The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-08-06

and the sidewalks outside of it were packed
When the mounted police had made every
thing ready, Gen. Hancock and his staff
moved into the park followed by the 22d
regiment. Dismounting, Gen. Hancock as
eended the steps and passed into the build
ing, and here, beneath the canopy of black
with which the ceiling of the hall is covered,
he was met by Mayor Grace and President
Of the Board of Aldermen Sanger, and escort
ed to the mayors office. The 22d regiment
was drawn up ON either side of the entrance
and moment later the carriage containing
the Grant party rolled up to the steps, fol-
lowed by the funeral car
AS the coffin was being taken from the
funeral car solemn dirge was played. A
detachment of twelve men from the Brook
lyn q. S. Grant Post tenderly lifted the
coffin and bore it into City Hall. There be-
meath the catafalque which had been erected
they laid down their burden.
Colonel Fred Grant, Ulysses S. Grant, Jr,
and Jesse Grant followed the body into the
hall. Then came the committee of one hun
dred, legislative committee, members of the
common council of Albany and others.
When these had passed around the cata-
falque they left the building. After the
Grant party and everybody else had left the
coffin was taken into a private room, where
1t was opened and the body prepared for
public view. Then at the request of Colonel
Grants breast the decoration of the Loyal
Legion of Honor, and Senior Vice Com
mander johnson fastened by its side a medal
of the Grand Army of the Republic.
Dr. g. w. Brush and Deputy Coroner
Jenkins, who viewed the body, officially
stated that it was in an excellent state of
preservation, and that there appeared to be
no tendency to decomposition.
1t was few minutes after 8 O'Clock when
the coffin with the lid removed was again
placed on the catafalque, and the iron gates
We're swung open and the public allowed to
enter. Aguard of U. S. Grant Post stood
about the coffin on either side, while Legion
Of Honor guard stood at the head, and mem
bers of the National Guard were distributed
about the corridors.
When the gates were open long line of
people shut in by files of policemen pass ed
into the portico and after viewing the re-
mains, passed out by the rear door of the
hall. Everything had been so carefully ar
ranged that there was no confusion and little
crowding.. There were some who wept as
they gaZed on the features of the dead SOL
dier and these were old veterans of many
6attlehelds OF rebellion who fought under
Grant.
Gen. Hancock formally delivered the body
to the city authorities early in the evening
and hereafter the police of the city are res
ponsible for its keeping.
1t was decided, after a formal conference
in the Mayors Office, that the coffin should
be kept open till IL a. IN. tomorrow, Friday
and Saturday. On the last named morning
at the hour mentioned the coffin will be
finally closed. 1t is estimated that $4,000
passed through the corridors of City Hall
and viewed the remains between 9p. m. and
ana l a. m.
The Preparations in New York City.
The catafalque and canopy used at Mt
McGreg0r reached the City Hall this morn
ing, and was early placed in position in the
corridor, Immediately behind the rear iron
gate. The marble flooring surrounding it
was covered with rubber carpet, designed to
deaden the tread of the hundreds of thous-
ands of persons who will pass around the
bier while the body of the deceased lies
there. A squad of police was stationed
Throughout the building and all persons were
excluded therefrom excepting those whose
business caused a deviation from the rule
The steps of the staircase reaching from the
corridor to to the Governors room have been
hidden by broad strips of dark material,
augmenting the solemn appearance of the
interior, and at the platform where the spiral
stairway begins, bonze bust of Gen. Grant
has been pladed on a pedestal surmounted
by an American flag covered with Grape. All
day long crowds of people ascended the out
er steps of the building and peered through
the iron barred gates at the dismal interior
and the spot where the body will repose rs
indicated by the richly draped canopy.
Notes.
Mt. MCGREGoR, Aug 5.-Mrs. Grant still
remains here and does not expect to go to
New York with her friends, Mrs. Newman,
Mrs. Dent, Mrs. Charp and Mrs. Goblin Her
family will join her on Monday next.