Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1885-12-04

grave there was slight sprinkling of rain
causing many to recall the old saying,
BLESSED are the dead whom the rain falls
on" While the service was read, the con-
gressional committee and the members of
the cabinet and other distinguished visi-
tors stood upon the other side Of the grave
The words Of the clergymen were now and
then drowned by the sound of the minute
gun, which kept firing until after the in
terment was over. When the coffin had
been
LOWERED INTO THE VAULT
by the four colored assistants Of the under
taker, and there was nothing remaining to
be done (for the placing of the stone and
filling of the grave was to be attended to bv
the cemetery force), there was mo-
ment's pause, and silence was broken only
by the minute gun. Then Mrs. Hendricks
and the friends of the family passed by the
still open, but repellant grave. and took
their carriages. People who had waited so
respectfully then flocked to the grave to
get nearer view. The military order,
Forward, march ~ started the soldiers
home, but the carriages rapidly rolled
away. and the distinguished dead was left
alone.
Among those who have borne something
more than ordinary sorrow of this bereave
observed, during the reading of his brief
address, that his voice more than once
filled, and when at the close he pronounced
his farewell, the words became almost a
wall of'grief Tears were seen to start in
many eyes, and sobs were audible in many
parts OF the church. This feeling was in
tensified as the solo Rock of Ages" was
sung.
The members OF the cabinet left on their
special train over the Baltimore & Ohio to
return to Washington at o'clock, depart
ing almost immediately upon the return
from the cemetery. The senate and house
committees, accompanied by the supreme
court justice, left the same hour in a spec,
ial over the Pennsylvania railroad. Spec
ial trains left the city over all roads early
in the evening, carrying away the greater
portion of the visitors. A close railway esti-
mate shows that 10000 people arrived in the
city within the twelve hours preceding the
funeral, which taxed the capacity of the
hotels beyond their natural capacity.
THE FAILURE OF PRESIDENT CLEVELAND
to attend the obsequies was an object of
comment among many Of those attending
from abroad, and the impression appears to
have gained ground that he might possibly
attend, Notwithstanding the published an
nouncement that he would not be able to
do so. There was a runlOr that he had
actually accompanied the cabinetministers,
which found its way into print, but it was
found to be without foundation. If there
was any general sentiment expressed con-
corning the absence of the president, it
was that his coming would have divested
the element of unsafety about the person
of the president, tile thought Of which
should not now be harbored in the minds
of the people. There was some natural cur
iosity on the part Of a portion of
the populace to catch view of some OF
the men Of national reputation, but this
was limited to the lobbieS of the hotels. In
the line of procession the decorum shown
was one OF the striking features of the
days happenings The presence Of no one
was marked by cheer or even an open
acknowledgment which might be deemed.
in its way. an eloquent tribute to the dead,
and profound respect for the nature of
the event. When the arrangements for
the interment were being perfected, it was
suggested that a military guard should be
placed at the tomb, at least for time.
The directors of Crown Hill cemetery de-
clared this would be needless, as their
Watchmen were efficient against any posi-
BILE vandalism. This view was also taken
by the family, and no special guard was
placed over the grave.