Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-06-07
D0UGLAS.


q 80 s7 DOUGLAS, rsllsat
II
SnteresftEg zCersm0uies at tie TonaE
4 Il of tsse Departed Saasesman. iaa',g.
80 From the Chicago Timss.s June 4.zeAEi
The ceremonies connected with the trans.
fer OF the remains Of the late Senator and
statesman Stephen A.DouglaE, from the
grave where they have long rested to the
ssrgophagus Of che unfinished monument.
took place ysstsrday. 81 The morning was 4
bleak and grim one, and the damp winds
swept the base ofsthe bank UPON which the
monHEaeut il situaEsa with chilling efFeef
The life Of Douglas was q stormy one. biis
death marked the beginning of long and
bloody war. His sleep for the last seven
years has been to the music of the storm
lest OF lakes, and the morning of the trans.
fer OF his remains was in keeping with all
OF the previous history of the illustrious
dead. No imposing ceremonial had been
contemplated, and if there had, sthe con-
tiicting statements in the morning journals
would have sadly interfered with such a
proceeding yet, in spite Of ali, the at
tendance upon the occasion was very sug.
gestlve OF the cOneonrses that once were
wont to be summoned when the living
Douglas was among u.s. With single ex-
ceptlon no organized bodies we're present,
1t being left to those who once loved and
admired the departed statesman to testify
their regard IN such numbers and 10 such
manner as their own hearts alone shoEld
prompt. ~ EE2 5tift ezG
THE GRAVE AND THE sARCoPHAGUs.
There is no one in Chicago who has not.
at one time or another, visited the grave of
Douglas, upon the lake shore. To hum
dreds OF thousands of others, from east,
west, north and south, it has been the spot
Of painful Interest toward which their feet
have first tended upon visiting the city. TO
all such Il is as familiar as ones own hearth
stone. A small mound, in the middle of a
small, square enclosure, guarded by a plain
brown railing, sadly marred by the pen
knives Of those who wished TO carry away
some memento Of the departed. This stu
ated upon small bare, bleak, spot of roll
ing ground, the lake dashing its waves
against the shore not a huRdred feet distant.
and frequent believing of trains of cars
passing midway between. On the south,
the Soldiers' Home building, to the west
the house of the Senator, nov owned by
the well-kuoWn sculptor and Secretary of
tbe Douglas Monument Association, l..
w. Volk, Esq, to the north naught but
trees and a distant view OF the CITY across
the lake, and on the east the lake. These
make up the salient points of the picture
which has 80 often impressed itself upon so
many minds. = =
Just to the west Of the grave stands, az ia
known, at a distance of few feet, the still
unfinished monument. A portion of the
railing around the grave, Just opposite the
aructure, had been taken away, and roDes
passed from each SIDE Of the aperture 10 the
opposite open entrance to the sarcOphagus.
These were guarded by detachment of po-
lice, under command of Capt Hickey, By
whose arrangetnents the most excellent or
der was preserved. During the exercises,
no person was allowed inside the enclosure,
the passageway and the monument, save
only those engaged in the performance of
duty there. Afterwards the ropes were
removed and peraons were allowed to
enter and view the remains as deposited
within the sarcophagus.
THE REMAINS.
On Monday last, under the supervision of
the trustees of the Douglas Monument AS
sOciation, Drs. Powell and McYickar, with
several intimate friends of the deceased,
the young son OF the latter, Stephen A.
Douglas, Jr.s being also present, the disin-
terment of the remains was undertaken.
The coffin having been raised, aad the
heavy iron lid covering the glass being re-
moved, the lineaments Of The dead Senator
M oWr "a MI tho. r
those present, there was scarcely an eVi.
denee of decay-=in truth, nothing that
could strictly be called decay. There was,
possibly, little depression Of some ofthe
features, little discolcration of the skin,
and few of what might perhaps be called
dimples over the forehead. Otherwise the
face remained the same. There Was the
same overhanging brow, the same lofty
forehead and deep-set eyes, the same firm
mouth, and all in all the same general inn
preston Of power aud determination which
30 marked the Senator while living. The
profusion Of dark and bushy hair had Of
course been preserved. This remarkable
state Of preservation extended all over the
body and even to the habiliments Of the
dead, which were found unchanged or
soiled in the smallest particle. -.
Yesterday the remains rested apon the
spot beneath which they had rested SO long,
amid 9 profusion ef flowers, and covered
with the flag which was to the dead states
man, while living, an object Of so much
love and pride. Around the coffin were
twelve guards Of honor, selected from the
students of the University which owes its
existence 10 she munifcence of Douglas.
These. with bowed heads aud sad faces
guarded the coffin, and received and be-
slowed the pumeFons offerings handed 10
them from the attendants outside.
REMOVING THE REMAINS.
AT the conclusion of the prayer, the most
solemn and important exercises of the dav
were Rerformsd--the removal of the re.
mains from the grave, TO be deposited In
che sarcophagus of themaasoleam. Upon
the trustees Of the Association. aching as
pall-bearers, this duty deyolsed. As they
descended the steps at the base OF the mon
umenb deep and impressive silence per-
VAded the eptiEe assemhiaae-a silence 90
universal and nnhrokea that the rustling
Of The foliage and the sighing of the wind
watled from the waves OF Lake Michigan,
were the only sounds that penstrated the
ears OF the listenisrs. Aclnaied By a COM
mon impulse, thrilled by common emo
ton, the spectators removed their hats. and
awaited with uncovered heads the compile
tion of the solemn esrsmony. As the pail
bearers gathered about The burial oaslet.
preparatory 10 removal the silence became
painfully impressive, and many deep
drawn sigh was heard 20 escape from the
breasts of those who loved Stephen A.
Douglas, and had gathered around his
grave in honor of his memory, and, per
haps, 70 satisfy their oyes once more With
glimpse Of she faded features Of the man
Of wonderful eloquence and giant intellect.
The scene vas one which can never be for
gotten by any who witnessed il. Nine
men, who had been the friends and ssso-
eiates Of the. great orator and ssatnssiaIi
While living, soms Of them with heads
whitened by. the frosts of time, were now
gathered about Che ashes oftheir loved
friend, in the performance Of duty the
sAddeet aud most painful that the mind can
conceive. Memories of by-gohe days we're
revived, when he whose bones we're encased
IN That iron casket was a living man, a power
IN the land, an honor to his country, the en-
bOdlment Of ali that was uubEs, generous
and good-the sterling patriot lie accom-