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When
Washington's statue arrived here from
Munich, in 1858, it was placed upon a great wagon to which a large number of horses and mules were attached.
They, however, didn't ‘pull together.’
Hence the progress was poor.
At times they threatened to come to a full stop.
It was then, responding to the popular enthusiasm and demand, that the draught-animals were taken away and ropes affixed to the vehicle, and with men and boys to man them the colossal statue (all of it except the tail in one piece) was easily, gracefully, and expeditiously hauled up the steep grade of Main street, up the steeper one of Ninth street, and around to Capitol street opposite the pedestal.
Here a portion of the iron fence had been taken down, and the statue was through this opening drawn into proper position alongside the monument.
This was the precedent followed on this occasion—with these exceptions: There never was any idea or suggestion to use horses or mules to draw
Lee's statue; it was determined not only to have the ropes ‘manned’ with men and boys, but with ladies and girls also, and instead of one wagon there were to be four—one for each box in which the portions of the statue came from
Paris.
