The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-09


went but the funeral car was yet long way of
and moving very slowly. Beneath a FIR tree at
the crown of the knoll, rested a small charcoal
furnace, and near it were the tools and materials
with which to seal the leaden lining of the cedar
case into which the casket and remains OF
General Grant should be placed Down the
slope nearer the vault was portable furnace.
such as is used by workmen for heating bolts
In group near by were five men-mechanics-
who should rivet fast the steel casket, within
which both coffin and cedar box should finally be
preserved. The steel case rested upon two
marble blocks two and one-half feet high, three
feet wide, and eighteen inches thick. Similar
marble blocks had been sunk in the door flush
with the surface, and upon those the remains of
Mrs Grant are expected to repose Many per-
sons were permitted to peer into the tomb. where
the steel receptacle was awaiting the body then
being borne up town.
A carriage came in view. In it was General
Hancock. He was the only occupant, and stood
erect. Trooping behind him on horseback, were
the members of his staff. The General rode to q
point near the tomb. When he alighted he was
met by Superintendent Murray, Commissioners
Cummins, and others of the park board. Gen
eral Hancock's staff and aides swept past. There
were among them General Fitzhugh Lee, and
General Gordan, whom General Sheridan once
met so warmly in other times, and under other
circumstances. Upon commanding slope one
hundred yards north of General
Grants tomb, the staff officers and aides drew
rein beneath clump of spreading trees. Mean
time helmets were glistening and plumes we're
moving over the slope toward the southwark;
cannon aad limbers drawn by horses that were
ridden by artillerymen came over the brow Of
the southern slope, and orderlies galloped to
and fro sabers and accouterments clattered
and ratified. The regulars and the marines,
with light Battery f, of the Fifth Artil-
lery were coming down the drive.
They marched out upon the slope.
where Hancock's staff was halted. and there the
infantry and marines assumed positions of
rest in the shade, and out upon the slope to-
wards the Clarenont Hotel which was covered
with black black drapery, mounted men with
plu,ned helmets; Marines with the uniform of
the tars: saddled horses with riders dismounted
but holding their bride rein; cannon muzzles
thrust from behind the lower bend of the hillock;
pyramids of stacked guns with glistening bayonets
interlocked; along the drive, solid walls of people
upon the curbing; lines of uneasy and bobbing
umbrellas; through the trees, vista in which
the brown and rugged rocks of the palisades
pierced the woods and jutted above the river;
the Hudson, too, glistening and flowing in the
sunlight. So looked the scene northward from
the tomb.
The Twenty second and Seventh regiments
marched up from the east and down by the
tomb, and were drawn up in line on the brow Of
the bluff overlooking the river. The line reached
beyond view. The two regiments stacked arms
and were at rest So near the
ledge of the bluff were the regiments drawn up.
that the hundreds of men in bright uniform
formed line of sllhouettes against the sheen Of
the broad river in which the afternoon sun was
reflected.
Suddenly gun doomed out over the water
and cloud of blue and white smoke puffed over
the stream. The Powhatan, lying down under
the bluff had fired the first Of a salute. Hills
were calling back in echoes, and the guns Of the
other war vessels in the river anon shook the
bluff and started the echoes flying in the woods
the Jersey hills. Three and o'clock
passed The tomb yet waited. But
there came a buge call from the
eastward at 4:20 o'clock. Then strain from
trumpets and soor the sound of mufled drums.
Carriages came into view and rolled slowly
through the park to the tomb. DR.. Newman
and Bishop Harris occupied the first, and then
the clergy; and then Drs. Douglas, Shrady, and
Sands The bearers came after these. Gen.
Joe Johnston rode beside General Sherman, and
Buckner and Sheridan were paired, while Gen
cral Logan and ex-Secretary Boutwell, followed.
Distinguished men came also, beside these.
The bearers and those invited alighted, and took
places near the tomb.
Then the Davids Island band, playing Cho-
pins Funeral March, came icto view, while be-
hind the black plumes of the funeral car could
be seen. The car stopped abreast the tomb,
the guard of honor ascended to bear down
the casket. Colonel Beck formed his
two companies of escort into hollow
square between the tomb and the
hearse The family carriages had drawn near;
their occupants alighted and took positions near
the foot of the steps of the car So they stood,
while the casket was being removed from the
car, and when it was borne into the hollow
square toward the vault. the relatives followed
in this order: Col. Fred Grant and wife, Mrs.
Sartoris and the Colonel's children, Julia and U.
S. Grant; q. S. Grant, ir., and wife, leading
little Nellie, the daughter of Jesse Grant; Jesse
Grant and wife, L. S. Grant second son of Or
vile Grant; Mrs. Fred Dent and Mrs Dent DR..
Cramer and wife, Potter Palmer and wife, Hon.
John A. J. Creswell and wife.
The cedar case rested upon supports at the
door of the sepulcher. The casket was deposited
n I nf nd
represented by fifteen men, circled the casket.
The commander took post at the head, with off,
GERS and post commanders at the foot; the chap.
ain stood at the foot and the colors were placed
in front. The ritual services were then per-
formed
Post Commander Alexander Reed-"Assem-