The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-01-10
HARRIsoN'S FUNERAL.

Ben Perley Poore, in Exchange.l
 President Harrison's gallant horseman- ship, and the clear tones of his trumpet voice on the day of his inauguration, gave assurances that he possessed health and strength equal to the arduous duties which lay before him. But the wild hunt after office, and the jealous wrangling among the leaders of those who had so triumphatly elected him, soon visibly af- fected him. Some three weeks after he occupied the White House he was over taken by spring shower while taking his early morning walk, and the follow ing day he felt indisposed. Pneumonia followed, baff ing all medical skill, and although he was much better on Satur- day, April }. an unfavorable change took place, and he passed over the dark river just after midnight on April 4, just one month after his inauguration. The last time that he spoke was about three hours before he expired, when he cleared his throat, and, as though he fancied himself addressing bis successor, he said:
 " Sir, l wish you to understand the true principles of the government. wish them carried out. ask nothing more."
 Secretary Webster immediately sent his son, Fletcher Webster, then a clerk in the department of state, to notify Vice. President Tyler, who was at his residence at Williamsburg, Va. He at once left for Washington, and arriving on the 9th of March, took lodgings at Browns hotel. The heads of departments waited upon him that day at noon, and in their presence he took and subscribed the oath of office.
 On Wednesday the remains of Presi- dent Harrison were inferred with great pomp and sincere demonstration of pri- vate sorrow. Minute guns were fired from sunrise to sunset from the navy yard, and the buildings on each side of the entire length of Pennsylvania avenue, with scarcely an exception, and many houses on the contiguous streets were hung with festoons and streamers of black, not only about the signs and en- frances, but in many cases from all the upper stories. Almost every private dwelling had crape upon the knocker and bell-handle of its door, and many of the very humblest abodes hung out some spontaneous signal of the general sorrow. The stores and places of business, even such as were too frequently seen open on the Sabbath, were all closed.
 The military escort was larger than that which short month previous had attracted so much attention at the inaug- uration. One of the most impressive features was the dismounted and mounted officers of the army, navy, militia and volunteers. Seldom has there been ex- hibited within space so limited so many distinguished men, the sight of whose well-known figures led back our thoughts to many bloody field and many an en- sanguined sea, on which the national honor had been well and nobly main tained. The civic part of the procession was not less striking than the military. It embraced the civil and municipal of- hcials, congress, with John Quincy Adams among the representatives, the temper ance organizations, schools and fire com panies of the district.
 The funeral car was of large dimen- sions, in form an oblong platform. on which was a raised dais. the whole GOV cred with black velvet. From the cornice of the platform fell black velvet curtain outside the wheels to within a few inches of the ground. From the corners of the car black crape festoon was formed on all sides, looped in the centre by funeral wreath. On the coffin lay the sword of justice and the sword of state, surmounted by the scroll of the constitu- tion. bound together by funeral wreath formed of the yew and the cypress. The car was drawn by six white horses, hav- ing at the head of each a colored groom. dressed in white, with white turban and sash, and supported by pall-bearers in black. The effect was very fine. The contrast of this slowly-moving body of white and black, so opposite to the strong colors of the military around it, struck the eye even from the greatest distance. and gave a chilling warning beforehand that the corpse was drawing nigh.
 The entire procession occupied two full miles in length, and was marshalled on its way by officers on horseback carry. ing white batons with black tassels. The utmost order prevailed throughout, and, considering the very great concourse of people collected, the silence preserved during the whole course of the march was very impressive.
 When the right of the procession had reached the Congressional cemetery the military halted, and, wheeling into line, presented arms as the funeral car passed by. At the entrance to the cemetery the coffin was taken from the car and placed on the shoulders of the bearers, who car ried it to the receiving vault, preceded by the Rev. Mir. Hawley, reciting the solemn funeral service of the Episcopal Liturgy. The procession advanced down the pr;n- cioal avenue of the cemetery until it reached the receiving vault, where space had been kept open by sentries under arms. and where, a hollow square being formed, the coffin was lowered into the vault. A signal being given to the troops oatside, the battalion of light artillery, who were placed on an adjoin- ing eminence, fired a salute, which was immediately followed by the several military bodies in line, who commenced firing from the left to the right, and con- tinued the salute till it had thrice gone up the whole line. The procession then