The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-08-19

electric lights shone steadily, gave to the
place the appearance of n massive ana elabof-
ately wrought sepulchre. About the casket
stood the thirteen comrades OF U. ,. Grm1
Post, and scattered all along the vestlnule
and hallway were fifty policemen,
in mr. readiness to control the crowd when it
should be allowed to pass through TO view
the body. Looking down upon the catafalquee
from black pedestal standing OIL the central
stairway, which was completely hidden in
folds of black, was the first bronze bust taken
from the plaster Of the general made by
Rupert Schmid, Of Munich, last April lie,
meath tho bust on the right was q laurel
wreath and sword, in tho centre ana eegie,
and on tho right spear. At the foot OF the
casket stood bronze1 medallion OF the dead
generals head, framed in black and purple.
After the casket had been put i'll place
Colonel Grant, Governor Hill, DR.. Douglas,
and the other prominent persons shook
hands with Mayor Grace and departed. Gen.
eral Hancock surrendered the boiy TO the
keeping of tho municipal authorities, anu he,
too, left for the night Tho committee OF
Ono Hundred, with Ex-Governor Cornell at
its head, who had represented the city OH the
train, had in tie meantime lett their car.
ria-es and entered tho City Hall: They paid
their respects to the mayor i'll his private OIL
flee and then departed.
As soon as Colonel Grant and tie natural
mourners had passed out of ths park, inc
guard of honor raised the casket from It's
resting place and bore it to the private
room of the board Of aldermen, under
the direction cf Undertaken Merritt. Here,
in tho presence OF q few persons, Mayor
Grace and tbs commanders Of the
Loyal Legion anil of the Grand Army of the
Rcplblic, The entire top of the caslie5 was ro-
moved and the body Of the dead general was
exposed to view. The face was found to be
very hard anl very pale, but in an excellent
state of preservation, only slight dlscoi-
Grafton being noticeable around tho
eyes. The undertaken said tho journey lrcm
and concluded that the features could bc prop
ery exroscl to the public view. At the request
of Col. Grant Lieut. Col. Floyd ClarSson at.
tachcd to the old commanders coat badge OF
the Military Order of the Loyal Legion OF tho
limited States, and Senior Vice. Commander
johnson affixed balge of tho Grand Army
of tho Republic. After :he undertaken had
applied marble powder to the face ana prop
erly prepared it for exposure, the lid was
again put in place and the casket was car
riad back to the catafaluue. :,
At9p N. the genera! public were allowed
to enter the City Hall. TO view the remains
aud from that time forward steady stream
of people, Mt the rate Of about 500 al hour
passed before tie body, gazed moment at
the foatorcs of the dead commander, and
passed OH.
The Lnst Look nj the E7ody.
It is estimated that ll5,0)l people looked
Oh the face of General Grant OH the day at
ter the body's arrival in New York. All day.
from O'Clock in the morning until an hour
after midnight, the people passed. tho canopy
under which General Grants body rested Ill
the City Hall Young AMI cd, rich
and poor, women, babies, bare
foot boys. trampS, and all tho rest
who constitute mankind. and who got in the
endless line and wcro able to walk, were ad-
mitted to the sacred presence of the dead
The pace at which the police kept them mov-
ing enabled 100 to pass the bier in each min
ute, so that in each hour G,0j0 saw the dead
warriors form, and in the entire day about
ll5, 900 persons bade adieu to the figure that
has been so conspicuous in their country's his
tory.
The open space in front of the City Hall
was shut off lry ropes OIL the east and on the
west. The people were admitted from tho
south, in double file. On reaching the top of
the steps the lines divide |, one passing to the
right of the coffin and the other to the left
They then passed around the rotunda and ont
by the rear door. In the vCstibule where the
body lay, OIL tho steps of the hall, and in
front of the building. were policemen-ser-
geants, captains and suhordinates.
The constant stream CT people which passed.
into the City Hall stood in long lines Of two
and three wide for several blocks, and III.
cuded men, women and children, gray-haired
veterans and children in arms; rich and
poor, business men and mechanics. All came
to take last look at the great Union conf
mandcr.-
On Friday the 7th, the day previous to the
intcrmcnt in Riverside Park, the above scenes
were repeated in and about tho City Hall.
Long lines of people, including thousands Of
strangers who had como from the surround
iny country. and many from long distances,
stool patiently waiting their turn to gaze
upon the features Of the dead general