LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF TIMOTHY MURPHY, BENEFACTOR OF SCHOHARIE, continued ...
THE MIDDLEBURGH GAZETTE
Paul B. Mattice, Editor,
August 1, 1912.
LIFE OF MURPHY, continued ...
THE TIMOTHY MURPHY MEMORIAL, continued ...
To the solemn and impressive strains of martial music, Mr. Mott V. Lawyer, a great-great-grandson of the hero, cut the cord which held in place the great silk flag which veiled the monument, and the flag falling, the people saw disclosed a beautiful shaft of granite, eight feet high, three feet wide and ten inches deep, set in appropriate base, and on the shaft facing the mausoleum, a marvelous bas relief in bronze of the great patriot, scout and warrior.
He is represented as of slight but athletic figure, clothed in familiar suit of buckskin, the jacket belted down at the waist, the trousers fringed at the side, a coon-skin cap on his head.
In his right hand he holds a musket, the butt of which rests on the ground.
He is looking out in the distance.
His left foot rests on a tomahawk.
His hunting knife is in his belt on which his left hand rests.
An arrow is represented as sticking in the earth behind his right leg.
The relief is bordered by a tracing of pine needles and acorns.
The following inscription appears on the tablet at the base:
TO THE MEMORY OF
1751 TIMOTHY MURPHY 1818
PATRIOT, SOLDIER, SCOUT, CITIZEN, WHO SERVED
IN MORGAN'S RIFLE CORPS, FOUGHT AT SARA-
TOGA AND MONMOUTH AND WHOSE
BRAVERY REPELLED THE ATTACK OF
BRITISH AND THEIR INDIAN ALLIES
UPON THE MIDDLE FORT, OC-
TOBER 17, 1780, AND SAVED THE
COLONISTS OF THE SCHO-
HARIE VALLEY.
In the center of the inscription is the head of an Indian of the Mohawk cast of countenance, with the eyes closed, typifying the extinction of the race.
The entire work shows great artistic spirit, genius of conception, harmony in its symbolism and is a triumph for the sculptress, Miss Evelyn Longman.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF TIMOTHY MURPHY
Re: THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF TIMOTHY MURPHY
LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF TIMOTHY MURPHY, BENEFACTOR OF SCHOHARIE, continued ...
THE MIDDLEBURGH GAZETTE
Paul B. Mattice, Editor,
August 1, 1912.
LIFE OF MURPHY, continued ...
THE TIMOTHY MURPHY MEMORIAL, continued ...
After the ceremony of unveiling, Hon. Dow Beekman delivered an address on the subject "Timothy Murphy's Place in History."
He traced the origin of the first public movement in 1889 for the erection of a monument to Timothy Murphy through the medium of the Fort Defiance Historical Society; gave the genealogy of the Murphy family; traced the services of Timothy Murphy from his enlistment in Gen. Morgan's Rifle Corps in 1776, through the Battle of Saratoga, his conduct there, General Frazier's falling under Murphy's fire, the Battle of Monmouth, his part in Gen. Sullivan's Expedition for the subjugation of the Indians in the southern part of the State in 1779, his services in various expeditions in the Schoharie and Mohawk Valleys, analyzed the personal traits and characteristics of his subject as a patriot, soldier and scout, but Mr. Beekman reached the eloquent crisis, when, while adhering to the historical accuracy, with imagination and fire undoubted born of the blood of his own Revolutionary forefathers within his veins, he depicted the advance of Colonel John Johnson and his force of 1,000 British and Indians from the defile of the hills above Fultonham at daybreak on Tuesday,. October 17th, 1780, down the valley, the firing of the alarm guns of the Upper and Middle Forts, the first skirmish of Murphy and his compatriots with the advance of the left wing of the enemy, the firing of the dwellings and the Dutch Reformed Church in the early morning, the attack on the Fort from the hills on the east, the answering fire from the patriot garrison, the attempt of Col. Johnson to obtain a parley and ascertain the real strength of the Colonial troops, the firing on the British flag, Murphy's heroism and keenness in military strategy at the critical moment, the final repulse and retreat of the enemy, rejoicing of the colonists.
His closing words were as follows: "Pause a moment, men, women, young men and maidens, whose privilege it is on this day to dwell in this peaceful valley, here surrounded by the Mohegouter, the "Mountain of the Mohegans," in front of you, where early dwelt the primeval tribe, the towering "Oucongena" on your right, the "Corn Mountain"— the Onistagrawa, in the distance; as' you stand on this beautiful hill, the entire scene clothed in the romance of the primitive life of your ancestors as they dwelt in harmony in those early days with the Red Man before he was beguiled to murderous deeds by British gold and cunning, standing here on this holy ground, made sacred by the blood of your forefathers, shed for liberty, glance out on the valley which to-day is clothed in the rich verdure of autumnal glory."
"If all the graves scattered along yonder winding river and upon the hillsides and upon the level fields between, could to-day give up their pioneer, their patriot dead and send them marching toward this hallowed spot whereon we stand to-day, the voice of every one would tell of the worth of Timothy Murphy in the trying times of the war which gave us freedom, and rejoice with us that honor, however tardy, has been at last paid his memory."
TO BE CONTINUED ...
THE MIDDLEBURGH GAZETTE
Paul B. Mattice, Editor,
August 1, 1912.
LIFE OF MURPHY, continued ...
THE TIMOTHY MURPHY MEMORIAL, continued ...
After the ceremony of unveiling, Hon. Dow Beekman delivered an address on the subject "Timothy Murphy's Place in History."
He traced the origin of the first public movement in 1889 for the erection of a monument to Timothy Murphy through the medium of the Fort Defiance Historical Society; gave the genealogy of the Murphy family; traced the services of Timothy Murphy from his enlistment in Gen. Morgan's Rifle Corps in 1776, through the Battle of Saratoga, his conduct there, General Frazier's falling under Murphy's fire, the Battle of Monmouth, his part in Gen. Sullivan's Expedition for the subjugation of the Indians in the southern part of the State in 1779, his services in various expeditions in the Schoharie and Mohawk Valleys, analyzed the personal traits and characteristics of his subject as a patriot, soldier and scout, but Mr. Beekman reached the eloquent crisis, when, while adhering to the historical accuracy, with imagination and fire undoubted born of the blood of his own Revolutionary forefathers within his veins, he depicted the advance of Colonel John Johnson and his force of 1,000 British and Indians from the defile of the hills above Fultonham at daybreak on Tuesday,. October 17th, 1780, down the valley, the firing of the alarm guns of the Upper and Middle Forts, the first skirmish of Murphy and his compatriots with the advance of the left wing of the enemy, the firing of the dwellings and the Dutch Reformed Church in the early morning, the attack on the Fort from the hills on the east, the answering fire from the patriot garrison, the attempt of Col. Johnson to obtain a parley and ascertain the real strength of the Colonial troops, the firing on the British flag, Murphy's heroism and keenness in military strategy at the critical moment, the final repulse and retreat of the enemy, rejoicing of the colonists.
His closing words were as follows: "Pause a moment, men, women, young men and maidens, whose privilege it is on this day to dwell in this peaceful valley, here surrounded by the Mohegouter, the "Mountain of the Mohegans," in front of you, where early dwelt the primeval tribe, the towering "Oucongena" on your right, the "Corn Mountain"— the Onistagrawa, in the distance; as' you stand on this beautiful hill, the entire scene clothed in the romance of the primitive life of your ancestors as they dwelt in harmony in those early days with the Red Man before he was beguiled to murderous deeds by British gold and cunning, standing here on this holy ground, made sacred by the blood of your forefathers, shed for liberty, glance out on the valley which to-day is clothed in the rich verdure of autumnal glory."
"If all the graves scattered along yonder winding river and upon the hillsides and upon the level fields between, could to-day give up their pioneer, their patriot dead and send them marching toward this hallowed spot whereon we stand to-day, the voice of every one would tell of the worth of Timothy Murphy in the trying times of the war which gave us freedom, and rejoice with us that honor, however tardy, has been at last paid his memory."
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Re: THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF TIMOTHY MURPHY
LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF TIMOTHY MURPHY, BENEFACTOR OF SCHOHARIE, concluded ...
THE MIDDLEBURGH GAZETTE
Paul B. Mattice, Editor,
August 1, 1912.
LIFE OF MURPHY, concluded ...
THE TIMOTHY MURPHY MEMORIAL, concluded ...
At the conclusion of Mr. Beekman's address, the Hon. Daniel D. Frisbie, the next speaker, stirred the souls of the great assembly by an impassioned and eloquent portrayal of the many lessons in citizenship, patriotism and whole-souled devotion to duty, as illustrated by the life and deeds of the famous Timothy Murphy.
The address was a splendid plea for a higher citizenship, a more exalted manhood, and a greater reverence for patriotism and love of American institutions.
Following the address of Mr. Frisbie, Mr. Winslow, in a clear, delightful and masterly address, narrated the provisions of this trust confided to him under the will of Mr. Foster, and explained in detail the symbolisms of the monument, and also handed to Mr. Beekman his check for one hundred dollars to be added to a fund for erecting suitable markers on the sites of the Upper and Middle Fort.
Mr. Winslow, in closing, also spoke of the artistic genius of Miss Longman, the sculptress of the monument, and its bas relief and of the statues of Faith, Hope and Charity which crown the summit of the Mausoleum, and requested Miss Longman to step to the speaker's station so that the people could carry her image in their memories of the day.
This she gracefully and graciously did, and was received and thanked with warm applause.
The exercises were brought to an end to the music of "The Star Spangled Banner," and the procession proceeded to the village.
The weather was in harmony with the occasion, one of the rarest autumnal days, the air balmy and the sun lighting up the brilliant colors of the autumn foliage; a strong contrast to the weather on Oct. 17th, 1780, for as the president said in his address "The pen of history tells us that on the morning of Tuesday, one hundred and thirty years ago, this very day, a strong northeast wind was blowing and that snow in fitful squalls, swept along the hillsides and down over the glistening stream."
Thus the memorial day closed, and the people, scarcely realizing that they had stood for more than two hours, intent and charmed, departed from the city of the dead to the homes of the living, feeling the beauty, strength and truth of Longfellow's stanza:
"Life is real: Life is earnest:
And the grave is not its goal:
Dust thou art, to dust returnest,
Was not spoken of the soul.
"Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
Is our destined end or way:
But to act that each to-morrow
finds us farther than to-day.''
https://ia800203.us.archive.org/33/item ... 614335.pdf
THE MIDDLEBURGH GAZETTE
Paul B. Mattice, Editor,
August 1, 1912.
LIFE OF MURPHY, concluded ...
THE TIMOTHY MURPHY MEMORIAL, concluded ...
At the conclusion of Mr. Beekman's address, the Hon. Daniel D. Frisbie, the next speaker, stirred the souls of the great assembly by an impassioned and eloquent portrayal of the many lessons in citizenship, patriotism and whole-souled devotion to duty, as illustrated by the life and deeds of the famous Timothy Murphy.
The address was a splendid plea for a higher citizenship, a more exalted manhood, and a greater reverence for patriotism and love of American institutions.
Following the address of Mr. Frisbie, Mr. Winslow, in a clear, delightful and masterly address, narrated the provisions of this trust confided to him under the will of Mr. Foster, and explained in detail the symbolisms of the monument, and also handed to Mr. Beekman his check for one hundred dollars to be added to a fund for erecting suitable markers on the sites of the Upper and Middle Fort.
Mr. Winslow, in closing, also spoke of the artistic genius of Miss Longman, the sculptress of the monument, and its bas relief and of the statues of Faith, Hope and Charity which crown the summit of the Mausoleum, and requested Miss Longman to step to the speaker's station so that the people could carry her image in their memories of the day.
This she gracefully and graciously did, and was received and thanked with warm applause.
The exercises were brought to an end to the music of "The Star Spangled Banner," and the procession proceeded to the village.
The weather was in harmony with the occasion, one of the rarest autumnal days, the air balmy and the sun lighting up the brilliant colors of the autumn foliage; a strong contrast to the weather on Oct. 17th, 1780, for as the president said in his address "The pen of history tells us that on the morning of Tuesday, one hundred and thirty years ago, this very day, a strong northeast wind was blowing and that snow in fitful squalls, swept along the hillsides and down over the glistening stream."
Thus the memorial day closed, and the people, scarcely realizing that they had stood for more than two hours, intent and charmed, departed from the city of the dead to the homes of the living, feeling the beauty, strength and truth of Longfellow's stanza:
"Life is real: Life is earnest:
And the grave is not its goal:
Dust thou art, to dust returnest,
Was not spoken of the soul.
"Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
Is our destined end or way:
But to act that each to-morrow
finds us farther than to-day.''
https://ia800203.us.archive.org/33/item ... 614335.pdf