Columbus Whig. (Columbus, Miss.) 1843-18??, 1844-03-21

ANAAA taN ~N+AAN
/ THE FUNERAL OBSEQU1ES.
On Saturday the last rites were
paid TO the distinguished men who
laid down their lives on the deck ol
the Princeton: The funeral ptbce-
sion presented the most sad, Solemn
affecting scene ever Witnessed BIZ this
city of the Union. The Presidents
House was again--as on the demise OF
General Harrison-made The receptl.
Gle Of death. Instead Of one, five bod
les were now laid out in the lately illu-
minated east.rooni of that fair mansion,
which, before The melancholy fate
which there awaited General Harrison
in the fist month of the FIRST year Of
his presidential tel m, had never known
pail within its precincts. The first
month of the last year or the same
term found it again turned almost into
a charnel house. Like ''the Capets'
monument" it became ga palpce Of dim
night" and gathered with its gloom
the blackened and bloody remains Of
most frightful tragedy--the bodies Of
five intimate friends Of the President,
two ofthem his cabinet associates, all
buried out Of existence while he sat
unconsciously, with only plank be-
tween them, enjoying song. What
thin partition in this life separates its
scenes of greatest enjoyment and Bit
terest grief!
Religious rites were performed over
the. dead by the Rev. Mr.. Hawley
and Mr.. Butler, Of tue Episcopal
Church, and Mr.. Laurie, ofthe Pres,
byterian Church, before leaving the
Presidents House, The bodies were
then hearsed, and the procession led
off by the military companies, VIII ich
filed the avenue in front Of the Presi-
dents square. The military array,
composed Of horse, infantry, and artil-
lery, made a very imposing appear
ance; and the train Of carriages which
followed extended along the avenue
more than a mile. A vast multitude,
on foot and on horseback, from the
neighboring cities and adjoining coun-
try, filled the spaces not occupied by
the procession. The whole distance
between the Presidents and the Cap
itol square, as far as the vision could
reach through he darkness Of the day
and the dust, seemed to be living cur
rent, in slow movement to the wailing
and mournful music ofthe band; which,
with the sound Of distant cannon and
solemn. pealing bells, alone broke the
silence. The immense crowd was
perfectly mute in its march. The
dread quiet that reigned over all; the
almost twilight darkness that dimmed
the whole day; the deep mists that
shadowed the surrounding hills and
horizon from sight; the cloud Of dust
that covered the long and gloomy pro-
cession; the sweeping trains OF Grape
that blackened the closed windows and
doors of the dwellings on the way,--
gave, altogether, the most saddened
and impressive aspect Of wo ever worn
by this city. 1t was rendered the moro
deeply affecting by the contrast ofbut
a few days before, when the warmth OF
a vernal sun had shone out, giving
light and gayety to our streets, OPEN
ing the buds upon the trees, and bring
ing out the tender green upon the
grounds whercon the snow had so re-
Gently lain.
The mournful ceremonials had just
been concluded, when the city was
alarmed with the apprehension OF an
other fatal accident to the Chief Magis-
trate himself AS he returned in his
carriage Of state from the place Of in-
Ierment, 1.-THE Congress burying ground
about three miles from the Presidents
House, his hores took fright, and ran
with fury along the greatthoroughiare.
There was no resting their wild ca
reer: the rens were broken in the at
tempt to restrain them. and all that
could be done was to give room TO
their headlong flight. AS they ap-
preached the turn in the end Of tile az.
enue, obstructed by the Presidents
square, they got scared at something on
one side Of the street, and SHE'D OF
in their course to the curb-stone on the
other side, which gave the advantage
to an intrepid colored man on the side
walk 10 seize them by the short Feins
and stop them. A litde beyond, 10
the direction they were going, lay mas
ses Of the large stone rejected from the
new treasury building,near the Precipi-
tous bank TO the southof the Presidents
wall. Had not the career Ofthe horsy
es been arrested at the moment THAI il
was, the next would have wrecked the
carriage on these rocks, or Precipitaled
it over the bank. The President was
happy to escape from bis stale equip
age, over which all guidance and con-
troll was lost, and 6nd himself afoots
h., ,bo clio ~ b;e humble dalivaror