But the glory of the monument is its pedestal.
A solid stone, a bed-rock from the cradle of the idol-mountain it was
contributed by nature to the memory of one of its noblemen, "Captain
William Owen O'Neill," who crowned his life with immortality,
suffering a soldier's death.
During the storming of San Juan Hill to anxious friends imploring him
not recklessly to expose himself, with smiling lips he gave this
message of death's Angel, that mysterious oracle of a Sphinx which
from the gaze of mortals veils their ordained doom: "Comrades,
sergeant! I thank you for your kindly warning--fear not for me, the
Spanish bullet that could kill me is not molded!"--when instantly he
fell struck dead--not by a "Spanish" bullet--"no!" but by the bullet
fired from a Mauser rifle, "not made in Spain." Not an ordinary stone
this Arizona granite rock is entitled to highest honors among the
stones of the earth.
By none outclassed in witchery it ranks equally in fame with the
Blarneystone of Ireland; old Plymouth Rock does not compare with it,
for that derives its prestige only from "Mayflower pilgrims" who
accidentally landing at its base merely stepped over it.
Proudly our Arizona stone bears a most precious burden--the tribute
of a people who in exalting patriotism honor themselves.
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