The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-06-02


PARIS, June 1.-The scenes in the neigh
borhood of the Arc de Triomphe, where Vic
tor Hugo's remains lay in state Sunday and
Sunday night have been most extraordinary.
A continuous line of people dofiled silently
by the body during the entire day. Their
demeanor was respectful and orderly, while
at midnight Sunday at least 200, 900 persons
still thronged all approaches to the remains.
There was full moon, and it was every
few moments covered by rapidly fit
ting clouds resembling huge Grape
veils very impressively and thoroughly in
keeping with the scene Of the nations
mourning About 80, 900 cabs were packed
like sardines in the Champs Elysess and the
avenues radiating at the Arc de rEtoile
Hundreds of large vans used for holiday
tourists and race-meetings were filed with
women and children. Here and there might
be seen ladders that enterprising concierges
allowed to be occupied at tariff of a sou a
minute.
The number of wreaths deposited on the
catafalco bearing the body was SO vast as
to be beyond computation. Many Of them
wereIcolossal and superb works of art, and OF
untold value at the present price Of flowers.
The effect lof the vast mass Of many-colored
flower swas striking and gorgeous. The
catafalco was a stately and imposing struct-
ure, covered with luxurious black cloth re-
lieved by lines and ornaments of silver The
Arc de Triomphe was draped with long flut-
tering masses of black Grape, having a weird
effect against the blue sky. All the lamps
and statues of the Place de rEtoile and of
the Elysees were heavily draped in black.
The coffin was of plain lead lined with
white satin, and placed in a second coffin of
carved oak covered with black velvet and
silver, embroidered with stars. A plain sill
yer plate bora the simple inscription: "Victor
Hugo" Victor Hugo's head rested upon a
red velvet cushion under which are placed
photographs of all the poets children and
grandchildren, together with bronzs me-
dallion of Auguste Hacquerie and OF Victor
Hugo himself.
After midnight rain fell, but this did not
apparently diminish the crowd. Toward
| morning a great deal Of revelry was in
dulged in, men and women singing on the
pavements in all directions. Good humor
| prevailed, and police Interference went no
| further than an occasional warning to some
knot of roysterers little too noisy.
Shortly before 10 g. m prom ant persons
| directly connected with the ceremonies of
| the day, began to arrive. Previous to the
movement of the procession speeches were
made. These were interrupted by voices
from the crowd but the Interruptions were
few, and of a character not calculated
| to excite the passions of the Anarchists
present At 20 precisely the procession
| started for the Pantheon. The day was
warm, the sun shining brilliantly. As the
cortege moved the throng fell into line with
out demonstration, and everything was
| quiet and orderly, but there were apprehen-
| sions Of serious trouble before night.
| Just before the procession left the Arc de
| Triomphe few persons who attempted to
carry red flags were arrested. This was
done SO quietly by the police that the Incl
dent was not noticed by most of those pres
| emit. Up to noon no disturbance had oc-
| CURED.
The funeral procession, owing to the al
most unprecedented throng which lined the
streets, moved slowly. The catafalque bear
ing the remains arrived at the Pantheon at
2 o'clock. The ceremonies were begun at
once and proceeded without interruption to
their close. The dense mass of people in the
| Pantheon listened to tae addresses
with respectful attention, and order was
maintained without any effort on the part of
the authorities. The ceremonies wers con-
cluded at 8 o'clock.
A large number of persons are expected to
have been severely hurt during the progress
Of the funeral cortege. At many points on
| ike route the spectators became panic
stricken at the fearful crush, and in their
efforts to free themselves many women and
children were injured