Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-07-31
OUR ILLUSTRIOUS dead.
Mrs. Grant Views the Remains OF
Her Dead Husband.
The Cottage at Mt. McGregOr
Struck by Lightning.
DR.. Shrady'S Synopsis Of the
Fatal Disease.


rooms of the cottage since the general s
death. last evening descended to the parlor
where she reviewed the remains of her hus-
band, after they had been composed in the
casket. Today she is as usual. Her mind
is distressed, but she is physically we'll.
1t is quite possible that Mrs. Grant, in
order TO spare herself the fatigue OF the
throngs along the route and the two or three
days of waiting in New York before the in
terment OF the general, may deem it wise to
defer her departure from here until August
eth.
1t is understood that upon application to a
colOred post of Grand Army men for $50
members to lead the horses of the funeral
cortege, response was made that the required
number of grooms wouli be furnished at So
per head. This condition is said not to have
been accepted
Ex-Post Master General J. A Creswell is
here. All those who desire to view the re-
mains at tae cottage Will do after three
o'clock this afternoon.
The drapng of the car that will carry the
remains of Gen. Grant down the mountain is
being done today by two men from the firm
that made the eaket The car is run into
the woods of the mountain situated upon a
side track and there excluded from view
while work is progressing. The Mount pho
tographer is this morning making a negative
of the interior vi the cottage where the BODY
lies, showing the canopy OF flags. Some
time during the day the guests at the hotel
most all OF whom are now acquaintances of
the Grant family, will be accorded an oppor-
tunty to pay their last respects to the re-
mains of Gen. Grant.
A party of ladies or the hotel veranda have
been all the morning making rosettes for
draping the funeral car from the mountain
The work will be finished today. The hour
of admitting mountain visitors to view the
remains was changed to two p. NJ, and at
that hour quite respectful procession began
passing in AT the front entrance of the cottage
and emerging by the north entrance to the
veranda where the general in life was often
est seated Uncovered heads and silent
voices marked the sense of deep feeling felt
by all those who saw the dead generals face
One hundred and fifty persons viewed the
remains of Gen. Grant this afternoon. A
heavy thunder storm occurred late this af-
ternoon. Col w. B. Beck, commanding
Battery A, from Governors Island, and Gen
X. II. Jackson. co nmandant at Fort Colum-
bus, Governors Island. were struck by
lightning and severely stunned but will re-
cover. The family at the Grant cottage were
startled by the thunder and lightning but
nowise injured. All the telegraph wires
from the mountain to the outer world were
burned The lightning struck the roof of
the Grant cottage and knocked several shin
giles off. The lightning entered the cottage
through the roof and tore off the plastering
The electric light above the casket was also
put out.
Mention was made in these dispatches yes
terday of packet placed by Col. Grant on
the person of the dead general. The packet
referred to was a letter written by Mrs
Grant. 1t acknowledged the farewell letter
of the generals found in his coat pocket
after his death and added farewell until both
should meet in a better world. The ring
placed on the generals finger was one that
Mrs. Grant gave him, but for which in life his
finger had grown too small. Negatives
made of the casket and canopy and parlor in
terror have been turned over to the family
and no prints will be sold.
Mrs Grants farewell letter, which will be
buried with the General, contains a lock of
her hair Mrs Sartoris and Mrs. Fred Grant
were with Mrs Grant when she saw the face
of her dead husband last night The bereaved
wife was perfectly calm.
New YORK, July 80.
telegram saws that the question of pail
UedTtTs loE tue nave Dee0
left entirely with the President, so it is gen.
orally understood that there will probably be
eight of them, and it is suggested that it
would be fitting and proper to appoint three
Union and three ex-Coniederste generals and
the two senators from this State The names
of Gen. Sherman, Gen. Sheridan, Gen. Ba-
deau. Gen. Porter, Gen. Joe. johnson. Gen
Fiz Hugh Lee, Gen. Longstreet and Gen
Beauregard are mentioned prominently in
this connection.
The President recently telegraphed Mrs
Grant to know If she had any preference or
suggestions to make in regard to the pail
bearers. He re ecieved the reply today stat
ing that the only suggestion she would make
was that in case any prominent Union officer
like Gen. Sherman or Gen Sheridan being Sc
lected, leading Confederate officer like Gen
johnson or Gen. Buckner be also selected
What Mrs. Grant wishes in this regard will
be respected. The list of pail bearer. will be
announced in few days.
Members of the Army of the Potomac will
be given place in the line. Gen. Hancock
has written to Gen. Sherman that he will
leave New York at 9 A. NJ, August 2d, for
Mt. McGregor and that representatives of
the armies of Tennessee and Cumberland
would be placed in line on the day of the
funeral. A, number OF new aides were ap-
pointed and Rear Admiral Jouett will have
charge of naval arrangements.
The consular officers who were abroad
during Gen. Grants administration met at
the Windsor Hotel today to take action upon
the death Of Gen. Grant. Among those pres
ent were Gen. Daniel E. Sickles, and Z. ID
Bassett. Addresses on Gen Grants life and
career were made and a committee appointed to
draft suitable resolutions, to be presented at
a future meeting.
The Grant monument committee issued the
following today:
To the People of the United States
The family of Gen. Grant having chosen
New York as his last resting place, the mayor
and people Of that city desire that a great
national monument be erected. which will
ftly honor his memory. To promote this
object the mayor of New York has designated
a local committee to inaugurate a movement
to procure the necessary funds. In due time
appropriate action will be taken for the or
ganizstion Of committees which shall rep
resent the entire country and various locali-
ties. Pending these formal proceedings We