Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-06
THE TRACY OBSEouIEs.

/
A Solemn Scene in the ParIors of the White
HOuse-The secretnry Not In n Condition
TO Go 20 the Cemetery.
| THE beautiful, historic East Room Of the Ex-
ecutive Manson. the scene of SO many
varied spectacles of brilliant social gayety, was
to-day devoted to the sadly-contrasted and SOL
emnlyimpressive purpose of a funeral. Very
seldom has any similar scene been witnessed at
the White House, and never since 1855 when
the remains of the lamented Lincoln reposed
amid the same surroundings. The services
over the remains of the wife and daughter Of
the Secretary of the Navy were appointed for
II o'clock, but long before that hour the East
Room was crowded with people, desirous of
paving the last tribute to their departed
friends. 1t was a most distinguished gather
ing and included large number of the promi-
nent people in Washington. Arrangements
had been made for seating $50 persons, but over
500 managed to gam an entrance. All the door
ways leading to the East Room were also
thronged with people, and it is estimated that
there were nearly 1000 persons in and aboutthe
house.
a s far as possible admission was confined to
the personal and official friends of Secre-
tary Tracy and his family, and consequently
very few strangers were present. great
crowd gathered outside however, and watched
the carriages as they drove into the grounds.
1t was found necessary to station policemen at
the gates to keep out the crowd. The caskets
containing the dead were placed side Sy side
under the central chandelier and directly oppo-
site the main corridor. They were distinguish
able only by the greater size of the one contain
ing the body of Mrs. Tracy. A large sage palm.
with graceful spreading branches, was placed
between them at the foot The somber drap-
ings of the caskets were almost entirely con-
cealed by beautiful designs of embIematic
flowers white roses, camellias, hyacinths, lilies
of the valley, etc. Garlands and wreaths were
also banked against the sides Of each casket.
These floral tributes were sent by Secretary
and Mrs. Blaine, the German Minister. Senator
Stanford, Senator Hale, Vice President and
Mrs. Morton, Secretary and Mrs. Window. Mr..
James c. Bergen, Mr.. John R. McCue, Admiral
Porter, Mrs. John Lee Carroll, Mrs. II. q.
White, the British Minister, Representative
Hit, Judge Bancroft Davis, Paymaster Gen.
eral Fulton, U. 8. N, Representative Lodge
and Mr.. Henry W. Raymond. One particularly
beautiful wreath was placed on Miss Tra6y's
casket by her young friends, Misses Proctor,
Miller, Wanamaker, Rusk and the Misses Win
dom.
THE seats were arranged on threee sides of
square, the open space being used for the
entrance OF the mourners and the Presidential
party, who were assigned seats fronting the
caskets. The Vice President and Mrs. Morton,
who were among the earliest arrivals, were
seated opposite. Near by were seated the
British Minister and family the German Min
lister, the Chinese and Corean Legations. the
Brazilian Minister and many other men,
bers Of the Diplomatic Corps. Army and naval
officers were present in great numbers and
nearly all were in full uniform Shortly before
IL o'clock, the Schubert Quartet stationed just
within the entrance to the East Room from the
main corridor, sang the hymn. 81 Cannot Al
ways Trace the Way" The members of the
Cabinet, with the exception of Secretary
Blaine, acting as pail bearers, soon after entered
and took seats at the right of the caskets.
They were soon followed by the funeral pro-
cession, Secretary Tracy and his son Frank
walking arm in arm at the head. They were
followed by General s. Catlin. Mr.. A. B. Cat
lin, Mr.. Robert Graves and daughter and other
relatives. short space behind them came
President and Mrs. Harrison, Mr.. and Mrs.
McKee, Secretary and Mrs. Blaine, Rev. DR..
Scott the Presidents father-in-law; Mr.. H. B.
Raymond and Lieutenant Mason and Mr.. E H
Halford.
A soon as the Presidential party were seated
the choir of st. Johns Episcopal Church.
consisting of 16 white-surpliced boys and four
men, under the direction of Air. William H
Daniel. the precentor, entered the main corridor
length, with slow and measured step, sang the
hymn LEAD, Kindly Light" Rev. DR.. George
William Douglass, rector Of st. Johns Protest
ant Episcopal Church, and Rev. George Elliott
pastor of the Foundry Methodist Episcopal
Church, entered at the rear of the choir and
took their places near the caskets. DR., Doug
lass Immediately began the Episcopal burial
service II am the Resurrection and the Life"
At its conclusion the choir sung the hymn,
Jesus, Lover of my Soul" The Scripture
lesson was read by Mr.. Elliot It began at the
twentieth verse of the fifteenth chapter of First
Corinthians, But now is Christ risen from the
dead and become the first fruits of them that
slept For since by man came death, bv man
came also the resurrection of the dead" The
choir then sang, Rock Of Ages. Cleft for Me-"
A prayer, read by DR.. Douglass concluded the
services. The President, with Secretary Tracy
on his arm, first passed out of the room, and
next to them came Mr.. Frank Tracy. the son,
who was so overcome with grief that he had to
be supported by two of the ushers. Following
the procession came the choir singing as re-
cessional hymn, abide with me, fast falls the
eventide; the darkness deepens, Lord with me
abide"
c CECRETARY TRACY did not go to the ceme-
terry, as it was feared the task might prove
too much for his strength. The President oc-
cupied a carriage with Mr.. Frank Tracy. A
long line of carriages, containing nearly all Of
those who attended the services at the White
House, followed the remains to the cemetery
The procession moved all the way to the ceme-
terry in double line. As it entered the gate
and drove slowly along the drives over
shadowed with hanging pine branches there
were crowds of spectators on either side OF the
road. The course was directly toward the
public vault, and here the long line halted as
the two hearses stopped before the open vault
The sailors stepped forward at the word from
their commanding officer, and took the two
caskets forth and laid them carefully down
upon stands placed beside the door of the vault.
Mr.. Frank Tracy leaning on the arm OF the
President, stood beside the body of his sister.
He was deeply moved. Mrs. Harrison stood |
directly behind them, and in the small circle |
that stood near were several relatives and |
friends of the family. Secretaries Window,
Noble and Rusk also left their carriages to join
the group, but almost everyone else remained |
seated in their carriages while the services,
which we're very brief, were in progress. After |
the services for the dead had been read the |
bodies were laid away in the vault which was |
almost filled with flowers.