The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-11-23
FUNERAL OF GEN. ARTHUR.
An Impressive Affair, with an Entire
Absence Of 0StentatiOus Display.
4 Silent Procession to the Church and Simple
Seryice-The Remains Laid to Rest in
the Cemetery at Albany.

Allan Arthur, ex President of the United States,
has passed. The morning dawned brightly, and
the first rays Of the rising sun stole quietly into
the quiet avenue In front of his late residence.
The closed shutters of the house and the black
Grape at the door were the only signs at that
early hour that deaths sickle had been busy
within. In the house the family and friends of
the ex President were waiting in subdued grief
for the hour when the remains of the loved
father and friend were to be taken from their
midst forever. Hundreds of sorrowing people
began to gather at an early hour, anxious to tes-
tify by their presence the respect they bore to
their fellow-citizen and former chief magistrate.
Shortly after o'clock Police Inspector Steers,
with Captain Ryan and 125 police,
silently marched into Lexington avenue,
followed by Captain Garland and a
picked body of thirty men from the Broadway
squad. The police were posted along the avenue
with directions to allow no vehicles to pass by
the house. No people were allowed on the east
side of the avenue from Twenty eighth to
Twenty ninth streets, except those who had
tickets of admission to the house. Carriages be-
gan to arrive from every direction, and soon the
side streets were filled with them. By s o'clock
vast throng, numbering many thousands of
people, had gathered on the opposite side of the
avenue, extending for block or more in every
direction. The crowd was kept back by the po-
lice. On every face there was deep expression
of sorrow, and people spoke only in low tones.
Presiden: Cleveland and Postmaster general
Villas arrived in carriage direct from the train
at 820 and entered the house OF mourning.
Many people uncovered their heads when the
President stepped out of his carriage. Shortly
after. Governor Hill and Judge VIM. Muller ar
rived and also entered the house. They were
followed by the Senate committee. By this
time there was mighty thrQng of people on the
avenue, and the windows of every house were
filed with sad faces
There was no service at the house. The few
friends present looked upon the face of the
dead early in the morning. and the casket was
closed for the last time. The mourners waited
in silent grief for the last moment. At $50 the
black casket, covered with palmetto leaves
volets and wreath of white roses was lifted by
the undertakers, and borne from the room. The
silent form of Chester A. Arthur passed through
the door of his earthly tenement for the last
draped hearse AS the casket came in view of
the people in the street, every head was bowed
reverently, and many eyes filled with tears in
the throng thus hushsd in the presence of death.
There was no display of pomp or ceremony,
no military music or procession but the mighty
throng of sorrowing people bore witness to their
love and respect for the deceased statesman.
Next came out OF the residence Chester Allan
Arthur, jr., the son of the eX- President. Lean
ing on his arm, clad in garments of mourning,
was his sister, Miss Nellie Arthur They passed
quietly to their carriage, accompanied by Mr.
and Mrs. McEroy. Then came Mrs. Caws Mrs
Haynesworth, and Miss Arthur, the sister of the
ex President. Postmaster Masten and his WIRE
of Cohoes, n. Y, with their son and daughter;
President Cleveland, Postmaster general Villas
Martin Mcmahon and John H. Draper; Score
taries Bayard, Whitney and Lamar; the pail
bearers-ex Postmaster general Gresham, ex-
Secretaries Lincoln and Chandler. ex-As-
sistant Postmaster general Hatton, ex-At
torney general Brewster, Lieutenant general
Sheridan, Dr. Cornelius r. Agnew, Cornelius n
Bliss Robert g. Dun Gen. George III. Sharp,
Charles L. Tiffany and Cornelius Vanderbilt;
Chief-justce Waite and Justices Harlan and
Blatchford; Senators Edmunds, Sherman, Lo-
gan, Evarts, Hawley Morrill,, Vest and German;
General Stone and Governor Hill. The mourn
ers filled twenty five carriages, but over one
hundred carriages filled with friends who had
been unable to gain admission to the house,
followed the procession to the church. The
procession passed between long lines of police
through Lexington avenue to Thirty fourth
street. TO Madison avenue, to Forty
street, to Fifth avenue, arriving at the church,
corner of Forty fifth street and Fifth avenue, at
$50 A. NJ. The carriages passed noiselessly by
the lines or artillerymen and the marines forme
in line, and the mourners alighted near the
church. Along the street were long lines of
people who waited in respectful silence while
the funeral train passed.
The exterior of the church was elaborately
decorated. The portico over the entrance and
the massive pillars supporting it were covered
with heavy black CLOTH draped in festoous hiding
the stone entirely from view. A Grape -covered
national flag hung in artistic folds over the door,
caught up by rosettes and small brass eagle
The walls of the vestibule were covered with
black cloth, arranged in plated folds over which
hung the national colors covered with Grape
The decorations of the interior were very simple
and tasteful. The first six pews on each side of
the cen,er aisle were reserved for the family and
pail bearers They were covered with Grape.
The interior of the chance was cushioned with
black cloth, with the exception of the
altar and reredos. On the altar proper resting
each side of the cross, were the lighted candles.
Below was placed the purple altar cross ard
black drapings The outer chancel, organ-loft
stalls lectern and pulpit were draped with
black CLOTH The baptismal font, on the right
side of the church in front of the stalls, was
filed with lilies, white chrysanthemums and
eerns. In the center was placed small palm
tree, the branches of which dropped gracefully
thu flowers. The sides of tho font were
covered with black cloth. over which hung long
strings Cf smilax and maidens- hair ferns From
the front of the gallery in the rear Of the church
hung festoons of black cloth.
The hour set for the funeral was o'clock hut
at Z o'clock large number of people gathered
in front of the church At that time several
workmen were engaged in putting the finishing
touches on the drapery, and placing labels in the
pews designating where each organization would
be stationed. a few minutes before O'Clock
the doors were opened and those without were
admitted. The ushers were stationed at the
doors and showed the people to their seats The
ushers were Major G. d. Fassett. John H.
Draper, Gen. Martin IT. Mcmahon, Gen. Henry
A. Barnum, Gen. Arson G. McCook and Rastus
S. Ransom. The church has a seating capacity