The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1881-09-23
A SOLEMN SCENE.
The ASsemblage in the Rotulda.
The Nations Dead Surrounded by
the Nations representatives
Another Account Of Mrs. Gar
fields Last Visit.
Scenes About the Capitol Grounds,
Sorrow and Grief on every Face
Another Account of Mrs. Gar1cld's
Visit.

Another Account of Mrs. GarncId's
visit.
When the rotunda had been cleared, and
the solemn procession, headed by Mrs. Gar
field and Gen. Swain, approached the caslSet,
Mrs. Garfield threw her veil one side, and
Calmly and COuragcOusIy
walked to the upper end of the catafalque
alone. The lid had been removed and the
flowers pressing closely around 1t were held
back by the undertaken in charge.
Mrs. Garfield softly stepped upon the
platform, and looked down upon the face
of her dead husband without comment. She
gazcd upon his features about q moment,
and then
The Tears which Could Not he Re-
began to flow, sprinkling the dead mans
face. A piteous sob escaped from the breast
of the noble "little woman" and after
leaning over the corpse she
Imprinted n Kiss Upon the Presi-
dents Brow
and fell back weeping and sobbing pain
fully. Harry and Mollic Garfield viewed
the remains next. Neither kissed their
dead father.
A sickening stencil prevailed and it was
more than they could stand. They simply
looked at the dead man and then retired
gathering close to their mother and
The Three wcpt silently.
while the rest of tho party took last
hasty look at the very much discolored
features Of the dead President.
The party moved away slowly and soon
disappeared. The lid was placed on the
coffin again and the heartrending spectacle
ended
Assembling for N Solemn Process.
sion.
The marching and cOunter-marching of
troops, Knights Templar and civic societies
through the streets this afternoon fur
nshed food sufficient to entertain and in
terest thousands All of the local militia
and local Communicates, with Beauseant
Commandery, of Baltimore, were out and
presented an interesting sight.
These, after marching around for some
time, proceeded to the Capitol, fell properly
into line, and awaited the signal for form
ing the most solemn procession the country
had ever known.
Immense Crowd at the Capitol.
The crowd around the Capitol was i'm
mense. All the many doorways were
thronged way out to the stairs, and 1t was
with the greatest difficulty that persons
entitled to admission could force themselves
came to the doorway Of the Senate wing
and could not get in. They walked little
way down the terrace and attracted the
attention of clerks in the Office of the Ser
geant-at-Arms and chairs were handed out
to them, and they were able in that way
to climb in through the window.
A Tribute from Baltimore TcmDIars.
While the preliminary arrangements
were in progress, just before 2 clock, Beau
SAINT COmmandery, No. g. X. r., of Balti-
more, arrived and filed slowly through the
rotunda, passing around the casket, at
which they made a short stop, while q
large and beautiful maltese cross, composed
Of tube and Marshall Ncill roses, and hay
ing smaller cross of immortelles on its
face, was deposited at the head of their dead
frater just beyond the small platform placed
there for the officiating clergymen. The
Knights Templar remained only a few
minutes and passed out the east door, which
was the same by which they had cnte red
And still They Come.
The Baltimore & Potomac depot pre-
scented an unusually lively aspect to-day.
Every train brought crowds of strangers
into the city, all eager to witness the
funeral demonstrations.
The majority of the arrivals had ap-
parently not visited Washington since
July 2, and many were total strangers and
all were anxious to view the spot where
Garfield received his death wound. Crowds
were constantly in heladies' waiting.room,
and the officials and better-informed citi-
zens were busy pointing out over and over
again the exact positions of the princi pal
actors in
The Great National Tragedy.
The few persons who saw the shooting
were compelled to tell their story repeatedly
to breathless, horror-stricken auditors, and
Officer Pat Kearney narrated again and
again the details of the assassin's capture
On the Avenue
the sidewalks were blocked by moving
multitude, while the curbs were lined by
an endless row of people patiently waiting
for the last view that they would ever get
of the casket containing the honored re-
mains, and take the last opportunity for
doing homage TO the nations martyr.
The Order Preserved
was almost wonderful MANY of tha atoras