New-York tribune., 1872-12-05
THE PEOPLE.


onstratiOn of popular feeling.
THE PEOPLE.
If the scenes during the lyngin-state Of MI Gree,
ley's remains at the City Hall were impressive and
sorrowful, what shall we say Of the still more
remarkable demonstrations of yesterday, when,
through mourning city, his body was borne to Its
last homef The whole populace poured forth TO
watch the solemn cOTtege and testify theH grle1'
From early in the forenoon until the long procession
had passed by the entire line of march, from Forty
ffth-st TO Greenwood Cemetery, was crowded with
spectators. 1t was not merely an assemblage OF
siRht-seers it was a gathering of sympathzing
friends. AS on Tuesday, sad faces and moist eyes
everywhere looked out from the throng As on
Tuesday, the laboring men and women and humber
classes generally were foremost in their manlIes-
tations and most demOnstTative in their SORROW
II had been noticed on Tuesday that among the
visitors to the Governors Room, at the City Hail.
were great numbers Of newsboys. These active little
members of society were plentiful along the
route yesterday also and for their shrill cries
were hushed and their spirits were quietcd Horace
Greeley had always been OF their tavorte heroes
They used to call out to him faiiarly in the streets
and many Of them, doubtless, cherished the expecta-
tOn of getting to be editors some day themselves.
The colored people were likewise numerous, and
many Of them seemed deeply affected. Farmers
were often seen among the crowd. "Sir" said
sturdy countryman, TO a member of The TRIBUNE
staff, in front of Mir. Sinclair's house,
before the cortege moved, "Ibave come hundred
miles to be at the funeral of Horace Greeley /;
can t you possibly get me in to have one look at
him ~ The doors had then been closed; but after
many repulses the man got in. Amoment later he
came out with flushed face and trembling lip pulled
his hat down over his eyes, and hurried away
Forty-ffth-st. between Fifth and Sixth-aves., was
occupied by great multitude of people, while the
Ffth-ave., above and below the church, was almost
impassable long before the hour appointed for the
funeral Just opposite the church is row OF un-
finished dwelling houses. These were occupied by
throng which filed all the windows and covered
tie roof The doorstcps of all the houses along the
avenue, without exception, were tmckly crowded
windows and balconies were full hotels, club
houses and public buildings Of all kinds presented
sea of human faces No one could misunderstood
the meaning Of such gathering. 1t was greater
than the multitude which welcomed the
Grand Duke Alexis, OF watched the fu-
neral of Abraham Lincoln 1t has had no
parallel in our recent history. Yet everybody knew
that as spectacle the funeral would have little TO
interest the mere idle spectator There were no sol
diers no banners, no flags no emblems, DO bands OF
music, 10 gaudy car with led horses, 1t was the
plain funeral Of q plain man, differing from other
displays only in being so much longer. The people
came to look on because the man whose body was
carried by had been their friend because, as Mr.
Beecher well remarked, he had been 3" feet for the
lame tongue for the dumb, eyes for the blind,
heart for those who had none TO sympathize with
them" "Never," said gray-haired spectator
among the crowd on Broadway, " have seen such
spontaneous outpouring of the people, the masses
IL. 4 oFoIU Iron lao rIqh
merchant, who closed his warehouse and hung the
building with festoons of black and white, down to
the beggar who stood weeping by the curb-sone, all
were moved by a common impulse Of affection and
respect.
reporter was detailed 10 pass along the route Of
tie procession half mile more in advance Of the
cortege From DR.. Chapin's Church to Madison
Square, a distance Of just q mile, the avenue was
nearly blockaded. On the outer edge of the side
walk the crowd were huddled two and three deep.
On the walk within there was barely room to pass.
The day would have worn a holiday aspect but for
the quiet and subdued demeanor of the people,
and the occasional exhibitions Of sorrow. About
MadisOn-sQuare land on the space before the Fifth
Avenue Hotel. the cOncourse was still greater. All
along broadway from Fourteenth-st through which
the procession moved, TO Hamilton Ferry, there
dense mass Of people. About the Bowling Green,
the Battery, and the feuy-house the crowd still
stood patiently waiting. On the Brooklyn side the
same scenes were repeated. Along Union-st.
to the Fourth-aye. and down the avenue
TO the Cemetery stretched the wonderful
double lines Of watchers At Greenwood was a still
more surprising sight. Here an enormous con-
course had gathered, standing about the entrance
gates and friDging the winding roads and concen-
tratng about the open grave so that the mourners,
when the cortege arrived had the greatest difficulty
In following the hearse.