Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1881-09-29
The Last Sad Rites.
fREAT CROWDS OF MoURNERs.


lines formed soon after daylight, and
extended across the park. The floral
offerings, this noon, were numerous,
and came from public and private gar
dens in this city. Several handsome
decorations were received from Phila-
delphia and New York; one came from
Richmond, Va. A large white angel,
about the size of child five years old,
composed of white roses, and holding
silver trumpet in it's hands, is sus-
pended over the coffin by cords passing
across the rotunda. This was the gift
of Jas. w. Wormley, the colored hotel
keeper of this city. The official deco
ratiOns of the city are much criticised
for their meagerness and lack of taste
There has been an economic marked
contrast with the profuseness displayed
on Inauguration day.
Special trains, loaded with visitors,
have been arriving every hour since
Thursday night, and the streets are
crowded with strangers.
THE GRIEF STRICKEN WIDOW.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 23.-At 90 min
!
riages were drawn up to the east 10 YER
entr nee of the senate wing, and the
occupants alighted and passed up the
private stairway to the vice presidents
room. All the corridors and passage
ways upon the main floor of the senate
wing were quickly barred to all corners
and orders were quickly given by ser
geant-at-arms Bright, of the senate, to
the employees of the capitol, as police
off duty, to keep themselves complete
ly hidden in the recesses of the doors
and windows while Mrs. Garfield passed
through the rotunda. The rotunda it.
self was entirely cleared, the guard Of
honor retiring from view for the time
being, and in a few minutes the little
procession emerged from the vice
presidents room, and passing around
through the east corridor, proceeded
through the silent and deserted main
passageway of the building, Sergeant
alarms Bright leading; then followed
Mrs. Garfield leaning upon the
arm of Gen. Swain, Harry
Garfield and Miss Rockwell
Col and Mrs. Rockwell, and Attorney
General MacVeagh and Mrs. .
NOT A SOUND WAS HEARD
save the footsteps upon the marble
floors, as the little company, robed in
sombre garments of deepest mourning,
passed silently on to mingle their tears
and pay the last tribute, over the casket
which sealed from view the features of
the dearly loved husband and 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 the carriages and returned TO
the residence Of the attorney general.
AT QUARTER TO TWO
the doors of the rotunda were opened
The first society to arrive was the
knights Templar Commandry, of Bal
timore. They entered in full regalia,
but did not remain in the hall, simply
passing round the catafalque in double
file. Four of them bore a floral offer,
ing in the shape of an imme ense Maltese
cross.
THE FUNERAL CEREMONY.
Although the funeral ceremonies
were not to commence till 3 o'clock
, long before that hour, and indeed al
the morning, with the exception of one
hour while Mrs. Garfield passed into
the rotunda to view the remains of hel
husband, lying in state, the corridors
of the building were thronged with Wis
itors At few moments before two
, o'clock, the Beauzant Commandery O
! Knights Templar of Baltimore filed il
and deposited a handsome floral tribute
to the dead president. A few
t minutes later a number o
the diplomatic corps entered
and took the seats assigned then
in the rear of the sofas placed there fol
= the accommodation Of the supreme
: court, the members of which soon aftel
entered headed by Chief Justice Waite
At $40 Col. Rockwell, DR.. Boynton
Private Secretary Brown and represen
, tatiYes of the household entered anC
! took seats reserved for them. The
members of the house filed in by the
! south door, preceded by the officers o
that body and by ex-Speakers Randall
and Banks. They were followed b.
s Senator Anthony, leading, who entered
t by the north door. At o'clock
THE DISTINGUISHED MoURNERs ENTEREI
/ in the following order: President Ar
f thur and Secretary Blaine, ex-Presi
: dents Grant and Hayes, Secretary ant
Mrs. Window, Secretly and Mrs. Lin
coin, Secretary and Mrs. Hunt, Attor
r ney General and Mrs. McVeagh, Sec
> retary Kirkwood and Postmaster Gen
erai James, and Generals Drum anC
+ Bean. The vast assemblage 70, e, as 0
n one accord, as President Arthur en-
e tered, and when they had retaken thei
i seats the ceremonies were opened witt
C the hymn "Asleep in Jesus"
Rev. DIR. Rankin then ascended tn
> platform at the head of the catafalque
:. and read in clear and distinct v0ic
+ a selection of Scripture beginning
''The Lord Reigneth." Rev. DR.. Isaa
e Errett then offered a prayer. H
a spoke in clear but low tone and wit
: much evidence of deep feeling
s As the closing words of the prayer die
p away, Rev. F. D. Power, of Vernon
!; ! Avenue Christian church, of whicl
President Garfield was a member, dc
+ lvered a feeling address. He spoke i
!. clear voice and was distinctly hear,
It in every portion of the hall. At tn
e conclusion of DIR. Powers address Rev
d ]. G. Butler offered a prayer.
/. This prayer by Rev. Mr.. Butle
e brought the ceremonies to a close
/ The vast assemblage with bowed head
:. and reverent mien arose and rename
Il