectors
who together laid the firm founda-
tons not only for our material pros
pVi4bJ put opOfS oil 6aFC 10 Cd d 4C4
itage the ideals and aspirations Of re-
hgious and truth-seeking souls. I'M
bued with true devotion to liberty
they brought with them the flag which
one hundred years ago today was
planted and hoisted on this place, the
emblem of our country, to which We
LOOK up with love and reverence.
Tribute Paid to Flag.
BY proyidqtial guidance, the ter
ritory protected by this flag has been
extended from the borders of the At.
lantic to this inland empire, and west
ward not only to the Pacific, but tc
the islands Of the orient Still greater
is TO be the sway Of Old Glory and its
historical significance TO be more ex-
cellently displayed, not by the fur.
Their acquisition Of territory, but by
its powerful and beneficent influence
on the nations of the world for the ad
vancement of justice, international
righteousness and honorable peace
To the important task which the Coo
OF history has assigned TO the Ameri
can people we desire on this day agaii
to dedicate ourselves, and we can dc
that best by faithfully conserving The
patriotism, the sane outlook on life
and its everyday duties, and witha
the idealism which characterized the
pioneers whose centennial we now
celebrate May the children and youth
of our schools and colleges, who to-
day throng this picturesque. water
grit cliff, made memorable by impor'
tant historical events, be filled with
an inspiration which shall enter as a
life-giying element into their own
hearts and Lead them on 10 decd 6