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The Egyptian Obelisk (Reaching the foot of the knoll)

reaching the foot of the knoll on which the monolith was to be erected, the guard of honor halted, the sailors forming one side of a square on the east, and the marines on the north. Lieutenant-Commander Gorringe then gave directions to knock away all encumbrances, and be ready for lowering. A few minutes later a carriage drove up, and Secretary William M. Evarts and General Goff, the new Secretary of the Navy, alighted. The sailors and marines presented arms, and the drums rolled and the band played. Fronting the obelisk were many Masonic dignitaries.

Over 5,000 people lined the snow-covered sides of the Knoll. At high noon Lieutenant-Commander Gorringe waved his handkerchief, down fell light supports and scaffolding, and the colossal stone revolved majestically on the apparatus to which it was attached. When the point swung round until it became vertical, and the base hung over the socket prepared for it, everybody cheered, the band struck up "Hail Columbia," and the marines and sailors again presented arms.

Less than five minutes sufficed to fix this stupendous yet delicate piece of work. The stranger from the burning sands of Egypt had taken up permanent quarters on a hill in the New World.

The following figures will be found interesting:

Height of the obelisk from base to tip, 69 feet 2 inches. Base of the obelisk, square through its axis, 7 feet 8 inches; at the top, 5 feet 3 inches.

Weight, 2191 tons.

Main body of the obelisk, 61 feet 7 inches in length. Pyramidon, 7 feet 7 inches in length.

No two sides of the obelisk are equal in width. If it is cut through in sections it will be found to be a trapezium. The height of the pedestal is 6 feet 11 inches; at the base it is 9 feet 3 inches square, and at the top 9 feet 1 inch square. The weight of the pedestal is 49 tons.

The height of the foundation is 4 feet 10 inches.

Height of the bottom step, 1 foot 5½ inches; width, 1 foot 6 inches.

Height of the middle step, 1 foot 7 inches; width, 1 foot 2+ inches.

Height of top step, 1 foot 9½ inches.

The base is 17 feet 8 inches square at the bottom, and 12 feet 3½ inches as the top.

Its weight is 874 tons.

Total height of the tip of the obelisk from the monticle on which the base stands, 80 feet 11 inches.

Height from the eastern drive to the foundation, 12 feet 1 inch. Elevation of the site of the obelisk above mean high water 101 feet 6 inches; to the top of the obelisk, 194 feet 6 inches. Weight of the obelisk and its pedestal and foundation, 712,000 pounds.