Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-02-15
GENERAL HANCOCK,S FUNERAL.
A Rainy, Dismal Day in New YOrk-The
Simple Exercises IN Trinity Church
Final VOIley at the Tolnb in Norristown

New YORK, Feb. 13.
The military colony at Governors Island
was astir at an early hour this morning pre-
pairing to participate in the last funeral rites
over the remains of their late chief driz-
zling rain fell and a heavy fog hung like a
pail over the sea and land.
Last evening everybody on the island was
allowed to enter the parlors in which the re-
mains OF General Hancock lay, and take a
last farewell look at the face of their dead
commander. Then the coffin was closed.
Between and o'clock this morning, the
guard of honor detailed by Major Jackson
drew up in front of the late generals man
sion. Then came detachment OF 200
soldiers from the several forts, and drew up
behind them.
In the meantime Mrs. Hancock took final
farewell of her husbands remains. She was
greatly affected. The coffin lid was then put
in its place, and a laurel wreath from the
military order of the Loyal Legion was laid
upon it. The coffin was taken from the
house by six soldiers upon a black cloth
covered bier. The detachment of troops
drawn up outside then moved down the path
to the Chester A. Arthur, which received the
party. The mourners were Lieutenant and
Mrs. Griffin, Mr.. and Mrs. Merriam, Mr.. and
Mrs. Bouvier, Colonel Russell and wife, and
Mrs. w F. Ludlow. Mrs. Hancock on the
advice of her friends, did not leave her home.
The body was placed i'll the caba of the
Arthur.
The barge Office dock was reached at 9l5
O'Clock. At an early hour people had began
gathering on the streets through which the
procession would pass, but the rain evidently
had an effect, and the crowd grew slowly,
while all who could find shelter sought such
enclosures as door.ways and awnings. At
half past nine o'clock the coffin was placed IN
the hearse by the eight soldiers. The hearse
was drawn by four horses. Four companies
of the 9TH artillery preceded the coffin, and
were drawn up in line on the street while the
pail bearers stood with uncovered heads.
As the coffin passed, with a flag wrapped
around it, the troops broke into a column of
companies, and the pail bearers entered the
carriages and followed them. After the
hearse came, long line of carriages with
the family and friends, and representative 5
from the New York Commandery of the
Loyal Legion, the Society of the Army of the
Potomac, Phil Kearney Post No. s, George
Washington Post and Winfield Scott Han
| cock Post, just organized, all under command
of Gen. Lloyd Aspinwall.
| The crowd by this time had enormously
| increased aud along State street and up
| Broadway the people stood in places seven OF
| eight deep. Many held umbrellas aud this
added to the crush as the multitude surged
by with the funeral cortege. The : route had
been changed and the funeral column passed
through the lower part of Whitehall street
passing to the west of Bowling Green, and
thence up Broadway to the church.
Itwas O'Clock when Trinity church wa:
reached. The pail bearers, who followed
the remains into the church, were Hon
Thomas F. Bayard, Gen. W. T. Sherman
Lieut. Gen. P. II. Sheridan, Maj. Gen. j. NJ
Schofield, Gen. W. B. Franklin, Gen. W. B
Smith, Brig. Gems. James B. Frye, A. H
Terry, N. A. Files, ]. Newton, o. B. Viii