Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-01-09
OTHER NEW YORK MATTERS.


FISK BODY REMOVED.
NEW York, Jan. S.-The removal of Fisk's
body from the Grand Central hotelwa rather
remarkable proceeding, being from the rear of
the building. When the coffin containing the
body was taken from the room to the man cor
ridor it was accompanied only by VIM. NJ. Tweed
and colorcd valet of Fisk's. From the main
corridor the passage leading to the servants en-
trance on Mercer street was taken. Mr. Tweed
headed the procession into this passage and
waited until the porters had deposited their bur
den at the head OF the stairs. Tears were
trickli1g down the only mourncr's checks as he
assisted them to lower the coffin to the ground
A short time before 1t was removed D.,. Dud-
ley Field and Jay Gould, who were at the hotel
during the morning, had left, and Mr. Tweed
seemed to have the entire charge of the re-
moval. While this was passing up stairs an
unprctentious hearse drove down from Eighth
avenue TO Mercer street, and drew up at the ser
wants door of the Grand Central hotel One OF
two stablcmcn chatted with the driver, and in a
short time two hotel servants appeared at The
door with couple Of shoveIs. Sand was thrown
on the slippery sidewalk, and the driver Of the
hearse made ready to receive his burden
In Il few minutes more Col. Fisk's colored
coachman appeared. He carried his late mas
tel's hat in his hand, aud military cloak, which
the former wore when he was shot, thrown over
his arm. Tears glislened in his eyes, and the
poor fellow looked tearfully at the hearse and
its sombrc trappiugs. The undertaken hurried
down the stairs, followed by Tweed, still hat in
hand. He walked out on the sidewalk and stood
by the hearse. The two or three loungers who
happened to be standing on the street, stared at
him with undisguised amazemcnt His eyes
were red with weeping, though he tried hard
to look as if his only trouble was the proper
disposal of the body in the hearse As soon as
it was perceived that the hears2 was in waiting
on Mercer street, the boarders in the hotel
crowded to the back windows. On the lower
floor loungers thron2ed to the back entrance.
The doors were locked, however, and thecurous
were fain to content themselves with staring
through the windows at the little group outside.
Slowly the coffin was lowered down the narrow
staircase, and as the bearers touched the side
walk they rested it on The stools Il few minutes.
The coffin was only temporary one Of rose
wood, of the plainest description. 1t was GOV
cred with black velvet pail, which still shrouded
it after it was placed in the hearse.
THE SOLITARY MoURNER.
While the bearers rested, Mr.. Tweed remained
standing by the coffin with bis head still uncov-
cred through the keen northeast blast which
swept down the street. He stood with his back
to the hotel, and looked ixedly at the coffin.
The porters soon placed it in the hearsc, and as
the driver turned his horses heads from the
door, Mr. Tweed looked sadly after it for a
while, gazed hurredly at the staring groups in
the windows, and quickly entered the hotel by
the back passage through which the coffin had
been brought out. He hurried through the hot
to Broadway, and thence to the Metropolitan
hotel In the meantime the hearse was driven
slowly through Mercer street. No mouucr save
the faithful coachman followed. As it turned
down Fourth street a few children, astonished at
the extraordinary spectacle of the poor, fearful
negro following hearse alone, looked after him
for WHILE and shouted and, unable to resist
the temptation, followed it, too, for couple of
blocks. The driver turned his horses heads up
town when at the corner of Green street, and
walked his horses along the most unlrequented
ways to Colonel Flsk's late residence, 313 West
23d street. No one who saw the solitary hears,
pass along the streets with its solitary mourncr
following it suspected it contained the remains
of the once magnificent Fisk. When the hearse
reached the house the coffin was removed by
the servants to the bedroom where prepare.
lions were made 10 make the post norton ex.
animation.
EXPOSED TO PUBLIC VIEW
The body of Col. Fisk was laid out in state in
the large vestbule on the second floor of the Erie
building, and from an early hour this morning
scores of workmen were engaged in decorating
it. A large portrait Of Col. Fisk, around which
were gracefully draptd our national colors, and
the flag of the ninth regiment occupied one end
of the room, the brilliant colors of the flags being
blended with black Grape. From each chandelier
streamers of Grape were extended to the sides of
the room, while the balconies, galleries and the
entrances to the various offices were freely
draped in mourning. A sentry stood at the main
entrance of the building with orders to exclude
all but members of the press until II A. NJ, when
the general public were to be admitted AT II 80
the crowd commenced to pour in, and for an
hour or more constant stream of humanity
passed the coffin with uncovered heads, and look .
ing down sOrrowfully upon the face of the dead.
The remains appeared very ife-lke and natural
though tue face was shrunken as if in pain.
The most impressive scene of all was that fur
nlshed when the crowd was admitted TO view
the corpse although on the street they had
crowded and showed and pushed like madmen.
When they entered the main hall of the build
ing they passed quietly and decorously M the
main staircase, and as they entered the vestbule
in which the catafalque was placed, each head
was uncovered and each face bowed down. the
solemnlty OF the scene causing each foot step to
fall more lightly. ltwould be impossible to say
how many persons viewed the remains, but the
stream was constant for two hours.
THE FUNERAL CEREMONIES.
Al one o'clock the services commenced in tho
presence Of the directors of the Erie railway
the officers of the 9th regiment, the employees OF
the Eric office, and the personal friends of the
deceased. The Episcopal burial services were
read by Chaplain Flagg Of the 9th regiment.
In the midst of the prayers the wife, mother and
sister, dressed in deep mourning were brought
in and seated near the catalalque. Sobs and sirbs
broke forth, and the scene was most hea4t-rcnd.
ing. At the conclusion the relatives took their
final farewell, and the lid Of the casket was
closed. The chaplain concluded the ceremonies
by announcing that the remainder of the SER
vices would take place at Brattleboro.
The procession marched in the following order
IRON the Grand opera house:
Double platoon OF police; full band of the ninth
regiment, playing the dead March in Saulp, abont
1000 Er1e officers and employees; the ninth regiment.
with iull ranks, arms reversed; the hearse followed
by Col. Fisk's favcrite black charger fully capar.
soned, led by coored groom; the officers OF dr.
ferent regiments Of the National Guardi a long line
OF carriages, extending half mile IN the foremost
Of whicn were Jay Could president, and other
officers Of the Narragansett steamship company
The whole procession was over a mile long
All the windows, balconies, stoops Of houses
and all the walks Of the streets and avenues
were crowded with spectators. Scores of car.
riages fell into line on the route. The process
sion proceeded to the New Haven depot, where
the remains were pla ed on train, aud accom-.
panied by the officers of the ninth regiment aud
various committees, left for Brattleb0ro VT,
where the funeral ceremonies will take place.
None were observed here.
SCENES AND OPINIONS.
The scenes in the vicinity Of The grand opera