, 1884-11-08
CLAY'S DEATH.
Scene in the Senate When the Sad
News Was Announced.
Hannezan's Motion q AdJoprn-The
People Of n Capitol city shocked
Bsyond measure-The States
MANS burial.


~ " - = KaA 49, aAAA o0IAh
H. Hanson, continuing his story OF his recol-
iections OF the famous orator and statesman,
ITO cave Washington immediately after his
speech. The early fall weather was really
the Indian summer season, and most favor
able to such a journey as he had in mind
His speech In the senate chamber. on his
farewell, quite overcame him. Though be
held 70 the end under strong mental influence
the orator never rallied asaiH9Nc-y much
exhausted Clay was taken TO his rooms at
the old National hotel at Washington and
never afterwards left them The winter
came and went; the session continued With
IL Every day, right after prayers in the
senate, the chair announced the state OF his
health. The announcement directly became
rather stereotyped. 1t was usually. Mr..
Clay Is gradually falling after a time it be
came Mr.. Clay is failing rapidly next We
heard Mr.. Clay Is sinking, but his mind IS
very clear Finally IL came to be understood
that IL he should die during the hours OF the
session the bells should toll in announcement
VI it.
1t was on a morning in the early part Of
May, 1852, a season beyond all Others the
most delightfully."- beautiful in Washington.
The trees and shrubs Of the capitol grounds
and the flower beds were fresh and pleasant
TO look upon. Hannegan, Of Indiana, an
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and always interesting, had the floor Of ths
senate, making a set speech On our policy
with regard to foreign affairs His seat was
well up toward the rear. Being Of a quick
and nervous temperament, he took the main
aisle, and while declaiming would work him
self forward almost to the clerks desk, dis
covering which he would bound way back,
going through these motions continuously
until he had finished. Hannegan was speak
ing in his quick. impulsive manner, half
way down the aisle and progressing with an
enthusiastic sentence, when a single toll OF II
bell quivered through the air. Hannegan
ceased speaking in a flash, bounded back to
the rear, turned pale, and In a trcmulous
voice said. Mr. President, the probabilities
arc that the greatest statesman in America
is now no more; l move that the senate adj
journ.'
There was no chance to vote upon it. In
stantly every man took his hat and coat, and
before the second toll OF the bell came all
were away. The same sort Of proceedings
must nave dispersed the house, for l remem-
Der as we passed through the rotunda that it
was full of members issuing therefrom.
"rhe rapidity with which the city was
thrown into mourning has always caused me
to wonder. Walking direct from the capitol,
when we reached the edge Of the grounds
NDcIt tue ItAIt LuDutllltlL nOW Is Lculr1 I
vania avenue was seen 10 be filed with
streamers OF black, hanging from windows,
fastened to balconies, wound round columns
and awning poles, and stretched across the
street. It was a solemn sight.
"The National hotel was thick with Grape,
and so was Morrison's boo store, adjoining
IL. 1t Is the same store still. now kept by
Morrison's son, and formerly the resort and
l~ounging place of both Clay and Webster.
There was two little back rooms, one always
occupied by Clay. and the other by Webster.
Here, when they had leisure, both would
always be found reading and studying or dis
cussing literature, new and old, but very sci
dom politics, with friends and admirers who
came to seek them out. Clay passed more
time at Morrison's than Webster. The little
rooms did not communicate, and neither
statesman could be seen by the other.
The event. though long expected, shocked
people to the extent that all business was
suspended. Many bar-rooms, even, were
closed, and in Others men lowered their
voices and conversed Ia quiet tones, as II in
the presence of the dead. / was in Wash
ington at the time OF the assassination ~
Lincoln, and again at that Of Garfield, nut
neither event appeared to throw such gloom
over the city us the death OF Henry Clay.
The feeling was one of pure sorrow, unmixed
with tndiRnatlCu or anger, Such as Is Ielt at
the deeds which led TO the murder of the
presidents. On these occasions men were
boisterous with threats and grief, but silence
and gloom overspread the city where lay the
dead body OF the much loved orator and
statesman. 1t was in time Of peace, and the
capital was injured to such shocks, and there
fore men talked in whispers when all was
over with Henry Clay.
-He was buried in the congressional Gene
terry, and u was placed upon the
spot, but there Is nothing Under it Strangely
enough. for all the many years Clay had
passed In Washington, his wife had never
visited that city. Once he a started to
take his daughter to reside there during the
session, but she died on the way. Mn. Clay
always remained at their Kentucky planta.
ton Of Ashland, and managed the estate
while her husband devoted himself to ma
tional affairs.
His body was disinterred from the CON
gressional cemetery and taken back to his
OLD Kentucky home. IL vas taken by the
Baltimore & Ohio to Cumberland, as far as
the railroad was then completed, and from
thence in a hearse by the old National road
10 the Ohio river. Ceremonial obsequies
were held for Henry Clay in all the cities OF
the country. A magnificent funeral arch
was erected in Detroit at the corner OF
Woodward and Jefferson avenues.n
A Correction.