The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-08-06
GENERAL GRANT.
THE PLACE OF BURIAL.
SCENES AT Mt. McGREGOR.
The PROFESSIONALS, 900
Men in Line.

VIGOROUSLY MADE ever SlHCc III was pEoPooSo
to inter the remains of the dead soldier in New
York it has been finally decided that that
State is to have the honor of being the final
resting place of Gen. Grant. Apart from the
inappropriateness OF any place but the Natlohai
Capital for the purpose, it would have been
difficult matter to have chosen ioVcller place
for the heros tomb than Riverside Park, In
which place the City of New York has decided
to the Grant family a burial site. The point
selected for the tomb is on bold promontory
overlooking the Hudson River, and Is visible
for many miles both ways on that noble stream.
The summit of this elevation is an almost level
plateau of about 20 acres In extent, which on
The river side runs down abruptly 200 feet.
Immediately at the foot of the cliff is
the Hudson River Railway, and the houses,
stores and manufactures of the town of
Manhattanville cluster around the base
of the hill The view from the cliff is
exceedingly fine From the southwark the OBJ
server has full view of the park with Its Ia
acres of driveways. fower-beds and magnificent
trees. Looking to the left, a magnificent view
of the Hudson is obtained, and in the distance
are to be seen the cities of Hoboken and Jersey,
while to the left the tall spires and buildings
of New York city meet his gaze. All the wind
ings OF the river on both shores are distinctly
visible on a clear day for 20 miles northward.
On the one side are the picturesque Palisades,
and on the other the nights which stretch to
Sing Sing and beyond. 80 prominent is the
spot that if the monument be as massive and
elevated as it should be- travellers on vessels
entering Hoboken will have no trouble what
ever in distinguishing it with the aid of glasses
Another point in favor of the spot is that 1t
is rich in historic associations, several places
made famous by the struggle of our forefathers
for Independence being in the immediate
neighborhood. Fort Lee is on the opposite side
of the river. the old fort in Central Park is on
the southeast Fort Washington is on the north,
and the highlands near West Point shut out
the horizon beyond the Tappan Zee. 1t may
also be mentioned that as the water front for
some distance on either side of Riverside Park
is The property of the city, no buildings can be
erected to shut out or break the uniformity of
the view from either above or below. The fact,
too that the park is remote from the noise
and hustle of the city adds TO its appropriate
ness. it being eight miles in an air line from
the New York City Hall.
Central Park was the place first spoken of as
the place of burial, it being understood that
Col Fred. Grant wished the remains OF his
father to rest there. He did not, however, in
sist upon this after the advantages OF the place
now selected were pointed out.
The following letter from Mayor Grace, Of
New York to Col. Grant on the subject elo-
quently sets forth the appropriateness and
beauty of the place, which will now and for
all time to come be sacred to every American
Col Frederick ID. Grant
My DEAR SIR: / have just received from Mr..
Turner dispatch saying that you prefer Central
Park rs the final resting place of your fathers re-
MAINS and while of course. this is for you to de-
termne cannot help thinking that, because OF Its
peculiar beauty. its location on the river and the
fact that monument in it would be visible far and
wide, the Riverside Park would be the mere APP
propriate place. 1t would give distinct charac-
teristic to this quiet and beautiful park and such
monument as would probably be erected there
would vie in beauty and fitness location with the
famous statue of Germana on the Rhine. The en-
tire park would become peculiarly, and in sense
that Central Park never can become sacred ana
devoted to the memory of your father The park
is young that the character OF Its development
would be largely determined and its whole future
denominated by this fact. The monument would
be visible from two States and for miles both up
and down the river and would not only borrow
from but lend beauty to the noble stream, and at
time could your fathers remains ever be re-
earded as lying remote from nature and in the
heart of great busy city, in the rush and hurry of
the life of which death and its sacredness may be
forgotten and the remains of the great dead may he
passed in fhoughtlessness. / venture to present
these considerations. but beg you to rest assured,
interfere with Mrs Grants and your perfect free
w. F. GEAcE.
THE EMBALMING.
Immediately after the death of Gen. Grant,
Undertaken Merritt, of New York, was tele-
grapfed for and reached Mt. McGregor on the
first train with his assistants and the work of
embalming was at once commenced. 1t was
very skillfully performed. and gave to the dead
q most natural and life-like appearance. The
checks, which had become followed and
sunken, were filled out and given the rotundity
which had belonged to the General while in
health, and the burrows which pain and anxiety
had plowed on the face of the dead were almost
obliterated by the skill of the embalmer.
THE FLORAL TRIBUTES.
Almost every train which arrived at Mt Nc
(yraonr hac hrnu hpautift,l Anral Ypn anti
from Grand Army Posts and other organiza-
tions, and also from personal friends, and the
room in which the dead soldier lay has been
literally filled with flowers.
THE GUARD OF HONOR.
On Tuesday detail of Co. e, of the 18th
u. s. Inf, arrived at BIT. McGregor, under
command of Maj. Brown, with Lieuts Wood
and Barr. Tents and other camp equip
ments were brought and the troops went into
camp near the cottage. Near the same spot
the veterans of the Grand Army were also
bivouacked. The guard of honor is composed
of Gen. Grant Post, of Brooklyn, N. Y, the
members of which were on guard all the time,
both inside and outside of the cottage.
On Friday, for the first time, an opportunity
was given to the people at Mt. Mc(iregor TO
view the remains, and many hundreds passed
silently and reverently through the room and
gazed on the face of the dead, the procession
lasting more than three hours.
MRS. GRANT.
Mrs. Grant has been much Frustrated by the
death of her husband, and it was some days
before it was deemed ad visable to allow her to
see the body. Until death actually occurred
she seemed to be buoyed up by feeling that a
cure would be effected in some remarkable
manner, and although the Generals sickness
was so long and hopeless. his death caused a
great shock to her. On Thursday last before
the body was finally Enclosed in the coffin, Col.
Grant placed on the finger of his father mar
row plain gold ring. This ring had been given
TO the General by Mrs. Grant many years ago
and had been worn constantly by him until a
few months ago, when he became so emaciated
by illness that it was too large for the finger,
and he took it off and carried it in his pocket
book for safe keeping. letter from Mrs.
Grant was also placed in the pocket of the
dead General by his son. 1t contained the
simple words:
Farewell till we meet again in better
World"
With it was also placed lock of the widows
hair. This letter was in response to one found
in the Generals pocket after death addressed
TO Mrs. Grant On Friday she remained alone
with the dead, the guard Of honor retiring
when she entered the room.
TIE GENERALS COFFIN.
The coffin in which the Generals body will
be buried was viewed before its shipment to
Mt. McGregor by over 10000 people. A guard
of % policemen were on duty at Undertaken
Merritt's store in New York city. The crowd
passed around the great glass case containing
the coffin in an incessant but orderly process