Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-04-18
THE BODY LAYING IN STATE.

The arrangements tor laying the corpse of Mr.
Lincoln III state, at the White House, were
completed early this morning, and long before
the hour announced for opening the gates to
allow the public to view the features of the
deceased for the last time, an immense crowd
of persons had assembled. By half past nine
clock, the time at which the gates OF the en-
closure leading to the White House were
thrown open, solid line of human beings,
three or four deep extended from the gate on
Penn q avenue, fronting 10th street, to the cor
ner of Penn'a avenue and 18th street.
Visitors entered the western gate OF the en-
closure, passing IN the main entrance of the
building through the Green Room into the
dows over platform erected for the purpose,
and draped in mourning.
The approaches to the White House were
guarded by detachment Of the 1th regimen
Y. r. C., under command OF Captain W. X.
Morse, Lieut.. J. H. Durkee, and Lieut. ID. ].
Connolly. Company K, l50th Pa regiment,
under Capt. Getchell, were also Oh duty in
and around the building.
The East Room, in which the remains were
laid, was tastefully decorated in mourning,
the work being done under the supervision OF
MI. John Alexander. The windows at either
end OF the room were draped with black berege,
the frames of the mirrors between the win
dows, SIS well as those over the marble mautels,
being heavily draped with the same mater al.
The EheavY gildings of the frames were thus
entirely enshrouded, while the plates of the
mirrors We're covered with white Grape. The
chandeliers at the northern and southern ends
OF the room were also draped with mourning,
the central chandelier having been removed to
make room for the Catafalque
The catafalque, upon which the coffin con-
tanning the remains of the late President was
placed, is eleven feet high, sixteen feet long,
and ten feet wide the coffin resting sur
face about three feet from the floor, surrounded
with = wreath Of eYeTgreens ana lapOnicaS.
fT0iA the four corners OF the surface upon
which the coffin rests, rise firm posts, some six
feet in height, which are surrounded by
curved canopy, extending one foot over either
end. The inside, or ceiling Of this canopy, Is
composed OF white hu ted silk or satin. The
top is covered with the finest quality of black
alpaca, and graceful festoOns OF the same rich
material border il, while heavy curtains, also
formed OF black alpaca, are looped back to the
posts The surface OF the dais, or platform, is
covered with black broadCIOth, and is Dor
dered with heavy black silk fringe and
fest0ons OF alpaca, confined with Tosettes OF
the same fabric.
The corpse, as it lay in state in the East
Room, was in charge OF the following officers,
representing both the army and navy On the
part OF the army: Gen. Hitchcock, Gen. Eaton,
Capt. PenTose, Capt Van Lear, and Lieut.,
Col. w. Sinclair. On the part OF the navy
Commander L. Stone, OF the monitor MOnt6uk,
Lieut.. McNair, Lieut.. A. 3. Young, and Lieut..
n. IL. Farquahar.
1t was sad and solemn sight indeed 10 wit
ness the large crowd of persons slowly and
mournfulIY vending their way into the room
and pass the corpse, some of the number ac-
tually sobbing aloud with grief as they took
g final look at the reYered remains.