The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1858-05-05
The Burial of Col. Benton.
Missouri at the Grave Of her Great statesma

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Missouri at the Grave Of her Great Statesman
When human greatness sinks to the
tomb, all that is glorious in human nature
spontaneously rises to render it honor.
The honor is not vain, for it is rendered
to the nobler elements of our common
humanity. Men honor greatness because
they have in them share of the great
ness honored. No moral spectacle is more
sublime than the consentaneous homage
of the popular masses to the virtues OF a
strong and true man.
Yesterday, in St. Louis the long and
glorious life of Thomas HART BENTON
was crowned with a funeral ovation rarely
accorded to mortal. The tribute of esteem
and affection paid him by the people
among whom he had lived, and forwhom
and whose country he had toiled, was UNI
mistakably feryent and sincere.
The memory Of Benton yesterday alb
sorbed the hearts, and his burial tie at
tention Of our people. The sun arose
upon city attiring herself in mourning
for the beloved dead. The thoroughfares
were hung with the eloquent symbols of
grief. Citizens of all conditions draped
their stores, shops and dwellings,, in honor
of Benton. Portraits of his well known
features were conspicuously and numer-
ously placed before the public eye, in
every quarter. Most significantly the
national ensign frequently appeared, with
its folds shrouded in Grape, truthfuily
representing the genius of Columbia in
mourning. ,
Preparatory to the fual obsequies, tbs
remains of Col. Benton were removed
from the grand hall of the Mercantile
Library building, to the main entrance
below. Of the gatLer;:ne multitudes.
hundreds d who lad not previously the
privilege, were now permitted parting
glan' &c at BIS features. Those features re-
tanned me lofty, tranquil, and gentle ex-
Preston which the Hero's communion
with death had left them.
By 10 A. NJ, the streets around and
near the Mercantile Library hall were
densely thronged with people, while the
crowds were every moment augmenting.
The sky was propitious, yet mildly yelled
by clouds almost fearful, as if in sympa-
thy. The slowly moving lines of military,
of citizen societies in regaia, and of appa-
rently endless carriages, constituted a
| scene whose inpressiveness was unspeak-
ably heightened by the touchingly plain
tive melodies which thrilled the hushed
and serious multtudes.
AT the hour above named, the corpse
Of Col. Benton was reverently again trans
terred to the hearse, and was borne to the
second Presbyterian Church. ut the corner
of Fifth and Walnut streets. Another
hearse, bearing the corpse of his little
grandson, suggestively preceded.
The procession moved to its sad music,
mingled with the tolling of bells, and flags
draped in black, and residences, stores,
and public buildings decked with the in
sigma Of grief, up Fifth street to Wash
ington Avenue, up the broad avenue to
Ninth street, and up Ninth street to North
Market street. At this point, the military
escort defiled and returned, while the civic
bodies with the hearses, passed down
North Market street to the depot of the
North Missouri Railroad e. ,.ea.
The liberal courtesy of the company
had furnished cars, by which to convey a
large portion Of the cortege six miles dis
tant, to the Bellefontaine Cemetery. The
corpses, pail bearers, relatives, committee
ofarrangements, &C., first passed on, after
which the train returned and conveyed
many more. The ceremonies at the grave
were appropriately brief, and were very
impressive. The veterans body was at
last lowered to its safest repose. By its
side was placed the pure clay of his gem
tie grand-child. Together, the one I'M
touched and the other unsoiled by world
liness the child and the great man were
laid to rest.-,St. Louis Democrat.