Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-09-23
THIRD EDITION.
FRIDAY EVENING, SEPT. %, 1881.
UNDER THE DOME
THE BODY OF THE DEAD.
THE DESERTED ROTUNDA.
THE WIDOW ALONE WITH HEX DEAD.
The Doors of the Rotunda Closed

, THE WIDOW ALONE WITH HER DEAD
The Doors of the Rotunda Closed.
: WASHINGTON, Sept. 23.-The visitors t.
the capitol sensibly diminished abou
midnight, and, as night wore on, ceased
almost entirely. A delegation of th'
Philadelphia councils, headed by ex
Speaker Randall and Representative
ONeill paid their last respects to the re.
mains of the late president. The doors
of the rotunda were then closed and al
1850 all persons except officials were ex
cluded. At II o'clock the streets were
throngcd.
General Sheridan has been selected as
one Of the guards of honor.
Mrs. Garfield With Her Dead.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Sept. a3.-At II 20
two closed carriages drove to the east lower
entrance of the Senate wing and the occu-
pants alightcd, passed up the private stair
way to the vice presidents room. All cor
ridors and passageways upon the main
foorofthc Senate wing were quickly barred
to all comers and instructions given
by Sergant-at-Arms Bright, of the
Senate, to employees of the capitol
en- duty, to keep themselves completely hid =
| den in the reccsses OF doors and windows,
while Mrs. Garfield passed through the
rotunda. The rotunda itself was COM
pletely cleared, the Guard of Honor retir-
ing from view for the time being. In a
few minutes the little procession emerged
from the vice presidents room and passing
around through the east corridor proceeded
in the following order through silent and
deserted main passageway of the building :
Sergeant at Arms Bright, leading, then
followed Mrs. Garfield leaning upon the
arm Of General Swain, Harry Garfield,
Mollie Garfield and Miss Rockwell, COL
and Mrs. Rockwell, Attorney General
MacVcagh and Mrs Swain. Not
sound was heard save of the softly
pattering feet upon the marble floor
as the little company, robed in sombre
garments Of deepest mourning, passed
silently to mingle their tears and pay the
last earthly tribute over the casket, which,
scaled from view the form and features of
the dearly loved husband, father and
friend. After remaining about twenty
minutes in the rotunda they returned
quietly and with the same privacy that
marked their entrance, and passing through
the Senate wing entered their car
riages and returned to the residence of
the attorney general.
Thousands About tho Capitol.
At As p. m. to-day the crowd about
the capitol numbers many thousands.
Every entrance to the building was closely
guarded and none admitted without spe-
cial tickets. The arrangements for the
funeral ceremonies are all completed.
Tho FlOral Devices.
The position of the floral offerings has
been changed. Nothing remaining upon the
caskct save a few punches of palm. At
the head Of the catafalque stands a broken
column of white and purple flowers, sur
mounted by 4 white dove. On either
side are tastefulIy arranged crown
and pyramid of roses at tho foot and
resting against tho black drapery is a
wreath which, by order of Quren Victoria,
was placed upon the casket. Arranged on
each side of this wreeth arc handsome
crosses, While at their base is
placed magnificent floral pill
low, OH which is inscribed in violets,
"OUR MARTYR PRESIDENT )" next to this |
is placed "THE GATES AJAR.'' The
Knights Of Malta contributed largo
Maltese cross and the Union veteran corps
(of which Garfield was membcr) q pill
low Of white flowers bearing in violcts the
inscription, ~. V. c. TO THEIR CON-
RADE"
The whole appearance of tho cata-
falquc Was tasteful aud elegant. On
the south side Of the casket are
arranged sofas for Mrs. Garfield
and family, and on the north side
sofas arranged for members of the cabine
and distinguished guests. Provisions are
also made for the Justices of tho supreme
court and United States senator's and rep
rescntatives, representatives of the press |
AMI the public generally. Tho army and
navy will probably he placed in the north
eastern or northwestern part of the hall.
Knights TempIar Offering.
At 1:45 p. m. the doors Of the rOtunda |
were opened. The first society to arrive |
was Beauseant commandery Knights
Templar, of Baltimore, but they did not
remain, simply passing around the cata-
falque. They placed an immense floral
Maltese cross at the head Of the dais.
At 2:10 tho members of the Army of
the Cumberland passed III and took the
seats reserved for them. Immediately after
the doors were thrown open to all holders
of tickets. In ten minutes the chairs
set apart for the general public were filled
soon the diplomatic corps arrived and
were assigned to the seats reserved for
them. The military formed at the east
front of the capitol at 2:15.