The Wateree messenger. (Camden, S.C.) 1884-1942, October 05, 1932, Image 2
By ELMO 8COTT WAT80N
OLUMBUS DAY this year finds a
long-discussed memorial to the
great navigator nearer reality than
ever before, for an international
jury of architects has announced
its selection of the prize-winning
design for the monumental light
house which Is to stand facing the
harbor of the City of Santo Do
mingo in the -Republic of Santo
Domingo in the West Indies.
The prize-winning design, a lighthouse In the
form of a cross, Is the work of an English archi
tect, twenty-four-year-old J. L. Greave of Not
tingham, and when the lighthouse Is completed
It will be unique among memorial structures
throughout the world. And certainly It will be
the kind of memorial which Columbus himself
would have most desired ? this great beacon
which shall safely guide the sailors of both the
sea and the air who follow him to his last rest
ing place in Santo Domingo.
The prize design, according to Frank Lloyd
Wright, the Chicago architect and a member of
the international jury, not only reflects a monu
ment of distinguished and Impressive simplicity,
but it presents a memorial form with a purpose.
"Anything in the nature of a monument," said
Mr. Wright, "Is today somewhat old-fashioned
in thought. This happens to be more a memo
rial than a monument in that It serves a use
ful purpose. Through Its radiated lighting, the
Columbus Cross will serve as both a good air
beacon and a good lighthouse. As a navigators'
and aviators' beacon it has, unlike many other
monuments, some reason for existence. The his
toric 8 pot chosen for the memorial on Santo Do
mingo harbor, not far from the ruins of what
was once the palace of Columbus' brother, Bar
tholomew, Js an appropriate site for this endur
ing symbor'of friendship between North and
South America."
From its harbor side the lighthouse will be
reached by a flight of broad low steps. Accord
ing to the design the main entrance carries
into a building which, as described by Mr.
Wright, becomes a series of high cool canyons,
the walls bearing sculptured motifs. Standing
in the center of the largest canyon are six small
altars. From these altars light is radiated up
ward through clefts (in the mass of the struc
ture) in the pattern of a cross. It is this light
ing System that forms the air beacon. The re
volving navigators' beacon (a horizontal beam)
wiy 4>e mounted at the center and highest part
of the cross. In Its memorial chapel there will
be a tomb where the bonen of Columbus, which
Rome students believe to be In the Cathedral of
Santo Domingo, will be laid.
While* the harbor portal may be called the
main entrance, there are two others almost as
Impressive. They also form part of the setback
design of the pyramidal pattern. There 1r a
fourth portal at the dlmlniRhlng point of the
cross, affording a view of Santo Domingo's avia
tion field. A visitor may enter at the harbor aide,
and after traversing the several canyons leave
by a rear door. A terrace on top of the struc
ture, also open to visitors, commands a fine view
of the harbor and city. The altars, which stand
free and clear down the center of the major
canyon, will tell through hns-rellefs the story of
Columbus and his Journey of discovery to a
Rtrange land.
That there is no idea of height In the me
morial structure, Mr. Wright considers an im
pressive feature of the design. "Here Is some
thing finer In the Idea," said Mr. Wright, "some
thing a little more natural, a little more organic,
a little more a part of the historic plot it is to
commemorate. The simple thing, when yon want
to mark a spot, is to drive In a post, and In the
case of most present-day monuments and sky
Rcrapers the higher tl\e post the better. Thin
memorial 1b more like making a symbol (in this
Instance a cross) on the ground and giving It
architectural character that will endnre for cen
turies. It In earthquake-proof. In time, the
jungle may grow over it, it may disappear from
sight, it may be rediscovered. But it will still
be a worthy symbol suitably commemorating a
great discovery."
More than $800,000 has already been contrib
uted by this country for the monument, which
will cost in the nelghborhod of $l,r>00,(?00. Banto
Domingo and several South American cities have
Appropriated several hundred thousand dollars
for the project, which Is in charge of a com
mitteo of the Pan American Union.
So after more than half a century of persever
ing effort, during which tbe idea of building a
fitting memorial to the man who Is universally
hailed as the discoverer of America was kept
allye by a few enthusiastic Latln-Amerlcann,
the dream is nearer reality than ever before In
this four hundred and fortieth year since Oo
lumbns made his first epochal voyage.
The honor of first suggesting the erection of
? treat memorial lighthouse to the eternal glory
of Columbus belongs to a son of Santo Do
mingo, whose people have for many generations,
deftpito their Bmall numbers and limited means,
Otfhft 90 much to honor the name of the great
bavlgfttor* Don Antonio de Monte y Tejnda of
tUbto Domingo, the spot Columbus loved above
1. Christopher Columbus ? After an engraving
by T. Johnson from the Lotto portrait owned
by James W. Ellsworth of Chicago.
2. The Landing of Columbus In America. ?
Painting by John Vanderlyn In the rotunda of
the United 8tates Capitol at Washington, D. C.
3. Queen Isabella of 8paln, who provided the
money for Columbus' expedition.
4. The Caravels of Columbus at sea.
5. The Earliest Picture of ths Landing of Co
lumbus. ? A unique engraving made to Illustrate
an Italian poem by Quiliano Dati, printed In
Florence In 1493, shortly after Columbus' return.
Thle IS from a facsimile of the original in the
British museum and Is reproduced here by cour
tesy of the Yale University Press, which secured
It for an illustration In the volume, "Adventur
ers In the Wilderness," In the Pageant of Amer
ica series.
all other lands he discovered, wrote In 1RT>2:
"The time has arrived . . . when the ver
dict of posterity should he proclaimed. This ver
dict must he as noble, generous, memorable and
eternal as his deeds. I^et America proclaim It
In unison, find let her acknowledge by all means
that the honor of the discovery belongs to Co
lumbus; that to him as the Initiator of such
great exploits are due the many discoveries that
have been made by others to this day . . .
and In order that this acknowledgment may bo
worthy of the New World, let us erect In the
most visible and notable placo in America, In
a central point and where It may he visited by
travelers as they approach her shores, the statue
that his greatness and remembrance demand.
"I designate as such a place, (Jape Isabella,
on the Island of Illspanlola, because there the
first city In America was founded, and let it be
designed by the best sculptor and paid with
funds raised by popular subscription In all the
cities of Europe and America. In order that this
symbol may carry within Itself all the attribute*
of perpetuity, let there he established in this
statue a lighthouse so travelers from the Old
and New Worlds may look full of gratitude and
emotion toward that venerable Image, when
they sight the first land from the sea."
Nearly Jtf) yearn after these stirring words
were penned, another Dominican asked the na
tions of America to co-operate with ancient
Illspanlola to the end that a fitting memorial he
reared to Columbuft on the spot where he first
stepped ashore on American soil. This man was
(Jen Oregorlo Luperon, Santo Domingo's great
est hero In her war against Spain in
Although many statues have been dedicated
In different lands to the honor of Oolumbua?
one of the most notable being erected In the
Plaza of Santo Domingo City which has since
been called the Plaza de Colon ? and his ashes
have been enshrined In the cathedral In the city
of Santo Domingo, yet the Idea of a monumental
memorial conceived and built by all the people
of America, would not die.
At the time (October 12, 1802? the four hun
dredth Anniversary of the discovery of Amer
ica) that the Santo Domingo government con
structed the great monument tlmt now holds
the remains of the discoverer and placed It In
the cathedral there, their hope was later to
move this tomb to an appropriate structure,
crowned by a lighthouse. Lack of funds made
this impossible, and it was not until 1914 that
really systematic labors were begun to bring
about the building of the memorial lighthouse
to be participated in by all America.
The leader In this work was William E. Pul
llan, an American, then receiver of Dominican
customs, whose labors resulted in enlisting the
interest of editors and publicists throughout
North and South America. Mr. Pulllan also was
the first to appear before the house committee
on foreign affairs, where he explained the pro
jected memorial and urged the United States
government to participate In the proposal to
make this testimonial of gratitude of all the
Americas to Columbus an assured fact.
But International support of the long-sought
memorial failed to crystallize until 1023 when
the fifth International conference of American
states met at Santiago de Chile. Here a reso
lution, proposed by the Dominican delegate,
Julio M. Cestero, and unanimously adopted, re
solved, "To recommend that all the American
republics unite to honor the memory of Chris
topher Columbus by the erection of a monumen
tal lighthouse, which will bear his name on the
coast of Santo Domingo, capital of the Domini
can republic, and which shall be built with the
co-operation of the governments and people of
j America and any others who may so desire."
On June 27, 1927, the congress of the United
States ratified the action, resolving, "that the
several states be notified of the desire of the
people of the United States to participate in
this movement to honor the memory of the great
navigator and discoverer."
Meanwhile the governing committee of the
Pan-American Union, having taken steps to se
cure Pan-American co-operation, resolved In
?, April, 1927, "that the Columbus lighthouse be
erected on the coast of Santo Domingo, since
? this site Is the most appropriate one for ren
dering homage to the memory of the great navi
gator. This coast was the flrRt land touched in
the Journey which discovered the continent; It
was there that the vision of the New World,
given to civilization by the genius of Columbus
and the zeal of Spain, assumed reality; It was
In Hispnniola that Columbus wishes his ashes
to rest and there receive the veneration of
America, and It Is but Just that the monument
, to his glory should be erected on the scene of
his fortunes and misfortunes, near the site of
the first colonial city and near the tomb where
the piety of a nation has for centuries done rev
erence to his remains.
"And In order that the offering may be more
nearly perfect and more genuinely expressive of
the significance of the discovery, of the meas
ure of progress and well being brought to hu
manity by the store of natural wealth on the
continent discovered by Columbus, nnd of the
contribution of culture brought to civilization
by the Intellectual labor of America, the commit
tee believes It would be fitting for each Amer
ican nation to send In addition to pecuniary con
tribution, a portion of earth from Its soil to be
deposited at the base of the monument and a
product of Its art or Industry to bo used In the
building, thereby giving real symbolic signifi
cance of what Is most fundamental and most
sacred In the national existence of each coun
try."
The unanimity of thought, labor and expense
that animates all the 21 states of North, South
and Central America In bringing about the de
sign and construction of this great memorial
is one more proof? and the greatest ? that Co
lumbus holds first place In the hearts of all men.
Of almost equal significance to the United
States In the further concrete evidence that In
building this memorial the Pan-American Union
has actually become something more tfi^in a
paper union held together by an Imposing build
ing In Washington. Further links In the ties
which bind Pan-America may In consequence
from tl#s unity of effort he expected In the com
ing years and these links may well be of the
greatest Importance to the Integrity of this na
tion.
(? by Wontern Ncw?p?p?? Union.)
MINNESOTA FARM
STRIKE IS BEGUN
Iowa and S. Dakota Pickets
Leave the Road*.
?
Worthlngton, Minn. ? The farm strike
has spread to Minnesota and nearly
400 farmers picketed highways lead
ing to this city. One clash occurred
In which the pickets overpowered a
farmer who attempted to run their
blockade, unhitched his horses and ran
his wagon Into a ditch.
Deputy sheriffs rescued the farmer
who was attempting to take a load
of sheep to market and flnaly es
corted him Into town with his sheep.
The State Farmers' Holiday asso
ciation has been formed by the strik
ing farmers who hope to raise prices
oy blocking the roads and keeping
live stock aod crops oft the market
.'or a t?me.
Some of the Town farmers were here
to Join the Minnesotans, but SherilT
Rowe ordered the visitors off the high
ways.
Sioux City, Iowa. ? The Farmers'
Holiday association picketers, who for
six weeks have maintained a blockade
around Sioux City by picketing north
west Iowa, South Dakota and Nebras
?a highways entering the city to pre
vent farm products being marketed in
their effort to raise prices of farm
commodities, have raised the blockade
and live stock, poultry, eggs, grain and
other products resumed their normal
flow Into the city.
Iowa picketers left the highways
following a meeting here of national
officers of the Holiday association, who
adopted resolutions frowning on plck
?ting which had resulted in numerous
clashes between sheriff's deputies and
:he picketers, resulting in demands of
ousiness Interests for calling for the
militia.
South Dakota picketers also gave up
their vigil. Nebraska highways have
been picketed only spasmodically.
A "revolt" against the selling of live
stock and grain In all agricultural
states of the midwest became the ob
lective of leaders of the farm "war"
for higher prices.
The order, calling on agricultural
ists to withhold their live stock and
grain until they receive prices equal
to production costs went Into effect,
out picketing Is frowned upon by lead
irs of the movement.
This second phase of the agrarian
revolt will apply only to live stock
and grain. Farmers need not with
nold perishable products. Including
cream eggs and butter, from market
during the next 30 days, but If the
prices of these commodities do not
reach production costs in that period
they, too, will be withheld, the officers
decided.
Governor White Ends
Coal Strike in Ohio
Murray City, Ohio. ? Gov. George
White's ten-point program for settle
ment of the southern Ohio bituminous
coal strike wus accepted by represent
atives of the miners at a delegate
meeting called to ratify an informal
agreement reached by mine union offi
cials, operators and the governor.
Meeting at the call of their union lead
ers, miners' delegates voted 72 to 24
for ratification of the peace plan.
Their action ended a strike which
started February 1, when the opera
tors effected a reduced wage scale.
The scale stipulated In the govern
or's plan is slightly higher than the
operators' scale, calling for 38 cents
a ton on mnchlne-mined coal and $3.28
a day for laborers.
Blacksmiths Think the
Horse Is Coming Back
Toronto, Ont. ? The International
convention of Master Horseshoers,
Blacksmiths and Carriage Makers held
its forty-second annual session here,
confident the work horse Is "returning
to stay."
J. A. Carlson of Arthur, Iowa, presi
dent of the American section of the
convention, sold that, though the
truck and tractor maintained their
lead on main highways, the horse Is
coming into Its own off moln rood
woys.
Demands $1,500,000
on Plagiarism Charge
Los Angeles. ? A $l,r>00,000 plnglor
fsm suit has been filed against the Fox
Film corporation by Corlnne Kwanson,
fi screen writer known ns Maria Man
nix. She charges that the company ap
propriated one of her stories and pro
duced It under another title.
Killed as He Starts Work
on First Job in a Year
Posadeno, Calif. ? Out of work for a
year, F/Orl Remington, forty-three, got
a Job on the FMne canon dam, being
built near here for the municipal wa
ter supply. Twenty minutes after he
started to work n bowlder rolled down
nnd fatally injured him.
Dry Aff?nt Kill* it Mwn
Jefferson City, Mo. ? George Craig,
federal prohibition agent, sold a man
Identified as Claude Ilrown hod been
shot nnd killed by VV. flrncken, How
ard county deputy sheriff, during n
??nld on a still near Iloonvllle.
Artist Kill* Himifflf
New York. ? James Stewnrt Cnrstnlrs,
artist, killed himself with poison, lie
was found unconscious In his npart
ment In the Hlnekstone hotel nnd died
In an nmhulance.
MAHATMA GANDH!
Mahatma Gandhi, Indian nationalist
leader, who began a fast "unto death"
In Yervoda prison, Poona, In protest
against the British settlement of the
communal problem.
GANDHI BEGINS HIS
"FAST UNTO DEATH"
Refuses Release From Jail
Offered by British.
Bombay. ? Despite the pleas of his
friends, Mahatma Gandhi, Hindu
"saint," began the fast, by which he
hopes to starve to deatfi.
Gandhi remained in the Yervada
Jail at Poona as the fast started, but
British government officials said he
was free to receive visitors or to leave
the prison whenever he wished.
Ills decision to die so that the
world might take notice of India's
plight remained unshaken, although a
deputation of Bombay Hindus argued
with him In his cell at Yeravada Jail
In Poona for three hours, urging him
not to make a move that may plunge
India into more trouble.
The Mahatma has refused to leave
his cell or to accept the British gov
ernment's offer of conditional release.
In response to this offer he replied
thnt only by force could they remove
him.
He plans to starve himself, dragging
out the death fast by taking water,
to which salt or soda may be added.
Gandhi is making the fast In pro
test against Great Britain's communal
election scheme for India's religious
ly divided population. The British
plan to provide separate representa
tion for twenty years for the Indian
"untouchables." Gandhi contends such
a course would mean disaster for the
nation he loves.
General Lejeune Is
Badly Hurt by Fall
Lexington, Va. ? MaJ. Gon. John A.
Lejeune, superintendent of Virginia
Military Institute, suffered a fracture
of the skull and a broken left arm
when he fell in walking down an em
bankment on the campus.
General Lejeune, a former command
ant of the United States Marine
corps, was accompanying Col. William
Couper, business executive of V. M. I.,
on a trip to the school power plant,
when the accident occurred. He lost
his balance and was forced to Jump
a retaining wall at the bottom of a
hill, striking his head against a pile
of wood.
Five Killed in Hunt
for Woman's Slayer
Muskogee, Okln. ? The slaying of a
womnn by highwaymen two weeks ago
has caused five more deaths ? two ofll
I cers and three outlaws ? In the sparse
ly settled hill country of eastern Okla
homa.
Webster Reece, a deputy sheriff, and
Find McClain, outlaw, were killed as
officers sought the slayers of Mrs. Su
sie Sharp. An encounter between offi
cers and bandits brought death to An
drew McfJInnls, a special deputy sher
iff, and to Ky Carlisle and Troy Love,
escaped convicts.
Colombians Clamot
for War With Peru
Bogota, Colombia. ? Tens of thou
sands of Colombians clamored for war
with Peru and went down Into their
pocketbooks and their Jewel cases to
provide funds to finance It.
The senate passed on second read
ing a bill authorizing the government
to arrange a credit of $10,000,000 for
national defense. The action followed
a report on the seizure September 1
by Peruvian citizens of the Colombian
port, of I.etlcla, on the Amazon. Le
tlcla wns ceded to Colombia In th?
boundnry treaty with Peru In 15)22.
Cinnda to Deport Red?
Quebec, Quebec. ? Fourteen alleged
Communists, nrrested for pnrtlelpatlon
In May day riots In the mining dis
tricts of northern Quebec, are to be
deported during the first week In Oc
tober.
Rithop C*nnon'? Son Die*
Hampton, Va. ? Dr. VV. H. Cannon,
son of Itishop James Cannon, Jr., died
at the Veterans' Admlnisl rnt Ion hos
pital here, where fie served as an as
sistant surgeon, ffe wns thirty eight.