New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-08-11
SHERIDAN LYING IN STATE.
IMPRESSIVE SCENES IN THE CHURCH
THOUSANDS LOOK UPON TIE FLAG.wRAPPED
COFFIN OF THE DEAD SOLDIER
IN ST MATTHEW'S.
Inr TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUNE. j

IpY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUSE'J
washInpton Aug 1o.-Up the aiscs OF ST. MAI |
thew's Church, in long, unendIng human s'rea"S'
men. women and children with serious faces and un,
covered boads have been surglng all day and until
late I'm the night about the coffin Of the dead ncro
The scant light through the stained glass wi'uo"s
and the Pickering lgh; OF dozen wax tapcrs o''
dimly outline the about the altar, whe sN"e
added sombrcncss to the heavy drapngs OF crap
that hang from ceiling, balcony and pillar. Imiic
atcly before the altar on high, successive pcdoS'a,''
forming a graceful apex, rests the coffin TO inc
left with white gIovcd hands folded across his breast.
stands an areryman in full uniform, win Ms
short sabre swinging at his belt, keeping silent guau
over his silent charge. On either sue oi 'no '"
falaue slender marble tables support tall candeaora
which burn dimly the candies appointed Dy 'hc 'a'"o
lie Church for such occasions. Al thc corho's ~ 'r
further back arc other candcabra unleh'cu' VIZ
tapcrs waiting for the final mass Of tomorrow ru
tber hack the red throne erected for the Carulnai
and pair OF drapcd flags lend background Vi '"e"
color TO the dark decoration Of the chahccI.
over tho coffin is thrown loosely, in sashlkc ious'
a heavy silk flag, the red and white STRIPES '" 'n
gracefully on one side, and the blue giounu ,
roId stars dropping on the other. Buried IN 'hc so'
folds on top is the dead Generals saDrc' VII" ''
names of al his battles and their da.cs cns'"se s
along the scabbard The sash, Of yellow SILK anu
gold thread is folded across the top, ana ule n'''
cold tasscls fall on side. The chapeau' Win y"
nlumo of black Is there too, not looklnB hc" ""'
unused. but showing the marks OF service inc "e"
cral had given them. At the head OF inc 'o"'
oro approachcs tho altar tall hagstaf ;ises Hlsh
bovc hearing the identical corps flag which sheridan
had need at the close of the war. This was INC
ori1amme Of red with a white star on one sice anu
a white ground with a red star on inc o'hcr' ''"
had led the way into many bloody fights ana many
brilliant victory II IS not an established NAB o"'
the colors are OF such design and pattern as he oo
mandcr of corps may choose as his disunsu'Sn'"e
mark Two other o.d flags. of designs now forgotten
and out Of service, are back Of the comm. one is
tbc bIue cavalry cudon carried by Shcrdans troops
I'm some Of his earlier cavalry raids. Now the gu'uon
Is Of yellow. not blue and of a different paoerh'
The other flag has also associations OF the nero carry
battles. .
As the long line Of spectators passed up 10 ana aou'
the coffin, they saw colorcd mar, beyond Hlu"o
age sitting on a stop OF the altar. The ohcer III
charge calls the colorcd man Richard lie IS 'ho
Richard who for over twenty years had been inc
f,rbful body-scrvant of General Sheridan. lie han
been tho Generals attendant In health, was win MIN
in that last desperate struggle against death ana was
now sti on duty beside the coffin Of his benciactor
and muchovcd master
From the time the body arrived here the conih mas
remained closed Early this morning. after tho
solemn requiem mass had been celebrated The artlerS
men on duty got orders keep back the line OF spec
tgtors. The church was to be cleared so that tho
widow might be left alone with her husband. enc
came heavily yelled Supported on the arm OF hcr
father, General Rucker Tho crowd fell back' 'nei
the attendants followed and finally the relatives
un all were outside and the big doors swung to- shut
ting I'm the afflicted widow For the first time since
It's arrival the I'D removed. revealing the lines oi
the Generals face row in peaceful repose. This com
munlon Of widow and dead husband lasted for some
time until the attendants stole in and lifted the gricv
ing woman from her knees, she bent over the STILL
white face Of the dead. Again this afternoon the Id
was lifted and brother Of the General who has Just
arrived from the West took final look at the soldiers
face Then It was sealed The passing line Of men
and women saw only the black coffin with the ld se''
It IS Mrs Shcrdans wish that It should not be re-
moved for general Inspection
troops, almost literally speaking The spot selected
for LIS grave is In front OF me o,her gIavS' "nnc
back Of IT stand long liEcs OF white heal stones,
line after line, column after column, Hike regiments
and brigades at rest vast silent armynlGS4o0 G IN
high flag staff marking the place as military
buIying ground. and as one stands beside thc soldier
| heard. Near by in iron frame, Is THIS selection,
from O'Hara's beautiful poem
On rhST ta%es !, eternal n camping pinGc15 ground
And glory guards with solemn round,
| The bivouac Of the dead.
Tho funeral services begin al 10 o'clock tomorrow
morning with solemn high mass at s.; Matthew 5
! members of The Cabinet and their families will at
tend. \ large armchair with knccing stool before
! II will be placed Immediately alongside the colin
| for Mrs. Shcrdaus The President and Cabinet
VIII he on the other side Of the coffin I'm specially
designated seats, while the body Of the church Will
accommodate thousand specially invited persons,
including leading officials the judiciary and citizens
Light batteries from Fortress Monroe and Fort
| McHcnry lave been arriving through the day, and
the military funeral will be an Imposing one. The
| body will again be borne artillery casson,
followed BY the Generals horse, saddcd and brdled
With the empty boots having their toes turned 10
the rear Richard. the faithful servant, Will lead
the horse and follow tho coffin till the grave closes
| over It.
General George Crook, General TompkIns, and
| Governor J. NJ. Rusk. OF Wisconsin, and seven mem
bcrs of his staff arrived here this evening to attend
| The funeral
| REVERING THE DEAD SOLDIERS MEMORY.
While cruising about of Sandy Hook on the Sam
Sloan on Thursday awaiting the arrival Of tho city
OF Ncw-York 10 welcome Mr.. Blaine, resolutions of
respect TO the memory Of General Sheridan and OF
coincidence with his widow drawn up and adopted
by the following wcll-known men, voclng the sent
mcnt OF all on board John L. Plummer, T.. p
Bartlett Joseph Pool. W. ii. Williams. a. H. whitney
A. W. Tcnny. Murat Halsteed. william Walter Phelps
W. III. H. Miller George r. Edgar W. W. Johnson