The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1885-08-13
TAKING The LAST LOOK.
Tens Of Thousands Of People Pass the
Casket Containing Gen. Grants
Remains
The Mechanic, Working Girl,
Clerk, and Business Man
Side by Side.

City Hall In New York. During the entire day
great throngs, representing every condition OF
society, surged through the building. Two
lines st policemen. says an eyewitness de-
scribing the scenes, were placed across the
plaza from the City Hall entrance to the fount-
ain. These two lines formed passageway
through which four men might walk abreast
and along which all day the visitors to the re-
mains should pass. Meanwhile the officers of
the twenty second Regiment who had been on
duty through the early morning, were filing out
of the City Hall. They were going home, and
their places were being taken by the officers OF
the Twelfth Regiment Sergt Riley. with thirty
men, picketed the corridors through the build
ing so as 70 form the channel through which
the throng should move to the exit on the
Court House side of the City Hall The Grant
Post had mounted a detail at o'clock TO serve
from that hour until o'clock
These men were placed nearest the catafalque,
and the two lines of visitors passed between
them and the casket on either side. All within
the gloomy corridors was in readiness. Outside
on the top step Of the City Hall, and in the
middle OF the channel of officers to the foun-
tain, stood a big brawny police officer, who
acted as wedge TO split the current OF people
and send them in lesser streams through the
gates. where they should flow past the
casket as detailed. The clocks pointed to
8; 06 o'clock, and at the Inspectors orders
the iron gates were thrown open. Ten or
twelve hundred people had jammed up
against the officers who barred the channel
at the edge of the fountain circle, but when
the gates swung open the officers ceased to hold
the people in check. and the stream began TO
flow past the remains and through the build
ing. The first person TO review the remains was
spare but sweet. faced little woman, who led
with each hand little boy. She was anxious
her children should see the Generals face, and
the children were permitted to halt an instant
and gaze over the side Of the casket and peer
into it. 1t was yet cary. The police refrained
from pushing the very first visitor, and she
woman. The police had not yet begun the
annoying practice OF humping persons forward
Ia M
immediate predecessors In the first
minute only eighty-four persons passed the
casket This rate OF passage would never an
outside. People were fastened; they were hur-
ried through at 10l a minute; then the pressure
was increased TO 104 minute. The procession
was almost lock-step, and the tramp was
quick.
1t was SOS a. m, and the pulse of curiosity
had sunk TO 56 TO the minute. AT G:2s the rate
was 81 A little bootblack with his box his
shoulder came along TO see the dead General
His face shone and his hair had been freshly
wet and smoothed out by the fountain. Many
They must needs examine every de-
tail. and would fain put their noses to the
flowers. Men and boys and wan-faced women,
with lunch baskets and dinner pals, filed
along. AT 40 the running average per minute
was ~, and the total then passed was between
two thousand seven hundred and two thousand
eight hundred persons The channel was lust
full, with no clogging or Crowding.
The hour from six TO seven o'clock was en-
plOyed by WOrklnEmen ana women. boys ana
girls, in viewing the remains. They were on
their way to work: the day was young, and
their opportunity better than at any hour of the
day. After seven o'clock the line changed as TO
it's personnel There were less women and girls.
They had gone through and were at work.
Then the line began TO lengthen
At o'clock there was another change taking
place in the complexion Of the visitors The
laoorers had gone and the clerks coming down.
town were stepping from elevated and surface
cars into the line that was moving then at the
re-enforced at o'clock. Details under SER
geants and roundsmen had been arriving and
reporting to the Inspector from o'clock. At
O'Clock there were 4s7 men on duty. The chan
mel, with walls of police, was extended In Y
shape around the sides of the fountain circle,
which, like hopper, received the people and
from which they were Strengthened out in lines
of twos and threes up to the City Hall steps.
The guards at the casket were Fastening the
people; $50 per minute were being hurried
through. The hands on the clock dials marked
. o'clock. The fountain circle was no longer
the point or formation of the line. Every car
and train coming down town added its quota to
those anxious to look upon the face of Gen.
Grant. BY the remains the U. S. Grant post
had mounted another detail OF thirteen men,
and the men OF Wheeler post, OF Saratoga
which first mounted guard about the
Mount MacGregor cottage after the Generals
death-were standing at the foot of the cas-
der of the Loyal Legion were like
wise represented Rapidly the people were
augmentng The crowd was fast becoming
hall at the rate of 40 per minute. and for a lit
tie while the pace was 40 per minute, which
rate, If maintained for an hour. would have
passed 10, 200.
This could not be done, however To accom-
Dlish 10 the visitors must be hurried through
and pass the remains almost upon trot. This
rate of speed comported lily with the dignity of
the occasion, and more time was given. But the
accretions were too rapid TO be cared for and the
line of waiting people stretched out finally at
10 oclo around the bend at the Registers
Office and down Center street
At III o'clock a. III. between 10000 and $1,000
persons had passed the casket and looked to-
ward the remains. though many coming rapidly
in from the bright sunlight were scarcely able
to distinguish them in the somber shadows Of
the black-draped corridor.
IL is difficult TO form an idea OF how entirely
cosmopolitan this procession Of citizens was.
Within a block there was every shade of wealth
and poverty, of lowliness and highness, Of
curious childhood. They passed on in the
line together with all possible quiet and
respect. Throughout the entire day no
unseemly conduct marred the solemnity OF
that extraordinary occasion. Further than to
keep the line straight and To make way for wag-
ons at crossings and for foot passengers on the
sidewalks, the police were without occupation.
All seemed to realize that this no ordinary
concourse OF citizens, and that their presence in
a continually re-eDforced procession OF thou
sands was the spectacle of lifetime. They
moved along quietly. quickly. and
with gentle decorum that savored
not of an unpleasant curiosity. but of concern,
At different hours the point where the line be-
gan varied. IL got as far mp town in the carly
aud late portions of the day as Canal street. and
fell off several times down TO Duane street,
but in the main IL kept about the vicinity OF
Franklin street. Near the City Hall IL was no
uncommon thing TO see from 81 TO $3.50 offered
for n coveted place. The crowd al day was
orderly.
After o'clock D. m. the rush became greater
than ever. The line was then forming at
Worth street. aud IL hour and twenty
minutes before a person could reach the City
Hall steps. At o'clock the line had
reached Canal street and Broadway. half
a mile away and showed no signs OF
diminution 1t was then composed of young
clerks and shop girls. who chartered mcrrily
along the route, but seldom addressed them
selves TO other than their immediate companion,
and all sound died away long before they
reached the stone steps Of the building.
Officers Of the guard OF honor OF the
LOYAL Legion who were making frequent
counts of the p ople passing found
that they varied from 1000 20 900 an
hour. These reports were corroborated by the
police reports at the same time. At o'clock,
when the doors were closed for the night, II was
calculated that l75.OOO persons had passed
through the building