River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-10-06

eyes, prior to the arrival of the funeral
cortege, was
THE sOMBRE HEARsE,
backed up on the Wilson avenue side
which was to convey the dust of the
Nations late Chief to its temporary
resting place in the Public Square. The
death-angle seemed to be enthroned
among its heavy masses of
black, waiting for the approach
of its precious victim. Dark and
cherries it looked as it stood there
waiting to receive its load of extinct
humanity, but its own black hue was
made all the more intense by the funeral
trappings which decked it forth. The
body of the vehicle was covered with
heavy folds of black broadcloth fes-
TONED with massive bands of heavy
black Grape. The only interior decora-
ton consisted of small American flags,
appropriately draped in the one all
pervading hue.
FOUR CoAL-BLACK HORSES
provided the motive power for this car
riage of death. Each of the four wore
a full broadcloth neck and body blanket,
edged on its lower fold with a silver
fringe, and each was led by colored
groom. The Forty-second Ohio, General
Garfeld's old regiment, now reduced TO
less than fifty members, held the place
of honor, and guarded the hearse.
Twenty thousand people were packed
IN and around the place, but all was as
quiet as the tomb itself. 1t was time
for thoughts and sights, and half
audible whispers-not for words.
SLOWLY AND SADLY,
to the measured and mournful ringing
of the bell, the engine, heavily draped,
which drew the funeral train came
down the track and halted in front of
the station. 1t was twenty minutes
past one. A low murmur, not unlike
general sigh, arose from the vast
crowd, and in an instant every head
was reverently uncovered and barred to
the suns beating rays. The Knights
and the military presented arms, and
preparations we're Immediately set on
foot for disembarking. The second
section of the train, bearing the con-
gressional delegation, arrived few
moments later. The delegation was
escorted to carriages, and the sad pro-
cession started. The cortege was per-
haps half mile long, but could easily
have been made longer, and possibly
more impressive, had it been expanded
instead of being condensed in length
by the wide columns marching abreast.
Colonel Wilson, of the government
lighthouse service, and his staff, rode
at the head in command of the funeral
escort. The Silver Grays' band and the
celebrated Forest City Troop followed
closely.
THEN CAME THE HEARsE,
guarded by the Knights Templar, in
columns Of three and fianked by ten
horsemen of the city troops on each side.
The Cleveland Grays, the remnants OF
Gen. Garield's old regiment, and mem
bers of Cabinet, Gen. sherman and his
aides, the guard of honor and the Con-
gressional delegation and other distin-
guished guests made up the remainder
of the melancholy procession, which,
to the solemn tolling of the church
bells, marched down Euclid avenue and
Erie street, turned into Superior, and
falque in the public square.
The immediate members of the fam
lily and near relatives took seats about
the casket, and at each corner was
stationed a number of Cleveland Grays,
each of whom stood like a statue.
The members about the pavilion were
almost cloaked in Grape, their drapings
being very heavy. DIR. J. p Robin
son, president of ceremonies. an
nounced that the ceremonies would
be opened by the Cleveland vocal soci-
cites singing the funeral hymn. Pas
sages of the Scriptures were afterward
read by Right Rev. Bishop Biddle, OF
the Episcopal church.
Rev. Ross c. Houghton, pastor of
the First NJ E. church, then offered
prayer.
The vocal society then sang hymn.
Rev. Isaac Errett, of Cincinnati, then
delivered an eloquent address, taking
for his text the following
"And the archers shot at king Josiah,
and the King said to his servants, Have
me away, for | am sore wounded.
His servants, therefore, took him out
of that chariot, and put him in the
second chariot, that he had, and they
brought him to Jerusalem, and he died,
and was buried in one of the sepul-
chres of his fathers. And all Judah
and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.
And jeremiah lamented for Josia h.
And all the singing men and the singing
women spake of Josiah in their la
mentations to this day, and made
them an ordinance in Israel; and, be-
hold, they are written in the lamenta-
tons.
Now the rest of the acts of Josiah
and his goodness, according to that
which was written in the law of the
Lord.
And his deeds first and last, behold
they are written in the book of the
kings of Israel and Judah.
For, behold, the Lord, the Lord of
hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem
and from Judah the stay and the staff,
the whole stay of bread and the whole
stay of water"
DR.. Errett was listened to with close
and earnest attention. He spoke for
forty minutes. When he finished a
hush for moment hung over the vast
audience. Rev. JabeZ. Hale then read
Garfelds favorite hymn, which was
beautifully sung. At As, DR.. Charles
S. Pomeroy delivered the final prayer
and henediction.
There were few moments of COM
motion and of preparation, the Wash
ington marine band played Nearer
my God to Thee" and the funeral
moved from Monumental Park. The
last sad rites were over.