The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-07-24
GEN. GRANT.
How the Sad News Was Received in
Portland.
Meetings of the City Council and
Citizens.

OF the Old First Parish and Casco street
churches took up the solemn strain and tolled
the age of the deceased. Notwithstanding
the fact that the alarm was different from
that rung for fire, many citizens thought
quite conflagration must be in progress
until inquiry posted them as to its cause
The flags on the City Building, Union
Mutual, Grand Army Hall, Thatcher Post
Hall, the hotels, and many private residences
were quickly hoisted at half mast. and the
shipping in the harbor followed the example.
Several of the flags were draped in mourn
ing, especially that of Mr.. F. A. Leayitt on
Exchange street. which bore in the centre
fine portrait of the General and beneath the
words:
that preserved us as a nation has retired to his
rest Farewell, great heart farewell
The PRESS office placed in its counting
room window large portrait of the General
framed in black broadcloth, with sheafs of
wheat at the four corners. Armand, the
photographer, on Middle street, also dis
played draped portrait The Sunday Times
festooned the front of its building with
black and white cambria and displayed a por-
tApAO AliO DOlidi QUIZ vi 1UUSI6SS street.
was decorated. The amories of the militia,
the Advertiser office, Mechanic Hall, Machi-
come engine house, Banks drug store, and
the consulate of Norway and Sweden all
exhibited flags at half mast and draped. The
Merchants Exchange closed at Up. M for
the day. On the day of the funeral the dec
orations will probably be very extensive.
The news of General Grants death, while
not unexpected, seemed to cast gloom over
the community. 1t was the chief topic of
conversation everywhere, and while all
seemed glad that his long sufferings were
over, they regretted his loss to the nation
THE CITY COUNCILS ACTION.
The City Council convened in the cham
bers of the two boards at o'clock last
evening for the purpose of taking official
action on the death of Gen. Grant
II, Board Of Mayor and aldermen
The Mayor called the Board to order.
Present: Aldermen Birnie, Gallagher.
Prince, Sawyer and Denison. Mayor Deering
then spoke as follows:
Gentlemen of the Board of 4lderqnen:
President Cleveland this morning announced to
the people OF the United States the death of
General Ulysses S. Grant, twice President of the
most illustriOuS captain and heroic man that the
world ever beheld. 1t is therefore appropriate
the memory of the brave General that the nation
loved and consider what homage shall be paid to
the illustrious dead.
In accordance with the custom followed ON
similar occasions in former years, the fol-
lowing order received a unanimous passage:
Ordered, That the Mayor and three members
OF THIS Board, with such as the Common Council
a a fnn to
expressive of the feelings of the city at the death
OF General Grant, and to unite with a committee
OF citizens to make arrangements for memorial
service on the day of his burial.
On the part Of this Board the Mayor ap-
pointed Aldermen Denison, Prince and
Gallagher A recess was then taken, during
which the committee met in the Mayors
room.
Upon the Boards being called to order,
the following was passed:
Ordered, That the Mayor and committee on
pubic buildings cause the City and County Build
ing TO be appropriately draped with mourning
and the flags on the public buildings to be dis
Played at nan mast, until the burial Of General
Grant and the bells be tOlled during the hour of
the funeral services. And on that day the nnblic
offices be closed after II O'clock noon and that
citizens be requested to close their places of bust
the memory of the distinguished dead. The ex-
pense OF the same to be charged to the contingent
fund
In Board Of Common Council.
On the assembling of the Board, President
Woodbury. announced that it was called to
take action on the death of General
Grant. The orders in reference to
the appointment of committee of
arrangements, and for the draping of the
City Building, then came down from the
upper board and received concurrent action.
This Board added to the committee on
arrangements President Woodbury., Messrs
Buxton, Wilson, Small and Mcmahon.
In Joint Convention
After the two boards had assembled in
joint convention, the following resolutions
were unanimously passed by a rising vote
The Mayor, Aldermen and Common Council of
me city OF Portland, convened in City Council at
the news of the death OF General U. S. Grant, and
sharing profoundly in the common sorrow and
sense OF national bereavement and grief at the
close Of his most illusious life. hereby resolve;
mat the memory of his great career, as General
Of our armies, as President of the Republic, as
statesman and as citizen, of his matchless military
genius and unrvalled service to the State in its
hour OF danger, of his magnanmity, his fearless
ana unchanglng loyalty and devotion to duty. his
unfatering faith and patriotism and unslillied
nonor Will never be effaced from the minds of his
eountrymen, but the record of them, of his public
HE ana services, VIII forever remain among the
most memorable annals of mankind.
That in the serene patience and fortitude with
which he bore the long anguish and pain the ut
most intensity of physical suffering, during the
last months Of lingering and fatal Illness, and
calmly awaited the approach of DEATH his true
otllnesS and nobility OF spirit were less mani
fest than in the triumphs and achievements which
made him the central figure in a great national
crisis and gave him the hearts of all his country
men ana permanent and imperiShable FAME
among men.
That we tender to his afflicted wife and family
our heartfelt sympathy in their deep bereave-
meDt, and that of these resolutions ba for
warded to his family.
MEETING OF CITIZENS.
The citizens assembled at Reception Hall,
City Building, shortly after o'clock, and
organized by the choice of W. d. Little as
chairman and Edward A. Jordan as secre-
tary The chairman briefly stated the object
of the meeting-to fittingly observe the obse-
quies of the illustrious veteran who drew his
last breath at Mount McGregor yesterday
morning.
After pertinent remarks by Judge Goddard
and Councilman Griffin regarding the solemn
topic under consideration, the Rev. DIR. Bur-
rage suggested that committee be appointed
by the chairman to confer with the COM
mittee already appointed by the City Council
on the matter. The chairman appointed as
members of the committee the Rev. DIR.
Henry Burrage, Judge G. w. Goddard,
Hobart w. Richardson, W. G. Soule and
Charles Mclaughlin.
On motion from the floor, put by Secretary
Jordan, the names of Mr.. w. D. Little and
the Rev. Marion Crosley were added to the
list The meeting adjourned, and the COM
mittee went into conference with the repre-
sentatives Of the City Council.
The suggestion was made by Mr.. Jordan,
and received with much favor, that the
memorial exercises be held at behring's
Oaks.
MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE.
Directly after the meeting of the City
Council, the committee appointed by the
citizens and that from the City Government
met in the Mayors room.
Suggestions were made by the different
members of the committee and Rev. H. S.
Burrage, Rev. Mr.. Crosley, Alderman Den
isOn, Councilman Wilson and City Clerk
Burgess were appointed a subcommittee to
fo he