New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-01-25
PREPARATIONS FOR THE LANDING
BOsToN VERSUS PORTLAND-lhE
OF ARRANGEMENTS
iYRoM our SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE

T.lN ID, 21.-l
was ever done so well anywhere that Boston was lo'
-. tho+ Che conld do it q great deal better;
a "a not surprising therefore, that the choce Oh
Portland as n landing place for the remains OF MI
poabodv has awakened in the Metropolis OF Ameri-
ran Intellect fever of noble anger. MT Feaoou''
10 be sure, did not love Boston; he
left il in wrath at what ne CON
sidered insulting treatment from the Board OF lrade
and declared thathe would never visit IL AGAIN
To make him break his promise by going there IN MS
coffin would seem like taking unfair advantage VI
man. but Boston for all, that has been very aAou'
that the funeral should be mixed up some ho" y,
another with the Common, and the state HOUSE, anu
.bo RIO Film nartly because Boston has real re-
verence for Mr. Peabodys memory, as she has for all
GOOD and charitable works and partly because she Is
reputation of her harbOr The facts OF the
900 however. are these; the Monarch draws 2os
.oet aft and on the upper middle BAR" which all
large vessels must to enter Boston Haro0r inc
depth of water according to the coast survey maps
of 1865 is only "a feet at high tide and IA feet at low
Portland may be said to have two harbors-an inner
and an outer one The latter has safe and sheltered
anchorage with 40 feet of water at mean low tide;
the entrance to the inner is INSTRUCTED by bar with
II feet Of water at low tide and 26s at
high: bat they are now dredging new
channel through the BAR which gives an
increased depth of three feet, and the
work is far enough advanced to let the Monarch pass
with ease if her commander sees fit to bring her up
TO the docks. which do not think probable. But, at
any rate the difference between the inner and the
outer harbor is one of name rather than reality.
Both are perfectly sheltered. The inner harbor is
merely the name given to that part of the bay which
lies nearest the docks. Portland is unQuestionably
the best place on the New England coast for the de-
barkation. Some of our enthusiastic citizens might
have preferred New-York; but New-YOrk is too far
from Peabody and has a Common Council.
| have no intention of speaking dsrespectfully,
but there are some indication of small quarrel
the coffin. 1t is reported here that the Boston
people-meaning | suppose, the people of Salem and
Peabody-are determined that though Portland has
the ship, Portland shall not have the funeral; in
other words that tire ceremonies for which such
elaborate preparations have been made shall be cut
short and no time spent in this city than may
be absolutely necessary to transfer the coffin from
the vessel to the cars The final decision rests with
Mr.. George Peabody Russell. who is on tho Monarch
Ii is understood that Mr. PeabOdys immediate rela-
tives are averse to all display over his remains, and
that the pilot who is now waiting off the coast for
the funeral fleet bears letters, not from them per-
haps. but from prominent persons in Boston and
elsewhere urging Mr.. Russell to push through with
oat delay to Peabody. Portland awaits the result,
with anxiety of course, but with the calm con-
fdence which arises from a good cause. The City
Hall has been deliberately decorated for the yng-in-
state excellent preparations have been made for
imposing ceremonial. Admiral Farragut has come
to represent the United States Govern
ment two monitors the DliantOnmah
and Terror, are lying in the port
Gen Mcdowell is ordered here with troops the Gov
ernor is coming here with some of the State militia;
the British Minister is coming from Washington;
the Germania Band is cor ug from Boston; delega-
lions from Legislatures and City Councils are COM
ing from various parts of the country; and finally,
the people of the rural districts coming in to
combine business and pleasure by seeing the show
and buying goods at the same time. Under these
circumstance do not see how Mr.. George Peabody
Russell can refuse TO stay.
So much depends upon his wishes that no pro-
gramme Of the ceremonies can yet be settled. The
purposes of the committee of arrangements so far
tend to the following plan If the weather remains
clear the Monarch and Plymouth will be sgnaled
about 80 miles from Shore and the news will be tele-
graphed TO all parts of the country. The Governor
will then start from Augusta the funeral train elab
oratey decorated for the OCCASION will come from
Boston and the monitors will get up steam and meet
the funeral feet outside the capes. The Monarch
and Plymouth will probably anchor beyond the bar
perhaps half mile OFF shore; and the coffin will
not be landed until at least II hours after the ves
sells are first signaled. The boats Of the Mon
arch viii probably bear it to the wharf The
procession 20 receive it will consist of five
companies Of United States troops and
a military band under Gen. Mcdowell; Gov.
Chamberlain with one hundred and fifty militia ;
officers of the army and navy, including Admiral
Farragut Rear-Admiral Thatcher Commodore Amy
Captain Fairfax, Gen. Hill, Gen. Thorn, and Gen,
Dnane the British Minister. Mr.. Thornton and rep
Tesentatives of the foreign consular corps deega
tiOns from the Common Councils of Boston and Bal
timore trustees of Mr.. Peabodys charities; and
various distinguished guests. The Legislature of
Maine. believe, after voting half dozen times one
way and half dozen times the other at present
resolved not 10 be represented. hope they will keep
to that resolution. for their vaclaton has been 80
undiRniied that nobody will he glad TO see them
handsome funeral cara sort of catafalque on
wheels-has been prepared to draw the coffin to the
City Hall. Eight horses covered with funeTeal trap
pings, will be harnessed 10 it. shall spare you a
description of this part of the pageant for such things
pretty much alike all the world over; need only
say that it is rich, handsome and very tasteful.
ought not 10 let the arrangement of the CITY Hail.
however pass without word. In the first place
1t is very elegant hall. big enough and
costly enough for a city ten times Portlands
size The room set apart for the funeral cere-
monies is lecture hall which seats about
$500 people. II is square. about as long
each way as the length of steinway Hall.
The ceiling and galleries entirely concealed
by draperies of black broadcloth and white alpaca
the walls and windows though not entirely covered
are hung with elaborate mourning festsons wreaths
and emblems and at one end is the enormous cata.
faque, with its canopy studded with sluer stars it's
massive black bier trimmed with silver lace,