The Portland daily press., 1881-09-21
AT THE CAPITAL.
Preparing the Executive Mansion for the
Presidents Household-W ash
ington Draped in Black.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 20.--At the Executive
Manson this morning Asst. Private Secretary
Pruden was found arranging in convenient
shape all of the private papers OF the deceased
President.
Dispatches received from Private Secretary
Brown stated that a party comprising the
Presidents household, would leave Long
Branch for Washington tomorrow morning.
1t is not yet definitely known whether the re-
mains will be brough to the Executive Man
sion or taken directly from the depot to the
Capitol.
in progress for some time at the mansion. and
fnruiture, carpets, chandeliers, etc., nearly all
nave been removed for renovation. Strenu-
GUS efforts are now being made TO restore the
apartments to fiji condition TO receive mem
hers of the household tomorrow.
News of President Garfield's death reached
this CITY about 11.00 last night In an incred-
ibly short space of time the sad tidings were
horne from one extreme of the city to another
and citizens of every walk in life hurried to
ed. By midnight the Avenue was thronged,
while thousands gathered about the newspaper
and telegraph offices, fire bells were 'olled and
several OF the church bells sent out their sad
reuniens. The bell of all Souls church, the
Oldest bell in the city and which has tolled for
every President since Madison, vas the nrSt 10
announce the sad tidiDgs. All night long
dense crowds surged up and down the Avenue
with the sombre air and measured pace OF y
funeral procession, Upon all public buildings
flags are displayed at half-mast, while the
whole city is fast taking on the sombre ha6ilfa-
ments of mourning. Almost every building
long the entire length OF the Avenue is drap
I'd in black, and thousands OF stores, offices
md nrivate dwellings throughout the city and
Georgetown are being similarly arrayeo. All
the Departments are closed, ana pupilc omces
deserted. Upon reaching the treasury De-
Ind
.clipg as Secretary of the Treasury in the abb
sence of Secretary Window, issued the follow
ing order:
memory of President Garfield that the Treas
ury Department be closed during the day."
in. EMPLOYEES, of the White House, under
the direction Of Mr.. o. l.. Pruden, have Teen
bu.ily engaged to-day in making arrangements
80 receive the members of the family, and also
in preparing the East room for the remains OF
President Garfield. If it shonid Dc decided
that thew lie in state at the White House the
interior and exterior of the White House Will
be heavily and tasefully draped.
telsgram from private Secretary brown
was received directing that all prlvate proper
ty. papers and effects of the late President ana
his family DO packed for transportation 70 VniI i
This work was begun immediately aud all Will
be ready for shipment to-nnorrew morning.
Other preparations have been quietly progress
ms dining the day for the sad and solemn rltes
~,nu TO be witnessed here. Senators Anthony
ana Bayard will arrive here thss evening TO
appoint committee OF the Senate TO a'Iena
Iha Presidents funeral and to make such
other arrangements as it IS thought proper for
the Senate to enter into.
AS there is now no presiding officer OF the
Senate, Sdrgeant-at-Arms Thompson OF the
House of Representatives telegraphed to SEN
atoss Anthony and BaSard, they 6elng me
,el,iors in service of their political parties,
.sking them to take charge of the Senate ar
engagements He also gave instructions for the
erection of a catafalgue i'll the rotanda Of the
Capitol and for appropriate mourning decora-
tons.