Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1885-08-13
The Comrades of Other Days Attest By
Their Presence Their Love For
Their Departed Chief.
The Progress to the Tomb-The
Services and Final Mill
tary HonorS.
The Observance of the Day at Other Points
-Eulogies Delivered by Blaine and
Butler-Chinese Observances.
Natures Benediction.

Natures Benediction.
NEW YORK, August 9-In the early morn
ing when the sun first lighted up the sky, q
thin veil of clouds, like curtain of white
lace, helped the light wind that stirred the
tree tops to cool the air and offset the heat
OF the rays of the midsummer sun. The
population of the great city had bounded
from its ordinary limit at a million and a
half to very much nearer two millions,
and citizens and strangers, side by side.
early in the streets, seeking van
tage points from which to view
the obsequies of the Nations hero.
In most of the streets were little broken,
irregular lines of men and women moving
toward Broadway or its Northern continual
ton, In the other streets that end in the
great mouth like ferry slips were denser,
broader professions always toward Broad
way \ little later, armed and uniformed
lines, symmetrical and moving like solid
bodies, penetrated the city from the sides
as if there had been capituIa-
ton after a siege. They marched up from
the battery across from the North River
over the Brooklyn Bridge and in from the
East River ferries. The people no longer
moved in thread like lines; they poured out
of all the houses and rushed hither and
thither, iostling and pushing to get to Broad
way and .afterward to get good standing
r ices there.
r.The ear then shared the enjoyment with
the eye, for there came through the air the
blare and clash of great bands, the shrill
thin music of flies, the rat a plan of drums
and the sound of thousands treading in uni
son. Only little later came other bodies
in gayer uniforms out of the avenues and
on, like all the rest, to Broadway.
THUS the city prepared itself to provide
and to witness the solemn ceremonies at
tendant on the burial of U. s. Grant. The
day is likely ever to be notable one in the
city's history. For the historian, the scene
at the tomb where the victors and the van
pushed in the war of the rebellion
clasped hands and mingled their tears
before the populace will seem most
important, and for all who had
any share in the days demonstration the
enormous number of persons who gathered
here to see the cortege and the burial will
seem as remarkable, though less imports
The procession by itself was beautiful,
respect There were only 81 900 Inen in line
and all of them were seen by the few who
gathered along the few blocks between
that point at which the last organization fell
into line and that other point at which the
majority quilted the line of march There
was one unique feature of the military dem
onstration. All who took part in it them
selves saw all the rest in line. bird's-eye
view revealing the method which brought
this about would have been interesting.
FORMING
When General Hancock, co .nman ding the
federal troops, marched up from the Battery,
and the last of the line had passed the mar
BILE hall in which the hero'S remains have
been lying in state, the immediate body
guard and escort with the funeral car passed
out of the City Hall Park and joined the reg
ular troops on Broadway. There, drawn up
along the east side of broadway, with guns
at present" or the equivalent of that posi-
ton with those who had no guns, were in
one line the militia, the veteran organZa-
tions and the Grand Army posts, which in
their turn and at the proper points wheeled
in behind the body they had reviewed;
lengthening it and going with it.
The sable curtained, veStibuie of the City
Hall at daybreak presented scene like
tableau OF a court OF death. The setting
was like that of stage closed behind, open
In front, and set with funeral canopy,
coffin and row upon row of rigid, almost
motionless guards in many uniforms. Moth
ing was wanting. vast assemblage out in
the park craned forward and stood on tptOe
to see the spectacle As the last of these
throngs about the hall dispersed the night
before, and the sounds from the streets grew
fainter. silence fell upon all the building.
Only now and then the sound of subdued
footsteps was heard in the corridors as the
closing of a distant door aroused faint
echoes from the dusty hooks of the old
building. The guards sat silently about the
casket 1t was their last nights vigil For
over two weeks the faithful Grand Army
men had not left the side of the coffin either
night or day.
When the cover of the casket had been Sc
curely fastened the pretty wreath of oak
leaves that General Grants grandchild. Julia,
and the little daughter of DR.. Douglas had
woven was the first floral Offering laid upon
the dead soldiers breast. 1t went with the
remains to their last abode, and, fast shut
out from air and light, will doubtless remain
as it was seen to day tor many and many a
year after the childish hands that twined it
have been Wondering in dust.
ASSEMBLING OF THE SOLDIERS
At half past eight O'Clock two companies
Of regulars marched to the slow music of the
David's Island Government Band into the
Enclosure before the City Hall. One compa-
ny Battery A, of the Fifth Artillery, the
mi al to n dyItyr
by the hero's body soon alter life quilted II
Both were commanded by Captain Beck.
The horses were tethered to the trees the
musicians flung themselves upon the grass,
the soldiers drew back from the asphalt I'M
der the shade of the trees and the officers err
empty space like players on a stage The
sunlight gilded the scene. and it will be
it. ting The rsnt red plumes among the trees
the coiored figures and cleaning instruments
on the grass the mettlesome horses, highly
caDariSoned, but with empty saddles, and the
blue and gray lines of policemen backed
against the dark mass of on lockers, were
rows of spectators on dizzy roof lines,
groups of men and woman on the broad cor
ed windows on all sides, even in the deserted
hotel, next above the Sun building, and to all
or Or when disn was added outside Of the picture,
ing up Broadway and the shrill strains of
6fers in the side streets.
GENERAL HANCOCK.
Presently there dashed into the center OF
Che open space the martial figure of Major.
General Winfield S. Hancock, on a big bay
horse and in full regimentals, with a buff
sash and Grape bound arm. Superintend-
ant Murray walked out from the City Hall
and the hero Of Gettysburg leaned from his
saddle to sac impresSively that the funeral
car must be on time, must start at ten
O'Clock. An old aid or two, who had pushed
on after the General like shadows chasing
him. received short commands in firm but
kindly tones, and dashed away leaving the
great stage to a cavalcade of mounted men
mainly in officers uniforms, with cooked
beavers and dove colored sashes, who moved
towards the General in "a crescent shapee
line.
- FITZHUGH LEE.
One among them, a big bearded, big bod
fed man. with twinkling eyes and a face thai
resolved into one great oval smile. rode ou
others and Crashed the