The Portland daily press., 1874-03-14

WASHINGTON, March H. - The morning
opened crisp, cold and clear, but the skies wert
overcast as if in mourning.
Scenes at the Senator's Mansion.
From the hour that the body of Charles Sum
ner left its old time home, artists of the illus
trated weeklies were found sketching the house
in its mourning garb, before the crowd should
assemble. A strong detachment of Metropoli
tan police guarded the approaches to the house
A detail of Capitol police kept guard within
At an early hour the special friends of Mr..
Sumner assembled in the study adjoining the
bed chamber where the remains are laid. II
happened that among those gathered there
were four gentlemen who had been private
secretaries to Mr.. Sumner = Messrs. Bacb,
Beaman, johnson, and Maj. Ben. Perley
Poore. Mr.. Balch, the executor of the estate,
was making arrangements for gathering the
precious relics and valuable papers which still
in part were in their old familiar places The
pictures on the walls had been untouched and
it was determined that artists should be per
mitted to sketch the interior of the house in
the condition in which it was left when death
overlook its busy occupant. The domestics
who had been with Mr.. Sumner so long were
occupied in the death chamber, eager to dc
what humble service they might for him they
loved so well. The spirit of desOlatlon rested
on every face and every thing within that
home; even the old Dutch clock, so greatly val
ued by its owner, seemed to chime the halt
hours in muff1ed tone. The hour of nine ar
rived when the several friends were to assem-
BILE, and the body was transferred from the
room of that last awful suffering to the recep-
ton room beneath.
The Remains.
The body had been placed in a walnut cas-
ket, covered with black cloth and heavily trim
med and mounted with German silver The
casket was entirely open at the top and covered
with glass. The body had been clothed ir a
fresh suit OF black and the left hand had been
gracefully placed within the vest where it was
SO often wont to rest in his life time. The face
had changed since yesterday, and had more
really regained its familiar form. There was a
slight discoloration, but the lines of suffering
were deeply marked. There was placed upon
the glass coffin lid white funeral cross, sent
by the ladies of the Massachusetts delegation,
and besides two branches of palm placed there
by Charles Summers faithful colored friend,
Mr. Wormley.
Arrival of Friends.
Shortly after nine the members of the Mas
sachusetts delegation entered the reception
room with their families and cast their mourn
tul looks upon their honored friend. Other
friends came to look upon the remains, among
them the leading Democratic members and
Senators. The Senat, Committee, Senators
Anthony, Schurz, Oglesby, Thurman, Freling-
huysen and Stockton, wore a broad heavily
plated black sash, crowned with white rosette
as did the members of tie Massachusetts, dele
cation, badge of the deepest mourning.
They also bore upon their arms heavy folds of
Grape The members of the House Committee
wore similar sashes, save that the sashes were
black.
The Procession.
Shortly before half past nine the Sergeant
alarms of the Senate, Col. j. r. French, who
has charge of the ceremonies, arranged the
procession that was to leave the house in the
following order:
The Senate Committee.
The House Committee.
The Body.
The Members of the Massachusetts Delegation and
their families.
Taken Away Forever.
The persons in attendance passed out, and as
the old Dutch clock chimed out the hour OF
half past nine, all that was mortal of Charles
Sumner passed from the portals of his home
forever. There was in waiting in the chilly
streets large delegation of Mr.. Summers in
innate colored friends; they followed as mourn
ers and on foot The hearse was drawn by four
white horses.
Arrival at tac Capitol.
At quarter past 10 the mounted policemen
who headed the procession wheeled around the
north approach to the east front of the Capitol,
and soon the hearse, drawn by four white
/ orses, stopped before the main entrance. The
Committee of Arrangements and the pall-bear-
ers, leaving their carriages, formed on the
steps, and then preceded the coffin. which was
borne by eight stalwart Capitol policemen into
the rotunda.
After the remains had been deposited on the
plain, low black catafalque beneath the centre
OF the dome, the pail bearers and mourners re-
paired to the Marble Room of the Senate.
Crowds at the Capitol.
The Capitol, SO long the scene of the public
labors OF the illustrious deceased, was crowded
at an early hour this morning. The interior of
the rOtunda was draped with black as was the
Senate Chamber and the adjacent corridors
Additional chairs had been placed between the
desks and chairs of the Senators and outside of
the bar for the invited guests and for the MEM
bers of the House.
The Vacant Desk.
On the desk of the departed Senator, at which
he sat when he received the blows which, after
years of suffering, caused his death, was large
bouquet of rare white flowers, while the chat I
was draped in black.
A M0urnful Cortege.
Soon after ten o'clock the funeral procession
could be seen from the W ndOws of the western
frcnt of the Capitol coming slowly up Pennsyl-
vania avenue, in stern simplicity, without In u
sic or banners or outward pOmp.
Viewing the Remains.
The CUTLER lid of the casket was removed, and
as the living tide of humanity passed slowly by,
each one cast last sad look upon the mortal
remains of the deceased statesman. Alas!
they are but mortal, and since the spirit has
departed decay is invading the tabernacle of
flesh; but the features were recognizable as
those of the champion of freedom and equal
rights, and the colored men, women and chill
dren wero evidently impressed with gratitude as
they gazed on one who has really been sacrifice
ed that they may be free Flowers, pure and
spotless as was the heart of the deceased, were
arranged about the coffin. Meanwhile every
place in the Senate galleries was occupied be
fore II o'clock, with the exception of the por-
ton reserved for the ladies of the diplomatic
corps.
The House Meets.
At twelve o'clock the Speaker solemnly call
ed the House to order and announced the pro
ceedings that had been determined up
on.
T ne Gathering iu the Senate Chamber.
The members of the House then formed and
proceeded to the Senate Chamber. At few
minutes before - o'clock Gen. Sherman and
staff in full uniform, entered the Senate Cham
Der and took seats in the rear of Senator Sum-
ners vacant chair. They were followed by ma
val officers In uniform.
At three minutes to twelve the Sergeant-at-
Arms of the Senate entered the Chamber from
the southern door in advance of detail of Can
itOl police who brought the draped standard
upon which the sarcophagus had rested in the
rotunda of the capitol Directly afterward the
Senate Committee of Arrangements in their
mourning sashes gathered abOutth centre door
The more intimate friends were in deeper
mourning
The Senate Called to Order.
At - o'clock the Vice President pro tenn.
called the Senate to order, and the Chaplain, in
voice quite choked with emotion, uttered
brief and fervent prayer The Chaplain said /:
"We beseech thee, now that we have assem-
bled in this place, the representatives of the
people and the people themselves, to hear our
voice, o Lord God. Look down upon US with
favor and bless us, and sanctify us during the
solemn services of this occasion, through Jesus
Christ our Lord, Amen"
The utterance of the Chaplain was so broken
with grief that the sentiment could not be fully
gathered in the gallery. Senator Carpenter,
Vice President pro tenn, then directed that all
officers and clerks of the Senate who were not
needed on the floor should retire to make room
for members of the House of Representatives.
Senator Buckingham of Ct, moved that when
the Senate adjourn to-day they adjourn to
meet on Tuesday. This motion was agreed to.
peared at the door of the Senate with message
from the House of Representatives. The mes
sage consisted of copy of the resolutions
passed on yesterday making arrangements for
the Sumner funeral.
Entry of the Honse Of Represenrotives.
At 1920 the House of Representatives enter
ed the Chamber, preceded by Sergeant-at.
Arms Ordway. who proclaimed in subdued
voice, 1.-THE House of Representatives" The
Vice President pro tenn, recognized their arriv-
al, and the members then filed in, preced
ed by the House Committee Of Arrangements.
The Senators all arose durinp tho entranca of