The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-08-26
THE FUNERAL CAR, WITH GENERAL GRANTS
REMAINS.

At $40 A.. NJ, the guard of honor marched
across the plaza in front of the city hall and
halted in front Of the closed gates. 1t con-
sisted Of two companies of the Fifth artillery,
of forty men each under command OF Col
onel ~. B. Beck That officer ascended tho
steps. and us he turned. the file separated,
one company marching up the steps at the
east and another a. the west, extending their
line in n double li,c from the gates to tho
plaza. At tic right stood the Davids Isl.
and oanl. Five minutes later the funeral
car was slowly drawn up before the steps,
led ~ its long line of horses, each
covered with heavy black netting. and led
by colorrI groom. The scene from within
the City Hall gates at this moment was some
thing Wonderful. Directly III front was the
immense funeral car in most striking contrast
with the bright reflected sunlight OF the
plaza Directly back of this the large vacant
ipace was kept clear by the police. Beyond
this was q great SEA of human heads maSSed to-
gctber rs far as the eye could gee. Above, In
all the windows and on the tops o. the build
ings were seen hundreds Of heads stretched
fur out to Get sight Of the impressive scene,
and with al! this not a sound was heard. The
air was as still as if the place had been de-
serted. Within the City Hall there was
nprfect quiet. Uron the casket was
,nly the wreath of oak leaves made by the
dead hero's grandchildren. Suddenly Cap
tain Johns n, in command OF the pallhearerS
from l.. =. Grant Pest, said i'll whisper,
"Attention :" Instantly the twelve men
moved at greater distance from each side of
the caskct, AMI Mayor Grace appeared upon
the scene. This was the signal for the OPEN
ing of the gate. Following the mayor came
the ten clcr.vmen, dressed in SUPPLIES. They
were as fellows: Rev. DR.. Newman, Bishop
Harris, Methodist Episcopal: Assistant
Bishop Henry {. Potter, Protestant Episco.
pal; the Rev. DR.. Chambers, Reformed
Dutch; the Rev. DR.. Field. Presbyterian; the
Rev. Dr.. Eridgeman, BAPTIST; the Rev. Dr.
West, Congregationalist; the Rev. rather
Deshon, Roman Catholic: the Rev. Robert
Collver. Unitarian: Rabbi Browne, Jewish.
The Mayor was formally greeted by Col
pnel Beck, who had been directed TO receive
the body on behalf of General Hancock. The
rlergylncn then took up positions at the head
of the casket and at Il word from Captain
Johnson III, bearers lifted the casket from Its
resting Place. The little procession then
moved down the steps, the clergymen leading
AS the cergymen reached the foot OF the
steps leading to the catafalque they halted,
md separating five on each side, bowed their
heads rs the caskct was carried past them.
During this time the only sound heard was q
dirge played softly 10y band. Not word
was spoken as the car was started to Broad
way. Captain johnson reversed his position
and stood immediately at the rear of the
funeral car, and two files Of the I. S. Grant
Post fell into line Immediately afterward.
At a distance of ten feet each side of the
bearers were the two companies of Fifth bat
terry.
As the funeral car turDel slowly into
Broadway from tho Park plaza, it was joined
by the twelve pallbearers. who Immediately
preceded il in carriages There were two in
each carriage, and the carriages were driven
Two abreast.