The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1927-05-13

the will of the legislature, appointed
the 18th of September, 1S45. as the day
when public funeral honors should be
paid to the illustrious dead and their
remains be deposited in the bosom OF
Kentucky. The events of that day Will
ever form an interesting page in the
annals of the state. On that occasion
historic men--men whose names Will
never be forgotten-gathered around
the coffin of more eminent historic
character and bore 1t to the grave.
The pallbearers were fifty chosen from
among the eloers and the honored men
of the commonwealth.
Thousands of people had gathered
from all parts of the state to partlcl-
pate in the solemn funeral rites. A
procession was formed, consisting or
military companies, Masonic and other
societies in regalia, and great number
of citizens on horseback and on foot,
making the line more than mile In
length. The broad grave for the two
collins was dug in lovely shaded hol-
low near the banks of the Kentucky
river and around 1t the multitude gath
cred. The religious ceremonies were
performed by Rev. Mr.. Godell of the
Baptist church and were followed by
an Grafton by Hon. j. j. Crittenden, the
able representative of Kentucky in the
senate of the United States. When the
closing prayer had been offered, and
the benediction pronounced, the comns
were lowered into the grave ana over
them was piled a mound OF earth-yet
the only monument that marks ths
spot where the noble pioneers are
buried.
What was true In 1859 was still true
20 years later-that this mound OF
earth was "yet the only monument
that marks the spot where the noble
pioneers are buried" For, strange
to say, having paid these signal honors
to its great pioneer, Kentucky again
showed a strange indifference to him
and 1t was not until 1880 that the
present monument was erected in
Frankfort.
Daniel Boone has been honored by
memorials in many other places-in
the monument which marks the site OF
Boonesborough, the station" which he
established In 1775; in the statue Of
him in Cherokee park in Louisville;
in the monument which stands In Cum
berland Gap, where Boone stood and
looked into his land Of promise, even
though it was the Ozark and Bloody
Ground" and which may some day be
replaced with a heroic statue of the
great pioneer; and In the Boone Trail
highway which follows his path into
the West. Last year he became one OF
Americas immortals when bust Of
him was unveiled In the Hall Of Fame
at New York university.
But to Kentuckians the monument
in Frankfort Gan unpretentious one, it
would seem, considering the worth of
his services to that commonwealth, Is
something of state shrine. 1t will
be startling news to Kentuckians II
it is ever definitely proved that Daniel
Boone does not sleep beneath that
monument. There were times during
the bloody years of the Revolution In
the West that Kentucky owed her
very existence to the strong right arm
and stout heart of Daniel Boone. Yet
for all that he did for her she al
lowed him to be defrauded of his
lands and saw him, saddened by her
| ingratitude, set forth to seek a new
home In another state. A quarter of
a century after his death she paid him
tardy honors, then neglected his men,
DRY for another 35 years.
If, as the Missouri descendants Of
Boone believe, 1t is not only possible
but probable, that Daniel Boone still
| sleeps in Missouri and not In Ken
lucky, how Fate must smile at the
| delicious irony Of the situation-Ken-
| tuckians of today making pilgrimage
to this state shrine, unconscious of
the fact that they are standing In
reverence at the last resting place of
an unknown stranger and not that of
their great hero whom the Kentuckians
Of yesterday denied-the full measure
of honor and the rewards which he SO
richly deserved