Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-09-28
FOR THE CEREMONIES.


CryyE1.Sp. Sept &c. Tonight all that
i. mortal of the late President reposes IN
,omb in the beautiful Lake View cemetery OF
|Cleveland To-day the last funeral rites
were celebrated in the open air OF the square,
here the body has lain in state since Satur-
d.v. and at the door of the tomb. Some uay
This week the coffin will be taken from the
tomb and deposited in the earth on the cres.
of the high, bold spur selected for It's hhai
res,;ng nlace whence the visitor can over
look the broad, blue lake and the ouss
.mokv city six miles AWAY spot he hau
ten visited 10 admire the wide and beauti-
fuI prospect. Early this morning the pro-
,.ession mast the remains lying in state was
res,mai and soon the line extended Tar
Iown Superior street. The steady, solemn
march continued without interruption TIL nall
1na.t nine o'clock, when, according to prev
ions arrangement. the guards refused to
admit any more to the square Many VINO
had waited were disappointed because they
were denied the privilege OF entrance, BUT
there was no help for them. The best they
could do was to catch view from distance,
and endeayored to obtain eligible positions
for seeing the procession. Meanwhile the
distinguished guests and personal friends or
the deceased President who held tickets had
been filling up the spacious platform extend
| ing south from the catafalque almost to the
limit of the square. This platform had
neither roof nor awning, and the
sun bent down upon it tercely,
hut no one who had right
to place upon it was deferred. The aged
mother the noble widow, the sons and
daughter and the other relatives of Gen. Gar
field. the members of the household of the
tIa fri ,rh, had
Ibis love and confidence, and the members of
the Cabinet and their families, were seated
around the coffin under the arched roof of
the catafalque, and unseen by the larger
company on the platform. The members of
1.-THE Senate and House of Representatives,
governors of states and other official digni-
|taries and committees we're assembled on the
platform in due order, together with the
Marine Band and the singing societies who
were to take part in the exercises. All
faced toward the coffin, resting on its high
bier. All around the square. looking on with
intense interest, although unable to hear
anything but the music, was dense crowd
completely filling the streets and numbering
from thirty to forty thousand. Perfect order
prevailed and almost perfect silence. The
Regiments and societies that were to take
part in the procession to the tomb, were
already at their stations, filling all the street
for long distances. Their drums and bands
were silent, and they too were participants
although out of sight as well as out of hear
ling, in the solemn exercises that were being
held under the wide blue sky.
The Funeral ADDRESS.
The funeral address or Grafton was by the
Rev. DIR. Errett of Cincinnati, a leading cler-
Al
with which the President had been allied.
1T occupied about forty minutes In the deliv-
cry, and if it wanted anything of lofty rhet-
oric or finished defamation for so august
an occasion, it had drectness and earnest
ness and tenderness of feeling and well ex-
pressed the general estimate of General Gar
fields character.
OTHER EXERCISES.
All the other exercises were appropriate
and in harmony with the prevailing senti
ment. The funeral exercises, lasting ar
hour and quarter, were concluded at noon
and Immediately those upon the platform be-
gan to take their places in the carriages pro.
vided, and move to their places in the line OF
the procession. The lofty and elaborate
funeral car, drawn by twelve black horses
deeply comparisoned was drawn in the PARK
=
coffin from its bier and carefully placed it in
on the high car where it could be plainly
seen by the thousands who were assembled
on the long line Of march to the cemetery.
The entire distance of six miles was pick
eted by several regiments of the Ohio
National Guards, and the broad avenues
were kept clear from curb to curb during the
time of the passage of the procession. Fol
two or three miles, the lines of spectators on
either side were deep. The fine mansions and
their grounds were filled with spectators
After that the crowds were not so dense, but
there was no part of the way where there
were not files of silent and interested lockers
on on both sides. In the country they APP
peared TO be chiefly people who had driven
to the spot in their own carriages which
stood in long rowes in the fields and down
the communicating streets. There had been
= most thoughtful provision Of hogsheads OF
ice water at frequent intervals, from which
those in the procession and the spectators
freely refreshed themselves.
The first division of the procession was COM
posed wholly of military; then came the Ma.
sonic societies and organizations of citizens.
Almost every public carriage in the CITY, the
HerdIc coaches, barges, express wagons and
many private carriages had been engaged by
the committee, and followed the hearse. The
carriage in which the Presidents mother and
widow rode was drawn by a pair of gravs,
covered with rich, black pals
AN UNLUCKr SHOWER
While the procession was on the way to
the cemetery. and shortly before the head OF
it arrived at the gate. the rain began fallinS
from the dark clouds that had rapidIy
gathered, and for full hour it rained mos,
|of the time and some of the ,;p,a var,- 81