Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-09-29
CLOSING SCENES OF THE TRAGEDY.
The Dead and the Living President.
"GodreigaS, and the Government at Washington
still HreS.'

sue the narrative of events attending the
death and obsequies of President Garfield.
The remains lay in state in the rotunda of
the Capitol until 10 minutes before II o'clock
last Friday morning, when the doors of the
rotunda were closed, and persons, except the
sergeant.at arms, the assistants and the guards
of honor were obliged to leave the hall. At
II an order was issued that no person be al.
lowed to enter the Capitol, and though large
number of persons fingered on the terraces
surrounding the building and adjacent houses
were thronged with people, the corridors pre-
sented deserted appearance. tits estimated
that the body was viewed by not less than
eighty thousand persons before the casket was
sealed.
At twenty minutes past eleven o'clock two
closed carriages drove up to the lower en-
trance of the Senate wing. and the occupants
alighted and passed up the private stairway
to the Vice Presidents room. All the cor
ridors and passage ways upon the main floor
ofthe Senate were quickly barred to all corners,
and instructions were given by Sergeant'at'
Arms Bright, of the Sente, to the employees
and the Capitol police on duty, to keep them
selves comp pletely hidden in the recesses of the
doors and windows while Mrs. Garfield passed
through to the rotunda. The rotunda itself
was entirely cleared-the guard Of honor re-.
tiring from view for the time being. In a
few minutes little procession emerged from
the Vice Presidents room and passed around
through the east corridor through the silent
and deserted main passage way of the build
ing, Sergeant-at-Arms Bright leading, then
followed Mrs. Garfield leaning upon the arms
of Gen. Swain and Harry Garfield, Mollle
Garfield and Miss Rockwell, Colonel and
Mrs. Rockwell and Attorney General Mac
Veagh and Mrs. Swain. Not sound was
heard save the soft pattering of feet upon the
marble floors as the little company, robed in
sombre garments of the deepest mourning,
passed silently on to mingle their tears and
pay ther last earthly tribute over the casket
which sealed from view the form and features
of the dearly loved husband, father and friend.
After remaining about twenty minutes in the
ro,unda they returned as quietly and with
the same privacy that marked their entrance,
and passing through the Senate wing, entered
the carriages and returned to the residence,
of the Attorney General.
At las, p. m., the crowds about the Capt.
itol numbered many thousands, and the
throngs were constantly increasing. Every
entrance to the building was closely guarded,
however, and none were admitted without
special tickets. Arrangements for the funer-
al ceremonies in the rotunda were all compile
ted, and the chairs and sofas were labelled to
designate for whom reserved. The position
Of the floral offerings were changed, and moth
ing remained upon the cssket save few
branches of palms. At the head Of the cata-
falque stood broken column of white and
purple flowers, surmounted by white dove.
On either side of this we're tastefully arranged
crown and pyramid of roses. At the
foot and resting against the black drapery
was wreath, which, by the order of the
Queen, was, on the previous day, placed upon
the casket. Arranged on each side of this
offering from the Queen were handsome cross.
es, while at their base was placed a magni6-
cent floral pillar, on which was inscribed,
in violets, "Our Martyr President" Next to
this was placed "The Gates Ajar," which at
tracted much admiration. The knights of
Malta contributed large Maltese cross, and
the Union Veteran Corps, of which General
Garfield was a member, presented pillar Of
white flowers. bearing, in violet letters, the
inscription ~. V. c., to Their Comrade."
The whole appearance of the catafalque
was tasteful and elegant. In front of the
chairs, which had been placed on the south
side of the casket, were arranged sofas for the
accommodation of Mrs. Garfield and the
family of the late President. Directly oppo-
site and on the north side of the catafalque,
sofas were reserved for the members of the
Cabinet and distinguished guests. The front
row of chairs in the northwestern section of
the rotunda were placed at the disposal Of
Justices of the Supreme Court, while in the
rear of these several rows were selected for
the accommodation of Senators, Representa-
tives occupying seats in the southeastern and
southwestern sections. Beyond these row
of chairs was reserved for representatives Of
the press, and the remainder of the seats in
that section were given to the public general
ly. At exactly a quarter to 2 o'clock the
doors of the rotunda were opened. The first
society to arrive was the Knights Templar,
Beauseant Commandery, of Baltimore. They
entered in full regaia, but did not remain in
the hall, simply passing around the catafalque
in double file. Four Of their number bore
floral offering in the shape of an immense
Maltese cross, which was reverently placed at
the head of the dias. At ten minutes past 2
the Army Of the Cumberland filed in by the
door leading from the Senate Chamber, and
took the seats reserved for them. Immediately
after the doors were thrown open to all hold
ers of tickets. In ten minutes the chairs set
apart for the general public were completely
filled. Soon the members of the Diplomatic
corps arrived and were ushered to seats reserv-
ed for them. The military portion Of the pro-
cession to escort the remains to the depot
formed right in front, facing the east front
Of the Capitol, at quarter past two, with the
District militia holding the right of the line.
Although the funeral ceremonies were not
to commence until 8 o'clock, long before that
hour, and indeed all the morning, with the
exception of the one hour while Mrs. Gar
field passed into the rotunda to view the re-
mains of her husband lying in state, the cor.
ridors of the building were thronged with
visitors. A few moments before 2 o'clock,
the Beauseant Commandery of knights lem.
pars from Baltimore filed in and deposited
a handsome floral tribute to the dead Presi-
dent A few minutes later a number of
members of the Diplomatic corps entered and
took the seats assigned them in the rear OF
the sofas placed for the accommodation of the
Supreme Court, the members of which soon
after entered, headed by Chief Justice Waite.
At 2.4O Col. Rockwell. Dr. Boynton, Private