Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-11-23
THE DEAD VICE PRESIDENT,
FUNERAL PREPARATIONS.
SCENES AT THE CAPITOL,
APPEARANCE OF THE BODY.
Honors to the Memory of the
Deceased Statesman.

| This morning the body of Hon. Henry
| wilson, late Vice President of the United
states, lay on a wooden frame in mourning
| in The center of the chamber at the Capitol
| In which he breathed his last. The remains
| were clad in handsome black dress suit
patent ieather pumps, white stockings, white
SHIRT, standing collar, and black neckcloth
The hair was brushed back from the fore
head. The left hand laid across his breast
the right arm remained by his side. The
mouth was slightly open, and there was q
plnched expression about the lower portion
OF the face, and the eyes were sunken. With
these exceptions the features looked very
natural. Before the body was dressed il
looked wonderfully life-like, and appeared
as If the deceased was peacefully slumber-
ing. AT the head of the corpse was placed a
beautiful wreath of white flowers, and at the
feet very handsome cross of flowers, the
latter IN offering of General and Mrs o. T..
PADDOCK, and the former, of General Mann.
numerous visitors called early this morning
aGmittance.
Preparat ions were early being made to lay
The body In state in the rOtunda of the Cap
itol, but nothing definite could be done unit
the announcement of the decision of the
committee, who were to meet at the State
department this morning. The body was
embalmed by Messrs. Harvey & Co. Three
members OF the Capitol police force, lieu
tenant Gelatt, S. w. Baxter and j. H. Chap
man were detailed by Sergeant at-Arms
French, and kept watch over the body last
night
THE BODY To BE LAID IN STATE IN THE Ro-
TUNDA.
The body will be laid In state in the TO-
tunda Of the capitol upon the arrival of the
casket. The catafalque is national one,
having been used at the Obsequies of Presi-
dent Lincoln, Chief Justice Chase Mr.. sum
SfayenS &c ma an
Hooper. The arrangements for the funeral
Will not be definitely settled until the arrl.
who are expected ct o'clock this afternoon
The east hall of the Senate wing of the capt.
tol has been dressed iu mourning.
THE FUHfRAL TO TAKE PLACE NEXT
SATURDAY.
The committee to make arrangem ents for
the funeral of the late Vice President met at
the State department at 10 O'Clock this m )rn-
ing, Senator Thurman presiding in the alb
sence of Senator Boutwell,, who will he hero
TO morrow. Mr.. Randall, who arrived this
morning. attended the meeting. After an
honI's discussion il was decided that the
funeral shall take place on Saturday next
from the Senate chamber if agreeable to tho
Massachusetts, committees. and that the re-
mains shall lay in state over Sunday in In
dependence Hall, Philadelphia, when en-
route for their last resting place in the ma
tive state Of the deceased.
A subcommittee consisting of Senator
Thurman, of OHIO, and Representatives Gar
field, of Ohio, and Warren, of Mass, was ap-
pointed to confer with the delegation fro
Massachusetts, consisting of Generals Wy
man and Cunningham, OF Gov. Gastoa's
stan, and two members of the Boston city
council, who are to arrive here on the lin
tied express train at p. m. to-day. TIE
funeral programme will be arranged this
evening. The arrangements thus far agreed
upon are subject to any change which the
Massachusetts committee may suggest.
THE DISTRICT MILITARY TENDER THEIR
SERVICES.
Col. Webster, adjutant general of the
militia OF the District, has recommended to
the District Commissioners in case single
organization is decided upon as guard of
honor or escort for the remains Of the Vice
President that Captain McCathraA's COM
pany tB, 1st regiment be given the prefer
missioDers, has rendered as the escort the
services OF the District militia.
Col. Robt. l. Fleming, commanding lst
regiment, ID. Z. militia, has rendered to the
Secretary of War the companies unda his
(F's) command as an escort on the occasion
OF the funeral of the late Vice President.
THE SUPREME COURT
this morning was called to order at the usual
hour by Chief Justice Waite. Immediately
after converting the Chief Justice announced
that on account of the death OF the Vice
President, and the near ap oroach of Thanks
giving day, that he would adjourn the court
untll Monday next. The court accordingly
adjourned.
ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.
At halfpas two o'clock this afternoon the
Secretary of the Navy issued an order for
the paying Of tribute Of respect to the
memory of the Vice President. In detail il
prescribes the firing of salute at the va
rious navy yards, and the reading of the
station in the United States and on board Of
ships out CT the country. 1t also directs ta.=
GERS to wear the usual badges OF mourning s.
ORDER BY THE SECRETARY OF WAR.
In compliance with the order of the Presi-
dent directing that appropriate military and
naval honors be rendered to the memory of
Vice President Wilst n the Secretary of War
yesterday afternoon ordered that on the day
next succeeding the receipt OF his order at
each military post the troops be pa
raded at 10 o clock a. m and the order read
to them. The national flag will be displayed
at half stan. AT dawn of day thirteen guns
will be fired; commencing at II O'Clock m,
seventeen minute guns will be fired, and at
the close OF the day the national salute of
mourning will be worn by officers of the
army, and the colOrs of the several r,gi-
ments will be put in mourning for the period
Of three months.
The VICE PRESIDENTS CHANGE OF NAME
A morning paper, after helping itself lib
orally to our very full account of the death
of Vice President Wilson, charges THE STAR
with leading its readers to infer that there
was some concealnaent by Mr.. Wilson of the
fact that he was christened by another
name. The fact that the Vice President by
authority Of the legislature of Massachusetts
changed his name from Goliath to Wilson
soon after he was Fl years Of age, has been
known ever since he entered public life.
There was, OF course, no concealment of this
circumstance, either on his own part or the
part Of his friends, for the reason that there
was nothing reprehensible in the act The
circumstances Of this change OF name are
briefly these: When Mr.. Wilson {then Col
bathl went TO Natick, soon after he had ar
rived at the age Of 81, he was employed by q
well known gentleman Of that town named
Nathaniel Wilson, with whom he resided for
q number of years, and was treated as one
Of the family. Mr.. Wilson, 1t seems, took q
fancy to young Goliath on account of his
talents and his fuency as q speaker, exerted
in behalf OF the election OF Harrison for
President Mr.. Nathaniel Wilson was him
self q conspicuous whig, and 1t was at the
public meetings held in Natick and the adj
known as q political speaker. 1t was gen
orally supposed, and the Vice President
never contradicted 1t, that 1t was on account
OF the friendship shown him by his patron
that he (Colbath) subsequently took the
same name Of Wilson. This, our informant.