The Portland daily press., 1875-11-30
THE DEAD VICE PRESIDENT.
The Ceremonies i'm Ras,an


BOSTON, Nov. 29.-After the heavy storm of
last night, the day has opened fair and proves
pleasing disappointment to those who had
presaged the reverse. AT eleven o'clock the
streets IN the vicinity of the State House were
alive with people. The few who possessed
tickets of admittance were urging their way
into the building with difficulty through the
tnrong upon the GU tside, while from every part
OF the city people were moving toward Beacon
street and the line of march to be taken by the
procession. The hall of representatives in
which the funeral services were held, had been
filled with seats to its utmost capacity but only
about $50 could be accommodated, so that few
besides invited guests could be admitted.
AT IL o'clock a. M, the crowd was still
thronging up the long steps from Beacon street
and through Doric Hall in single file, viewing
with momentary glance the countenance of
the dead and then quietly emerging by the Mt,
Vernon passage. Shortly after II O'Clock the
doors were closed and preparations commenced
for transferring the body to the hall of Repre-
sentatives. AT 1.30 guard of honor was
formed and the casket carried to its final posi-
ton in the state house. The catafavue upon
which the casket was placed, was raised slight
ly above the level of the seats, directly in front
of the speakers desk. The desk Of the speaker,
clerk and engrossment committee, are draped
with black, and the room is magnifcently dec
Grated with floral emblems and bouquets.
At ten minutes of twelve, Senator Boutwell,,
Fred Douglass, Carl Schurz, Gen. Banks, Gov.
elect Rlce and other guests were assigned stats
at the right of the catafalque Five minutes
later The Gov and Council and staff and MEM
bers OF the Board of Aldermen and Common
Council of the city of Boston were given seats
in front of the coffiD. Directly after governors
OF other states, members and eX members of
Congress, Judges of federal and state courts,
Mayor OF Boston, officers of the army and ma
Wy, United States officers and civil officers of
the government, members of the Senate and
state Legislature, and others were assigned DO
stions in the main body of the hail. The re.
naming seats in the hall and galleries aad
every available standing place were then quick
ly filled from the miscellaneous thousands who
were anxiOusly seeking admttance
At half-past twelve the divines whose duty
it was to conduct the services entered the hall
and took seats behind the Speakers desk
Immediately all noise ceased and deathlike
stiffness pervaded the hall. few minutes
later to the accompaniment of a simple cabinet
organ the anthem voluntary, II heard voice
saying unto me, write" was sung by a choir
consisting of quartette of two male and two
female voices, and proved most fitting intro
duction to the solemn and impressive services
which followed. Rev A. Miner D D., then
invoked tide divine blessing After the reading
of appropriate selections of Scriptures by Rev.
M. +. Warren and a responsive chant by Rev.
Phillips. Brooks and choir Rev. j. NJ Manning.
ID. D., at p. M, delivered an address, Dur
ing the delivery, which was in clear distinct
voice, the utmost quiet pervaded the audience
aud the closest attention was paid to the elo-
quent eulogy
At the conclusion of the address, which occu-
pied 50 minutes in its delver,, the entire au-
dience uhlted with the choir in singing the
hymn NEARER My God, to Thee" the effect
beirg grand and impressive PRAYER bv the
venerable Rev. R. H. Neale, D. D. followed
The choir then sang the beautiful hymn. "Un-
veil-thy bosom faithful tomb" after which a
benedlction by Rev. Phillips Brooks closed the
services in the hall of Representatives. The
casket was borne out bv eight chosen police
men preceded by pail bearers who were all ex-
governors of Massachusetts-Wm. B. Wash
brine, Emery Washburne, Gardner Banks,
Carl Schurz. Senator Kelly Of Oregon and Fred
Douglass
At 2.3O the funeral started on its way to Cot
tage Farm station.
The route of procession down Beacon street
and Brighton Avenue was one interrupted con-
test with the raging gale of wind that had pre-.
vailed in the morning The cold was extreme
ly bitter, causing much suffering among the
troops. Nearly 5000 soldiers were in line, be-
sides large number of civilians. Aoout fifty
carriages conveying distinguished guests
brought up in rear. The escort of militia
was one of the finest ever seen in Boston. The
crossing next below the Cottage Farm station
was selected as the starting point for the train
to Natick. The procession reached the train
in waiting at as. The casket was quickly
Coutoycu uOWu Lu6 long lines OF SOL
diers and civilians, who stood with heads un-
covered, a band meanwhile PLAYING a dirge.
The Governor and staff and Council, the pail
bearers and Others, together with the Indepen-
dent Cadets, marines and officers of the 9Th
MARYLAND Regiment, were assigned seats in the
train, which Immediately moved away from
the city toward Natick. The consisted Of five
cars. four passenger coaches and the car con.
tang the casket
The train was drawn rapidly through the
country, passing many stations where crowds of
people had collected to pay silent tribute to
the illustrious dead, arriving at Matte shortly
after o'clock. A great crowd of towns people
thronged the square and all the approaches to
the depot The casket was conveyed to the
public hall, only few rods distant, the church
bells meanwhile tolling.
Nearly every building in the village was dec
GRATED with elaborate displays of mourning,
each citizen seemingly attempting to outdo his
neighbor in the way of outward manifestations
of sorrow. The remains were delivered into
the custody of the town selectmen by Cover.
nor Castor, and they were subsequently given
into the charge of the G. A. r Post who, with
the q. S. marines, will remain as guard till
the burial on Wednesday. The decorations in
the hall ara very elegant.
The concluding services of the day amidst
Mr.. Wilson's lifetime associates were espec-
ally solemn and impressive, deeply effecting the
towns people who had assembled to pay their
last heartfelt tribute of respect to the departed
fellow citizen.