The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1885-01-16

purn EXTENDED call Tor Company + to
report at armory hall at 10 p. m. in
full uniform, to march to the residence
of DR.. Harrington; the Military and
Germania bands were notified that their
services would be needed at that hour;
the clergy of the city were invited to
attend, and the fire companies were got
in readiness to join in the. march to the
depot. During the afternoon the car
was Hastily draped inside and out, and
inscribed on either side with these
words: Schuyler Colfax-Died, Man
kato, Mimi, Jan. ID, 1885. The Nation
Mourns."
Up to the hour of departure to the
depot steady stream Of sympathizlng
citizens thronged jackson street to the
doctors residence, and long before the
appointed time, the crowd began to as
semble, despite the extreme cold, to
pay the last tribute to the dead. At 10
o'clock Marshal S. w. Burgess arranged
the procession in the order given be.
low: ....
Military Band.
Company +. NJ. N. G.
Hearse and Pail Bearers.
Odd Fellows in Full Uniform.
Germania Band.
Board of Trade.
Mayor and City Council.
Normal School Students.
Citizens.
Mayor Palmer being absent from the
city, Mr.. p. II. Carney acted pro tenn
pore.
At the residence brief religious serv.
ices were held. Rev. II. A. Bushnell
read the scriptural lesson, which was
followed by some very appropriate re,
marks by Rev. g. c. Pollock, Rev. Mr.
Ogle closing the service with prayer.
The funeral then proceeded on it,
way to the Northwestern depot, with
w. ID. TssAPi.;"S. T.. l.. Davis, NTitiiaul
Jones, Peter Hoerr, A. NJ. Smith and G,
Carroll as pail bearers, they having
been appointed by the lodge for this
purpose. The scene was a memorable
one, and as impressive as it well could
be. The glare ofthe torches, the solemn
measures of the drum, the regular step
of military and other organizations, the
sombre appearance of the hearse under
the gas light, AID the tramp Of til,
scores that lined the sidewalks, all sur
rounded with the deep darkness, and
the keen, glittering frost capering amid
all, composed a picture beautiful
though sorrowful.
At the depot two lines were formed
from the hearse, between which
the casket was borne into the cal
prepared for il, and at ll:l5 the traii
departed, and the large concourse o
people who had withstood the rigors o
IN atmosphere thirty degrees below re
70, 10 be present Oh this occasion, went
| 10 their several homes u mediate upon
the most important day ever known in
our city's history.
As to the cause of this sudden demise
several theories were current, but none
could unveil the mysterious DEGREES of q
dispensing God, who had seen fit &c
snap the thread of this illustrious life in
SO novel way. Some, Of course, attri
butte it to heart trouble, and still Others
TO stroke of appoplexy. One very
common opinion, held by many, is that
the sudden exposure to cold after being
in warm car for about "a hours, pro-
duced the fatal result. Yet none can
determine the cause, but must be re-
signed to the deplorable effect.
Mr.. Colfax left his home at South
Bend, Indiana, on Monday Morning to
fill some engagements in Northern
Iowa, being destined to reach LeMars
on Tuesday evening, and was about to
take the west bound train on the Omaha
road when the fatal stroke befell him.
He was, to all appearances, enjoying good
health, and after being layed out in the
casket bore look of peaceful sleep.
But the final summons came, as it must
to all, and the man we have read about,
honored and talked of these many years,
has Joined the "innumerable caravan"
and tomorrow Saturday, at one
O'Clock, his remains will be confined to
it's mother earth, at South Bend, the es-
cort having arrived there at eleven
o'clock Wednesday night. We are IN
formed that Mankato parties went
through to his home, having been met
by !. rye number of prominent men of
the former city.
General Grant is expected to attend
the funeral, in company with other
prominent men.