Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-08-13

had been closed forever from view, unless
there shall, in the future, come from the
family request to remove the lids. Then
the dead was left in care of the guards
who stood erect and silent within the
closed iron gates and beneath the black
drapings.
IN THE SILENT MIGHT.
The night wore on and the gray day
light was creeping up the east. The still
air of the tomb-like corridors become
heavy with the perfume OF the whitening
flowers near the dead. huge piece,
1.-THE Gates Ajar,n had a place at the
head of the caslet and the sweet smell of
the lilies was borne down to those who
stood and watched. Great horseshoes of
red and yellow rose-buds added their
fragrance and cross and crown from
Mayor +. @. Latrobe of Baltimore sent
out its quota to the heavy perfume that
settled on the sepulchral air. But there
was one tribute that bore no fragrance,
except such as will come tenderly to the
family of the dead.
THE WREATH OF OAK LEAVES. ID,
II bore no perfume save that which
lives in its memories. This token was
plain wreath of oak leaves pinned to-
gether with stems of oak leaves and
formed in the shape of letter &C." The
leaves grew ON the oaks in the forests of
of Mt. McGregor and fiuttered in the
mountain breezes while General Grant
was dying and the afternoon of Thursday
the day he died-little julia his grand.
daughter, and little Josie, DR.. Douglas
child, had gathered the oak leaves in the
mountain woods. Then as the children
prattled they knit with innocent fingers
and loving hearts, the wreath
of oak leaves that to-day is the only tri-
butte that touches the generals casket.
The little ones, their Offering finished,
had taken it to Colonel Grant, whose eyes
filled when his daughter said, "Papa,
Josie and have made this for grandpa,
and please wont you give it to him Z"
The colonel placed the oaken wreath ON
the casket then it rested there in Albany
and still remains as the children's offer
ing.
AS DAYLIGHT DOTH APPEAR.
Four o'clock had passed. The gray of
dawn had deepened to red. Daylight
was near. The strains of dirge music
crept on the morning air. At first dis
tant, they drew nearer and nearer. The
red deepened in the east. Sunrise was
near. The strains of music, slow and
sad grew more distinct. Then blue coated
veterans of Meade Post of Philadelphia,
$40 strong came tramping to the dirge
| music of the trumpets. The east was
suffused with tints of orange, and dawn
was closer-the dawn of the funeral day
| The veterans entered the plaza and
marched past while muflied drums timed
| their footsteps.
MouRNFUL NOTES FROM TRINITY's CHIMES.
A heavy gun doomed out toward the
sea. The chimes of Old Trinity pealed
mournful notes and the sound oil muilled
drums grew fainter and died out. 1t was
sunrise. The day was born, the lust day
| for the dead upon earth before
| the tomb should have opened TO
shelter him. Six O'Clock, and Wilson
| Post of Baltimore marched by with q
Chicago organization. The corridors
Ind been picketed by Is policemen while
outside 1876 more men were Mt rest under
command of two sergeants. The last
guard of the Grant G.. A. II. Post save the
13 who attend the body to the tomb had
been mounted Mt o'clock.
AT G.30 o'cLocK.
At G.30 o'clock Captain A. q. Barry and
men Of the Seventy first Regiment, went
on duty MS the last military body-guard
| before removal. Inspector Steers, with
three hours sleep in MS many days, was
in charge II am awaiting the coming
of the military and shall have $40 mon
here ut O'clock" said the inspector
Seven O'clock and the strains Of solemn
music iIoatcd in NJ the grated iron doors
from many directions. Eight o'clock nnG
nature wils putting forth signals of M in
tense warm day.
| MUFFLED DRUMS.
The crowds grew denser and densei
around the plaza. Mufiled drums ant
dirgefnl trumpcts marched in ut one side
and took positions nj the east end. Tho
players constituted the David's Islandi
military band. At SEQ O'Clock Genera
Hancock and staff trooped slowly into
the plaza from Broadway and presented
front to the city hall, thel
moving to the end of the plazi
in Broadway when they rested on th'
plaza. At this time 100 members of til,
lIiederkranz society filed up to the step
of tile city hall and, led by four instru
ments sang with impressive effect
"Chorus of the Spirits from Over til,
Water" Schubert, and "Chorus of tn,
Pilgrims, . I'aunhauser. The honor guart
of regulars filed into the open space at
o'clock, Co. A, Fifth Artillery under Col
w. Il. Beck and Go. Il, Twelfth Infantry
under Major Broom. The companies an,
guard of regulars is under commant
Of Col. Beck. The regulars took position
beneath the trees opposite the city hal
and stood at rest position. Then cam
the original guard of honor that was ol
duty at Mt. McGregor and which alon
should lift the remains to-day.
Filing into the corridors of the city hal
these took their places beside the remains
under command of John II. johnson
Senior Vice Commander of Grant Post
G. A. II. of Brooklyn.
THE FUNERAL CAR DRAWN BY "a HORSES
AT 9.35 the imposing funeral car wa
, drawn by "a jet black horses in blac
trappings. 1t halted ON the plaza directl
, in front of the city hall steps. lnsid
! the corridor Commander johnson wa
/ waiting. "Columns in position right an
left was his command. The vetera
5 guard of honor was erect. "Light til
D remains" was the next command in cleI
+ but low tones. The - men stopped
the silver rails with glove
G hands. "March" was the word. III
body moved. Out upon the portico wa
g borne the remains, Commander Johnso
5 immediately at the head. Down the stel
n with measured trend across the ope
!. plaza to the steps of the black and wal
g ing car. Commander johnson steppe
g aside. The silver mountings glistened ,
n the burial case with its honored burde
/. was carried up and placed upon the da
on the mounted catafalque. The veteran
retired down the steps. The body WI
e alone for all to view but deeply guarie,
N The honor guard next to the hearse c
v either side took the same relative position
e they had maintained to the remains viii
It being borne to the hearse. The stel
q were drawn away from the hearse. Coz
le mander johnson took his plnce in Il
d centre and Immediately behind II
1t funeral car. At his left and right
ID either rear corner of the car were Coz
1t rades Dowing and Ormsbee of Wheel
at Post, respectively. Next and directly j
he hind these were representatives of Il
n. Loyal Legion abreast.
Of The clergy and physicians Ind paid I
ii spect to tile remains by alighting fro
d. their carringes md accompanying the
nr from the stops to the hearse. They tn
OF entered carriages ON either side Of 4
ty plaza, near Broadway as follow
m the Rev. DIR. Newman, Bish'
I'd Harris, Bishop Potter, the Rev. L
Id Chambers, the Rev. DIR. Field, t
he Rev. DIR. Bridgman, the Rev, DIR. We
he the Rev. Father Deshan, the Rev. Robe
" Collyer, Rabbi Browne and Drs. Dough-
"A | Clrndy and Sands