The Evansville Courier, October 29, 1916

Article was typed as it was worded in the newspaper.

Evansville Sculptor Making Statue for Park in Denver

Honig At Work on "The Spanish-American Veteran"-Will Be Completed Here Ready for Casting in Bronze

Over in the Furniture building the figure of a grave, stately warrior of the Spanish-American days, has been moulded into almost throbbing reality by the chisel of Geo. Honig, sculptor of the two Coliseum bronze groups.

The statue has just been cast from the plastic clay in plaster-of-paris and will shortly be sent to the Chicago foundry to be moulded into the heroic bronze.

From there it will be shipped to Denver, Colo., where it will be erected on a pedestal fourteen feet high in Fairview Park. On the pedestal on will read this inscription. "In Memory of the Volunteer Veterans of Foreign Wars."

So Denver and Evansville will be linked together in the sense that the same artist's works have added beauty and dignity to each city. And now that the sculptor, a former Rockport boy, has decided to locate his studio in Evansville, and signs his name, "Geo. Honig, Evansville, Ind." The bond is even stronger.

Of the twenty or more sculptors of the United States, who competed for the contract, the committee appointed by the Colorado State legislature under whose auspices, the statue is erected, selected the local artist. The award was made upon the merits of the two foot miniature model of the veteran sent for inspection. The statue itself (as shown above), when completed will tower heroic size above the pedestal.

"Every inch a man, from his West Point hat, to his heavy walking shoe topped by side laced leggings," one muses as the eye takes note of the staunch chin, the stalwart frame, and manly bearing.

A "hiker" is this veteran. He's just in from a long cross country hike, standing at rest with one hand on the hip, and feet in easy position. His expression is grave, almost weary.

The soft collar of his khaki uniform is turned down, the sleeves are rolled up, and somehow these negligee touches, added to the easy posture, lighten the otherwise tragic effect of the canvas belt of cartridges about the waist, the bayonet at side, the knapsack and canteen which hang at rear from shoulder straps and the deadly rifle to the front, clenched firmly in the left hand.

There's a story encased in the Krag-torgenson rifle, which formidable weapon one sees first in studying the figure, the rifle used by the government only in the Spanish-American war. None of the sort could be found in this vicinity. Mr. Honig made a special trip to Denver to secure the model which was securely sealed in a glass case of the state museum, never to be opened. After considerable legislation influence was brought to bear upon Mr. Honig's request the case was broken and the precious model secured.

The man who posed for the sculptor is Bud Durham, himself a Spanish-American veteran of Spencer county.

If the plans of many of the local veterans are fulfilled, a similar statue will be secured for Evansville.