Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 17.djvu/268

 260 Southern Historical Society Papers.

A GUARD OF VETERANS.

The sjatue will be guarded until it is placed upon the pedestal by a detachment of veterans from the Soldiers' Home. Two or three old soldiers will be kept at the monument day and night.

To say who were in the line would be a task that will never be accomplished. On all parts of the rope could be seen men who carry on the business of the city — men who are in countifig-rooms ; men who are members of the Tobacco and Grain Exchanges ; men who toil in the foundry of the city ; men who, with nail and hammer, build the residences of the citizens, all were present, and though lookers on until the ropes came in sight, they caught the infection, and, with enthusiastic "yell,** took hold of the hemp.

ESTIMATE OF THE CROWD.

To estimate the crowd who pulled the ropes is anything but easy. Throughout the whole time men and women dropped out of the line, only to make room for others. There were about 3,000 feet of rope used in the hauling, four lines to each wagon, and estimating one person to a foot and three new sets pulling the ropes, the total is about 9,000 people. Many ladies pulled for only a short distance to say they helped do so, but there were many old veterans in line who felt that it was their duty to pull the whole way, and they did so. All along up Franklin street bevies of girls rushed from the porches and helped for a half a square, and with merry laugh and cries, showed very well their enthusiasm. Some stayed longer, and a sur- vey of the lines when the monument was reached showed that at least a thousand ladies had participated in the hauling.

BABY CARRIAGES.

At Monroe Park another large qrowd had gathered, and it seemed as though all the baby carriages of Richmond had taken possession of the sidewalk. Over fifty occupied the corner of Belvidere and Franklin, and the wee little occupants were much delighted by the band playing. Further up the line, where a number of new resi- dences are being built, numbers of persons had congregated on the buildings, and at these places also the photographer could be seen.

Following the train of the procession were fully two thousand peo- ple. They went out to the pedestal, some with the expectancy of