The Cecil Whig., 1885-08-01
THE BODY IN THE CASKET.
Harrison PrriormS His Last Service for His
Old Mastcr-t:cI. HancOck's Orders Re
lative to the Dbsauuies.

Harrison Pcrinrms His Last Service for His
| Old Master-t:ei.. IIancock's Orders Re
Iative to the Obsauuies.
At SIS on Thursday afternoon a
train of three cars pulled up to the
freight platform here. The car next
the engine was the observation car in
which the remains of General Grant
will be borne to Saratoga. From this
car stepped Undertaken Merritt, his
son and a representatives of the firm
that made the casket in which General
Grant is to be inferred. The casket
was then removed from the car and
placed upon light lumber wagon and
taken to the south steps of the cottage.
The casket, in its heavy oaken shipping
box, was carried up the steps into the
rear parlor Of the cottage, which is di-
vlded from the room in which the dead
general lies by heavy curtains. The
heavy nickel bound box was opened,
and the casket removed and borne into
the next room, where it was placed be-
side the remains. Undertakers Harrl-
gan, of Albany Sullivan, New York
and G.. +. Bcnnison, of Boston, the two
latter being the embalmers, then at
tended to the practical details of trans
fcrring the remains to the final reCep-
tacle. The New York undertakers,
Harrison (the generals servanD and
Henry (the nurse) were present. 1t
was found that the hardening p.ocess,
that results from embalming, had be-
gun, and the embalmers expressed the
belief, established by precedent, that
the body would remain in its present
condition without change for at least
six months.
Harrison was permitted to aid in the
final preparation Of the remains as far
as possible. \ suit of black broad
cloth is upon the remains, the coat be-
ing Prince Albert. \ white linen
standing collar circles the neck and a
black silk scarf is tied in a plain bow
at the throat. The tie was arranged by
Harrison, and he also adjusted pair
of low-cut, patent-leather slippers upon
the dead generals feet when they had
been incased in white stockings. The
act of trying the silk bows of the slip
pers was probably the last personal
service Harrison may do for his late
master. Gold studs are fixed in the
shirt front and plain gold buttons in
the cuffs. When the remains had been
finally attired and placed within the
Casket, the double breasted Prince Al
bert coat was buttoned closely from
top to bottom. The right hand was
folded across the breast and the left
was disposed in an easy position by the
side.
Colonel Fred Grant at this point en-
tered the apartment. He approached
the casket where it rested beneath the
black draped canopy, and, leaning
above it some moments, studied the
face of his father in silence. Then tax
ing in his own the right hand of the
general, Colonel Grant placed upon
the third finger a plain gold ring and
then replaced upon the breast the still,
thin hand. Before turning away the
colonel drew forth small packet of me-
mcntoes and placed them in the breast
pocket of the coat. Having performed
these direct personal offices, Colonel
Grant retired, and those in charge
dropped the heavy glass top of the
casket i'll place, and the casket was
sealed by the turning down of 60
screws that press the glass down into
its fittings, and which thus renders the
casket air-tight.
And SO that evening the generals re-
mains lay covered with an American
flag. An incandescent lamp sheds a
mellow light about the canopy, and
the flag covered casket beneath is in
shadow, and will so rest until the day
of removal In the room and beside
it the men Of the U. S. Grant Post
are on watch. The members of the
Wheeler Post have their vigil upon the
veranda, and outside are the REGULARS"
who tirelcss tramp the beaten paths
over the pine needles under the tees
about the cottage.
u. S. Grant, r., went down to Sara
tosa on the cars this afternoon. During
the journey there sat two seats away
from him voluble old gentlemen, who,
while the train was stopping at sta
ton, was heard saying to companion
that he knew that at the first of the
war General Grant said that he was not
at all in favor of mcddling with slavery.
The dead generals son distinctly heard
the conversation, but only bit his lips and
turned his face to the window. When
Undertaken Merritt's son, who was on
the train, heard the remark, he explained
matters in whisper to the person ut
tering it, and the latter became silent
and apologize in his manner.
FUNERAL PREPARATIONS.
General Hancock has issued the
following orders relative to the obse-
quies of General Grant:
Headquarters Department Of tie Atlotn-
tic, GOterhors Island, N. Y. ii July
29.-L No. l. Having been placed by the
President in charge of the ceremonies
connected with the funeral of cx-PreSi-
dent of the United States General U. S.
Grant, and in command of the escort for
the obscquies, military and civic organi-
cations intending to participate will upon
promptly reporting such intention, be
assigned position in the procession
which takes place in the City of New
York on Saturday, August the 9Th, prox-
imo
mo 2. Major-General John G. Farms
worth, Adjutant General of the State of
n. York, is announced as aide, and will az /
as chief marshal of the obsequies of Gen.
Grant at Albany in due concert with the
civic authorities, and is charged with all
details of the ceremonies and care of the
remains at that place as representative
of the ma jor, general commanding during
his absence and until his arrival, and is
also charged with the preparation of Or
ders to meet all contingencies there may
be between the reception and departure
of the remains.
No. 3 Brigader General Lloyd As
pinwall, late of the N. G., S. N. Y, is
announced as aide to the major general
commanding in chief during the funeral
of General Grant in the City of New