COLON CEMETERY. 
79 
wreath. At the base of the shaft are two noble figures symbolical of 
Justice and History. The scales of Justice are tipped and her sword is 
broken. Upon History’s scroll is inscribed Verdad —“Truth.” Emerging 
from the open door, and bearing a tablet inscribed Immunis —“Guiltless”— 
is the winged figure of Innocence. The monument is by Saavedra. 
Beyond, at the right of the avenue, is the famous Firemen’s Monument, 
erected by the citizens of 
Havana in commemoration 
of the bravery of thirty 
members of the volunteer 
fire department, who per¬ 
ished in a fire which oc¬ 
curred in a warehouse in 
Mercaderes street on May 
17, 1890. The fatality was 
due to an explosion of 
gunpowder which had been 
stored in the building in 
violation of law, and the 
presence of which was un¬ 
suspected by the men who 
rushed into the building 
to their doom. The shaft 
of white marble rising 75 
feet against the blue sky 
is surmounted by a cross, 
resting against which is an 
angel with outstretched 
wings supporting a fire¬ 
man’s lifeless form. At 
the four corners of the 
pedestal are figures sym¬ 
bolizing Devotion, Afflic¬ 
tion, Martyrdom and 
Heroism. Devotion is 
typified as a Sister of 
Charity, the symbol is the 
pelican, which according to 
the old myth nourished 
its young with its own 
blood. Other symbols are 
vine and wreath, sword and 
reversed torch. Portraits 
are carved in high relief monument of the firemen. 
