Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1881-09-29
IN WASHINGTON.

THE LAST CEREMONIES.
WASHING TON, Sept 23-The remains of ex-
President Garfield were taken from Washing
ton on the journey to their final resting place
in Cleveland this afternoon. The day has
been memorable Funeral services over q
dead pre- sdent have been performed, and they
were witnessed by his successor and two
ex- presidents. The last tributes of the people
of the national capital have been paid to their
ruler. A new order of things has been
smoothly established, and only mass of black
cloth swinging over the fronts of the public
buildings and private dwellings of the city re-
mains to indicate the loss which the country
has suffered Mrs. Garfield did not attend the
funeral; she felt unable to endure the strain.
Mrs. Garfield has been averse to public dem
onstrations over the body of her husband
from the first She desired as much privacy
as possible, and had she yielded to her own
desires, the body would have been unostenta-
tiously taken from Long Branch to Cleveland
and inferred as speedily as possible This
morning for the first time she saw the remains
of her husband lying in state. Last night the
coffin was closed from public view. All the
morning crowds were passing in and out of
the building apparently contented with a view
of the casket At Il O. clock the rotunda doors
were shut and the guards drove all the people
from the rotunda building
THE GUARD OF HONOR
arranged everything about the coffin. in the
shape of floral decorations, as attractively as
possible. The undertaken lifted the lid Of
the coffin, showing the face and upper portion
of the body under the glass cover. and all with
drew. There had been a striking change in
the appearance of the features since yesterday
Decomposition appeared to be progressing
rapidly. At 1870 a. m. small process
sion entered the rotunda from the senate wing.
Sergeant-at- Arms Bright was in advance. He
was followed by Mrs. Garfield, leaning on the
arm of Gen. Swain, Harry Garfield, sustaining
Mollie Garfield and Lulu Rockwell, Col and
Mrs. Rockwell, Attorney General MacVeagh
and Mrs. Swain. Mrs. Garfield was
attired in deep mourning. Entering the
rotunda she threw aside her veil What
transpired for the next tw enty-five minutes,
what words were uttered by the bereaved wife
over the body of him who could never more
reply, what tears were shed or words of COM
fort spoken, none but those in the rotunda
could tell. The meeting was sacred one At
ter the party had left the capitol for the resi-
| dence of the attorney general, the coffin was
services were made. There are four entrances
| to the rotunda-one from the senate wing on
| the north, another from the house wing on the
| south, third, which was the main entrance,
| on the east, and the fourth on the west
THE CATAFALQUE,
| upon which tho casket reposed was in the center
of tine rotunda. Surrounding the catafalque, at @
| distance of twenty five feet, were placed sofas
1 int lol odof
members of the cabinet supreme court presi-
dent and ex-presidents. Back of these sofas
were eleven rows of chairs reaching back tc
the walls. extending entirely around the 70.
tunda. Aisles were open from each of the
four entrances down to the catafalque. Al
l:3O p. m. there were few people in the rotun.
do excepting the guards, doorkeepers and cor.
respondents Everything was in readiness for
| the funeral. The floral offerings were mag
nifcent The foot of the coffin faced the cas-
door, where the persons having tickets of ad
mission were to enter. On the pavement abou
ten feet from the coffin lay a small but beautl
fully designed maltese cross, the tribute Of
Columbia commandery Of Knights Templar, o.
which the president was member
Next in order towards the coffin was the beau
tiful floral pieces representing The Gates Ajar
Behind the gates was thick bank of white
| roses, with cross in the center, and still
nearer the coffin broken column, upon which
a white dove with wings extended reposed
Against the foot of the coffin reposed tn
wreath Of Marshal Neil roses presented b,
Queen Victoria. Later this wreath was lalt
upon the head Of the coffin. The two branche
of palm which were laid upon the casket be
fore it left Long Branch occupied the same 20
sition. On the floor, at the head of the cata
falque, stood q broken column of roses highe
than the one at the foot of the coffin, and sur
mounted, as the other was, by white dove.
TWO BEAUTIFUL CAsKETs OF FLOWERS
stood by the side Of this column. Cut ros
buds we're scattered along the side Of the coff
on the catafalque A draped dais, upon whic
stood small walnut table covered with Grape
had been built at the head of the catafalque 70
the use of the officiating clergymen. At 1 a
P. M, the sound Of solemn music was hear
without, and the Columbia Commandery G
Knights marched into the rotunda. They wer
in full uniform, wearing Grape on tho arm
Four Of the Knights at the head Of the colum
bore an immense Maltese cross Of roses whic
was placed at tho head of the coffin. tt
Knights formed circle around the catafalqu
bowed their heads and for moment 81
gagged in silent prayer. They the
slowly marched out of the building by Il
door through which they had entered. Thrt
members Of the Chinese legation in full nm
form entered soon afterwards, and occasion
ally representatives of other Legations came Il
slngiy or by couples, and took seats in I'll
front row Of chairs Of the northeast section