The sun., 1885-08-09
points, wheeled In bohind the body they had
Just reviewed. iengthenine II and going with Il.
THE LAST NIaHT WITH


points. wheeled In bohind the body they had
)ust reviewed. fenRthenine II and going with It.
THE LAST N1oHT WITH THE DEAD.
Tho sablo-curtatned vestibule o. tho City Hall
at daybreak presented q scene like a tablsau
OF a Court OF Death. Tho setting was like that
on stnSe, closed bohind. onsn In front. and set
with funeral canopy. CONN. and row upoa
row OF rigid. almost motionless guards in
many uniforms. Nothing was wantlba. A
vast assembly out In tao rark craned forward
and stood on tlptoo to see the spectacle. As
the last Of the throngs about tho Hall dispersed
tho night before. and the sounds from tho
streets grew fainter. silence foil upon all! tho
building. Only now and tlfon tho sound
OF subduod footsteps was heard In the corri-
dors as the closing Of o distant door caused
faint echoes from the dusty hooks OF the old
building. The guards stood silently about tho
casket 1t was their 'nst nights vigil. For
over two weeks the faithful Grand Army mon
had not left the side OF the cofin.
At 10 minutes past l the undertakefs had
placed the lid upon tho casket and fastened It
down. to bc lifted again. perhaps. only whom
the body Is placed In the grave for its flnal rest.
There was li.te ceremony about the proceed
fngs. Tho glass top OF tho casket was repol-
ished. tho purple OF the cover cleansed OF dust
and stains. and the lower hall placed carefully
In It's place. Then tbs guards and tho few
people standing rhout took their last brief look
at the iaoe OF the dead. the hoavy cover WAS aid
into place. and the enule top firmly fastor I'd
down. After that the undertakers wont
away to their homes. and the guards re-
sumed their silent watch. Upon the cover
OF the casket had beeG socnrcy fastened the
pretty wreath OF oak leaves TINT Gen. Grants
grandchild Julia and the little daughter OF Or.
Douglas had woven. the first floral offering
that was laid upon the dead soldier's breast.
1t went With tho remains to their last abode.
and. fast shut ont from air and light. viii
doubtless remain az It was seen yesterday for
many anil many year after the childish hands
that twined It have been moaldering In dust.
The FIRST faint hints OF dawn that crept into
tho roturda and dimned tho lights over the
casket brought with thom hints Of prepara-
tIons for the impressive events Of the day.
There was unusual stir without. and the
trampling Of many feet In the plaza before tho
Hall Boon the sounds OF life began inc coasinR
In the corridors Of the building. and
as tho day advanced to S O'Clock the
vestbule about tho oataialoue was nearly
half filed with ahiftiny groups. who
moved about with uncovered heads. speaking
In subdued tones. At q little before o'clock
the commander Of the guard from the Seventy
first Regiment. with half isparsu words Of
command. formed his men and n rohed them
away. Their duties were over. There remained
then about tho cataisiQue only the durk bius
uniforms Of the Graud Army mon.
MEMORABLE MORNING p1cluns
No ono except policeman on duty all night
can say at what time tie multitude that
pressed against the ropes and police liues that
hemmed in the emrty plaza began to gather.
but It was In truth q multitude whom. at hall
Aat nj t-1 fro nR on,Io
marched to tho slow music Of tho David's
Island Government band into the enclosure
before the City Hall. One company was
Battery A Of the Fifth Artillery. the Other
| Company z OF the Twelfth Infantry
tho companies that were detailed to dc
duty BY the hero's body soon after life
Quilted it Both were commanded By Capt
Book. The horses were tethered to trees. the
musicians fung themselves upon the g lasa. ths
soldier sdrew back from tho asphalt under tn.
shade OF the trees. and the officers clattered L
and fro or strode about the empty space lik'
players on q stage.
The sunlight glldsd tho scene. and II will b,
long remembered by all who saw It. The ret
plumes among the trees. the colored lgure
and cleaning instruments on the grass. th
mettlesome horses. highly caparisonod. bu
with empty saddles. and the blue and gra
lines OF policemen backed against tn
dark mass OF onlookers were but 30 many part
OF q picture that included rows OF spectator
on dizzy roof lines. groups Of men and womel
on the broad cornioe OF the lofty Federal build
ing. the crowded windows on all aides. even Il
the deserted hotel next above THE Sun build
ing. and to all OF which was added. outside @
the picture. tho diapason OF great regiments
bands moving up Broadway. and tho shrl
strains OF hIers in tho side streets.
| proaa, tharo da hed ipta ha centra ~ IN
open space the martial figure Of Major Cor
Winfield 8. Hancock on big bay horse and l.
full re9imentals. with bun sash and Grape
bound arm. Superintendent Murray Wake
out from the City Hall. and the hero Of Gettys
burg leaned from his saddle to say. impres
sively. that the funeral car must be on time
must starl at 10 o'ciock. An aide or two VII
had pushed on after the General. like shadow
chasing him. received short commando In 6rE
but kindly tones. and dashed away again. lea,
ing the great stage to csvaloade OF mounte
mon. mainly In officers uniforms. with cooke
beavers and ve-oolored sashes. who move
toward the General In crescent.shaped lin
Ono among them. . big-bearded. blg-bodie
man. with twinkling eyes. and q face that r.
solved itself into one graLt oval smile rode Or
from among the others md grna ped heGeneral
hand. II WAS Fitz II ugh Loo. the pride Of Ii
virginia Democracy. the nephew OF Robert
Loo. and grand-nephew OF Light Horse Harl
OF 1776. He wore dove-colcred sash like II
rest. but. instead Of g golden belt and blazin
; epaulets and q cooked hI;. his dress WAS
: business suit OF brown and . slate -colors
! Derby hat Presently. Con. Hancock rode Of
OF the park with the long line OF aides gallopir
after him. "
Every ono. whether he conld SEQ Broadway
not. knew then tho head OF Tho procession hi
| begun the march TO Riverside Park; that 10
say. that the regunrs OF tho army and ma
| who had reached the park under Gen. Ha
cocks leadership would continue their marc
! | whom he took his place at the head OF the lin
, | For twenty minutes after that the melody
3 the passing bands filled the air. This was
all odds the most picturesque and interestil
b part Of the procession. Its like had been So
r | only twice OF late years In this city-on Il
! centennial anniversary Of Evacuation Dsy al
I on last Wednesday.
0 First came the General In command and 4
han thA hn