Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1874-03-19
senator sumner's Obsequiss

18th. gives the following account Of
the funeral ceremonies at the Natien-
al Capital in honor of the late Chas.
| Sumner: {
This morning the remains of
Senator Sumner were removed from
his late residence to the capitol. The
committe of arrangements and tho
committee to escort the remains to-
Massachusetts,, together with the pail
bearers, and the Massachusetts, Con-
gressional delegation with their La
dies and families, met there
previously. The ladies placed on the
casket large floral cross and some
sympathizing friend two immense
fern leaves. The casket was placed
in hearse drawn by four white hor-
ses, which was followed by one hun-
dred and fifty colored men on foot,
including Frederick Douglass, Pinch
beck of La, and John F. Cook.
The Congressional Committee and
the Massachusetts delegation with
their families as mourners, and 9TH
ers, took their places In carriages and
the cortege moved to the capital.
Upon arriving at the capital the
coffin was placed on dais in the
ro,unda and covered with a profu-
sion of flowers. The face of the
dead was visible, through the glass
and was somewhat diseolored. The
body was dressed in a plain black
suit, and hands crossed upon tho
breast.
The immense crowd on the west
side Of the capitol was composed
mostly of colored people, many Of
1.-THE woman dressed in full mourning.
| At half past IL the crowd about tho
capitol was the largest ever seen
there, and it was estimated that .at
least 5000 persons were unable TO
gain admission even to the corridors.
Prominent officers Of the army
and navy entered the gallery in full
uniform. The diplomatic corps In
citizen dress occupied reserved seats
on the Senate floor. Rev. Byron
Sunderland offered a short prayer.
Gov. Buckingham moved that the
adjournment Of the Senate be until
Tuesday, as the burial OF Sumner IL
Monday next; agreed to.
The Senate galleries were crowded
early, and hundreds were unable 10
get in. The chamber was elaborate
lily draped. All the members Of
both houses wore mourning badges
and the members of the MasaclIu-
setts delegation who attended as
mourners, wore black ssshes and
received front seats TO the right Of
the Presidents chair, next to the
lSupreme Court. The pail bearers,
and six white and six colored police
men, preceded by DR.. Sunderland,
entered, bearing the corpse. The
body was placed on catsfalqne cross
of Gala lilies, camelias and flowers,
the gift of Miss Nellie Grant.
At this point the members Of the
House of Representatives entered
the chamber, preceded by Speaker
Blaine. The Supreme Court, headed
by Marshal Nicolay and Clerk Mid
dleton, entered, and were assigned
front seats. At twelve o'clock
the President and cabinet arrived,
every one arising as they entered.
The Chaplains Of the House and
Senate then offered prayer. The
reading of the scriptures and the
Lords Prayer, and the benediction
| followed.
| Senator Carpenter, the presiding
officer, then said: "The Senate en-
trusts the remains to the sergeant
alarms and the funeral committee
to be conveyed to his home, and
commit earth To earth, ashes to ash
es, and dust to dust in the soil Of
the common wealth Of Massachusetts,.
Peace to his ashes"
The coffin was then closed and re-
moved from the chamber, followed
by the committees appointed by the
Senate and the House to accompany
the remains to Boston, every one
standing as the coffin was removed
from the chamber. After the retire
ment OF the President and his Cabi-
net and other guests, the Senate was
called to order and the chair an
| nounced Mr. Stewart as chairman
OF the District Of Columbia inycsti-
eating committee, In the place Of
Mr.. Boutwell, excused on account Of
illness.
The body was then deposited in a
hearse drawn by four white horses,
| followed by members Of the Civil