Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-11-30
THE LATE VICE PRESIDENT.
The Funeral Services in
Boston.
5000 SOLDIERS AND CIVILIANS
IN THE PROCESSION.

Boston, November %. After the heavy storm
of last night the day opened fair, and proves a
pleasing disappointment to those who had pre-
saged the reverse. At IL o'r'ocs lhc 4reats IA
the vicinity of the State house we've alive with
people. The few who possessed tickets of admit
ance urged their way into the building with diff
Guilty, through throng upon throng, on the out
side, while from every part of the city people were
moving towards 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 arranged to seat to
the utmost capacity, but only about $50 could be
accommodated SO that few besides invited guests
could be admitted. At this hour (ll a. IN. } the
crowd is still thronging up the long steps from
Beacon street, through Doric Hall in single file,
viewing with a momentary glance the counte-
nance Of the dead, and then quietly emerging by
the Mount Vernon passage. Shortly after ii the
doors were closed and preparations commenced
for transferring the body to the hall of represent
atives.
AT ll.30, guard Of honor was formed and the
casket carried to its final position in the State
house. The catafalque upon which the casket was
placed, was raised slightly above the level Of the
speakers desk. The desks of the speaker clerk
and engrossment committee are draped with
black, and the room is magnifcently decorated
with floral emblems and bouquets.
At ten minutes of twelve, Senator Boutwell,,
Fred Douglass, Carl Schurz, Gen. Banks, Govern
or-elect Rice and other guests were assigned
seats III Tue TlUul VI Tue 1 i've mluultS
later the governor, council and staff, and members
of the board of aldermen and common council of
the city OF Boston, were given seats IN front OF the
cofio. Directly af.er Governors of other States,
members and exmembers of Congress, Judges Of
Federal and State courts, Mayor OF Boston, Off
GERS of the Army and Navy, United States and
civil officers, and civil officers of Government,
Senate and State legislature, and others were as
signed positions in the main body of the hall.
The remaining seats in the hall and galleries
r.n a.1aht 80 xlsx,,r
then quickly filled from the miscellaneous thou
sands who were anxiousy seeking admittance.
At half past twelve the devnes whose duty it was
to perform the service, entered the hall and took
seats behind the speakers desk. Immediately all
noise ceased and death like stiffness pervaded the
hall
A few minutes later, to the accompaniment of o
simple cabinet organ, the anthem voluntary, 81
heard voice saying unto me write, was sung by
the choir consisting of quartette OF two male
and two female voices
Business was suspended during the services.
Bells were tolled at Lawrence, Lowell and other
points.
The route of the procession was down Beacon
street and Brighton avenue, and was one unn-
terrupted contest with the raging gale Of wind
that had prevailed since morning. The cold was
extremely bitter, causing much suffering among
the troops.
Nearly five thousand soldiers were in the line,
besides large numbers of civilians. About fifty
carriages conveying uhtiuSuisueu guests OTougnt
up the rear. The escort of militia was one Of the
finest ever seen in Boston.
The crossing next below the Cottage Farm sta
ton was selected as the starting point for the
train that was to convey the body to Natick. The
procession reached the train in waiting at 3.45
The casket was quickly conveyed from the heaJse
to the train, down through the long line of SOL
ders and civilians, who stood with heads uncov-
cred. band meanwhile played drge. The
governor, staff and council, the pail bearers and
others, together with the Independent Cadets the
marines and officers of the 9th Maryland Regi-
ment were assigned seats in the train. which i'm
mediately moved away from the city towards Ma
tick.
The train consisted Of five cars-fOur passen-
ger coaches and the car containing the casket.
try, passing many stations where crowds of peo-
pie had collected to pay q silent tribute to the il
lusrious dead.
Arriving at \atick, shortly after o'clock,
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
dstant-the church bells toling. Nearly every
building in the village was decorated with elabo-
rate displays Of mourning, each citizen seemingly
attempting to out do his neighbor in the way of
outward manifestations of sorrow.
The remains were delivered into the custody of
the town scectmen by Gov. Castor, and they
were subsequently given into the charge of the
G.. A. II. post, who, with the U. S. marines, will
remain as guard until the burial, on Wednesday.
The decorations in the hall are very elegant. The
concluding services of the day, amidst Mr.. Will
sons life time associates, were especially solemn
and impressive, deeply affecting the towns people,
who had assembled to pay their last heartfelt trib
ute of resi- ect to their departed fellow citizen.