The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1888-08-16
snERIDAN's FUNERAL.
IN Compliance With his Request the Last Rite
Werc UnOStentatiOuS

snER1DAN's FUNERAL.
IN Compliance With his Request the Last Rite,
We're transformations.
The funeral of Gen. Sheridan took place al
Washington. The sentry had paced up and
down in front OF the catafalque and the
dimly lighted church all night; the guard o.
honor Of the Loyal Legion had been sitting
in the front pew ut his side. When the light
of the early morning drove the dark shadows
from the chance and revealed the som
about the church the freouenters o.
early mass came, and with them great
number of working people to take one look
at the casket for the last time. Twice only
had the casket been Opcned-oncc to permit
the brother John, who had just arrived from
the plains, to see the remains for the first
and last time; again to permit Mrs. Sheridan
10 have one more look at the soldiers face
and then all withdrew
After early mass the church was closed FOL
time, and when it was reopened those pro
vided with tickets began to arrive.
The invitations had requested that those
who held the cards should be in their seats 8
little before TO-, and the suggestion of the
military officers was command. None dis
Cleveland and Secretary Eaynard. They
came after the family had entered TIL,
dressed in black, and the arm,
and navy officers were in full uniform
The congregation, of persons of mixed re
hgious belief, or none, was not very familiar
with the ceremonial Of thu: Cat hole high mass
And some reared in Cuiv;nstic faith mad,
poor work Oft when thcy undertook to par
ticipute. The Incense burning, the jingle o
BELLS the genuflectiOns, the clapping of thu
master of ceremonies, the intonatons of the
Dominican priests were the features of a re
ligiOus ceremony which were new to many
who were present, and the religious attitudes
which some OF them attempted were not
characterized by military precision A few
minutes before 10 O'Clock, US the mufflcd
voices of the officers in command of the
troops forming outside could be heard
through the open windows, the altar boys
lighted the high candles about the altar, and
the low strains Of funeral music from the or
gan mingled with the chanting of the priests.
procession of sanctuary boys issued from
the sacristy, the clergy entered in solemn
procession. a chorus Of Dominican priests be-
gan the information of the "Misercre'' and the
waiting notes of the dirge music broke forth
from the organs rs the cardinal in his red
robe of office knelt before the altar and as
cended the cardinals throne The mass
ended and the cardinal delivered an address.
After the sermon, the ceremony of absolu-
ton was begun. The cardinal was nrrayed
by his assistants in a black cap decorated
with gold. On his head was u tall white hat.
Thus, preceded by tho altar boys and the
clergy, he left the place at the altar and pro-
ceetlcd to the caskct OF the dead. The car
dinal knelt, the choir of Dominicans chanted
sprinkled the casket with holy water and in.
censed it with burning incense and pronounced
the abso'ution. The cardinal re.
turned to his throne, tho Dominicans
chanted ''Benedctus," the priests, as they
finished their parts, silently disappeared into
the sacristy, and the high requiem mass was
at an end. While the services were in progress
the caisson was placed in a position to re-.
ceive the casket, and the generals horse was
led to a place Immediately behind. The
horse is n dark bay and was bought by gen.
eral Sheridan in Chicag, about four years
ago. 1t was bridled ard saddled just as when
last ridden by the general. The generals
toes pointing backwards The animal was
led by II tall sergeant in full uniform.
In accordance with the wishes Of Mrs
Sheridan the funeral was a strictly military
affair, and the escort was formed precisely
ar prescribed by the army regulations for an
officer of the rank of the deceased. just be-
fore the close of tho services Gen. SchOfield
and bis aides arranged themselves in front Of
the troops and prepared to receive the funeral
party. The clanking of .abers and
the steady tramp of artillery ser
geants coming up the aisle succeed
eli the final notes of the "Bene
dictus," and the strong arms OF the sergcants
bore the casket to the caisson at tho door
Then the long hot march to Arlington com
on u splendid horse, gave the word OF
command. That word was echoed down tho
line. The bugle sounded and the procession
moved Two score of mounted police
reached Arlington half an hour before the
procession. and proceeded at once to clear the
space about the grave. Not only was
sitting room cleared for tho family
md official EOurners, but sew
eral acres were vacated, SO that the hundreds
of worthy citiz ems were unable to get even q
glimpse of the ceremony of the interment
This was needless, and could serve no othe,
purpose than to permit some ono clothed in
brief authority to exercise his power A
young staff officer gave the order. 1T ex
clude1 from the line a man who had made
who recounted from behind the sacred
boundary experiences he had had in the bat.
Ties of his country years before the gilded
young lieutenant was born. The earth had
been removed twenty feet from the grave
and placed under an adjacent tulip tree, and
the sward carefully cleaned that there were
no traces Of earth upon it. The grave itself
WIG Ill ltIJ II SOluNA - was ciiulJ
an excavation in the earth There was no
brickwork and no cementing or sheathing-
nothing to keep the earth or water from clos
ing in about the casket. The man in charge
said that that was Sileridan's wish He de
sired to be buried rs q soldier. a more up
Sropriate spot could not have been selected
Tor he grave OF the general of tho army
Philip :S!heridnn living was always at thu
head of his army; Phil Sheridan dead also al
the head of his army, but 1t ia vast silen1
army-lG, AGO STRONG: Their graves lilo be:
hind him, marked BY long lines OF white lieat
like regiments and brigades 1T rest In Thu
enclosure there are 100 acres, and room, i
is estimated, for 10000 graves, and every
soldier of the army or old soldier Of the wa
who desires, has the right Of sepuiture there