The Indianapolis journal., 1885-08-07

the Generals death, was standing at the foot of
the casket, while members of the military order
of the Loyal Legion were likewise represented.
Rapidly the people were augmenting, the crowd
was fast becoming throng. The line was
being hurried through the hall at the rate of
l40 per minute, and for little while the pace
was 40 per minute which rate if maintained
for one hour, would have passed 10 200
persons. But this could not be done.
To accomplish this the visitors must be hurried
through and past the remains almost upon a
trot. The rate Of speed compared i'll with the
dignity Of the occasion, and more time was
given; but the accretions were too rapid to be
cared for, and the line Of waiting people
stretched out finally, at 10 o'clock, around the
bend at the registers Office and down Center
street.
At IL o'clock between 80, 900 and 81, 900 persons
had passed the casket and looked toward the re-
mains, though many, coming rapidly in from the
bright sunlight, were scarcely able to distinguish
them in the sombre shadows of the black draped
corridor
The floral Offering of the Board or Aldermen
was set up during the morning beneath the ro-
tunda dome. where the light shone down upon
it. The central column rose ten feet, aud was
fanked by stands Of colors while the base was
bed of ferns and palms, among which was placed
huge rows Of white buds.
An incident was occasioned by the attempt
of an old lady, who came up in the line to stoop
and kiss the face of the dead General. She was
reminded hastily that such proceeding was in
bad taste, and besides, two plates Of glass pre-
vented any demonstration of the kind.
AS the morning wore on to midday, more
women, young and old, appeared in the line of
visitors. Many carried little hand bags, and
some had been shopping, and their discomfort
was increased by the care of parcels and pack
ages. Observers concluded quickly that these
had come from hamets and towns in the outly-
ing country. Farmers there in the line,
undoubtedly and many had come to town with
their entire families of children in order,
in years to come, they might have
it to say that they had seen
the remains of General Grant. The increasing
heat had melted the ardor of many who had Sc
cured places in line, and not a few dropped out,
after having worked their way around even to
Center street The numbers at the point of the
fountain had decreased and the people at noon
City Hall and Chambers street and Broadway.
The passage Of the people at the casket was av-
eraging about one hundred minute, and at /
o'clock AZ coo persons had viewed the remains,
seven hours having been occupied in so doing.
After midday, and during the lunch hours of
the early afternoon many lettercarriers passed
into the hall and viewed the remains.
At o'clock the procession extended in a cres-
cent across the Park and along the sidewalk to
Chambers street, and along Chambers street to
Broadway. The fifth relief detail of thirteen
veterans of the G. a. r., U. S. Grant Post came
on guard around the casket at o'clock The
passage of the multitude into the hail was great
ly hastened during the afternoon by the police
and the veterans in charge of the body by per
mtting no lettering, and telling the people to
step lively and hurry up, that some timid
folks had scarcely chance to see the face Of the
dead General
At 9 P. NJ the procession Of people to the hall
was more dense than at any time during the
day, and was composed mostly of working people.
The procession was doubled up into fours at
midnight; the composition of it was of the re-
spectacle class of working people.
AT o'clock the crowd was stopped, and the
corpse was left in charge of thirteen veterans of
U. S. Grant Post, No. 237.