The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-02-03
LAID IN THE SEPULCHER.
Remains Of the Late Secretary
Window Inferred in Rock
Creek Cemetery.
Tho National Capital Truly q City
Of Mourning for the Illus
trious Dead.
Three Department buildings Draped-
Floral Offorings-Serviccs Mt the
Church Of tho Covenant.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2.-The city was truly
in mourning to-day. The executive de.
partments and their branches we've closed
for all day and congress did not assemble
until two o'clock in the afternoon. Flags
on all public buildings were displayed at
half-mast, and also thoss of hotels and
business establishments throughout the
city. The large columns Of the four-front
treasury department wereSdraped in black.
These honors were paid to the late Score
tary Window, whose remains were commit
ted to their last resting place to-day. The
navy department. and the department Of
justice were also draped in mourning in
honor of ex-Secretary Bancroft and ex-At-
torney-G General Devens.
The streets in the vicinity of the church
where the last rites were performed were
crowded with men, women mi children.
who stood in respectful silence, many OF
them with barred heads, as the mournful
cortege passed. The funeral WAS simple in
character and without the least attempt at
display or ostentation. The only ssmblance
to military honors was the presence of six
teen members of the treasury branch of
the national guard of the district Of Column
bia, who acted as body bearers. and
marched beside the hearse. The civic fune-
raj was 30 large, however. as to be q strik-
ing evidence of the peoples love and esteem
for the dead statesman.
During the forenoon the cody of the dead
secretary lay in an open casket in the fami-
ly drawing room. The face of the deceased
wore a calm and peaceful expression. The
sombre black covering of the casket was
relieved by a profusion of beautiful white
flowers in various designs, the tributes
of loving friends. On the casket the only
decorations were crossed palm leaves and q
crepe of violets around the upper section
of the lid. The floral offerings were beau
tiful and numerous. The president and
Mrs. Harrison sent a large wreath of VIC
let's and lilies of the valley encircled by a
band of purple ribbon and crossed with. a
sheaf of wheat; Vice President and Mrs.
Morton sent a beautiful wreath of English
v~iolets, roses, lilies of the valley and aspar-
agus vine; Secretary and Mrs. Blaine sent
Easter lilies n palms; Fred. Bracket, white
roses and asparagus vines: Secretary of the
Navy Tracy. a cluster of brides roses and
plumes and asparagus vines; the Union
League club, of Minneapolis, Mimi, crosses
of roses and lilies of the valley, with a
wreath of violets; Secretary and Mrs. Rusk
sent a wreath OF azleas roses and lilies with
ferns; the governor of Minnesota and Mrs.
Merriam a bunch of Gala lilies; Mrs. Lewis
Washington and the Ladies' Mount Yer
non association a design eff palm leaves and
roses with lilies OF the valley; the officers
and employees of the registers office of the
treasury department a floral fac simile of
the treasury seal and a representation of
the scales and key.
The house was thrown open to the public
between eight and IL O'Clock, during which
there was a constant stream of people pass
ing through. At the latter hour the house
was closed to visitors and soon after brief
religious services were conducted by the
Rev. DR.. Hamlin, pastor of the C%hurchfbf
the Covenant. These services were private,
the only persons present being the mem
tives, the president, vice. president, and
members of the cabinet with their ladies.
The funeral services at the Church of the
Covenant began at II o'clock. While ex-
ceedingly simple, they were profoundly i'm
pressive. The attendance comprised all
their families, including the president and
cabinet, diplomatic corps, justices of the
supreme court and court of claims. sena-
tors, Representatives and officers Of
the army and navy. The Ohio So
ciety, of New York. was also represent
ed. There church was crowded and there
was an immense crowd surrounding it that
could not gain entrance. The church was
devoid of decoration, except that the beau
tiful floral presents previously mentioned
were tastefully arranged i'll front of the
pulpit platform and the pew formerly occu-''
fpleu by tne ueceaSeu was heavily Qraped In
mourning. 50 r.
The services consisted of singing by d
quartet and a number of prayers. DR..
Hamlin then reviewed the dead s~tatesman,s
life :portraying how, while following a farm
er's life WINDOWS ambition led him to
espouse the profession of law. He traced
WINDOWS course through the house and
senate, paying high euloeiums to his ability
as a senator and representative. At the
conclusion of the church services the re-
mains were conveyed to Rock Creek ceme-
terry and there inferred.
A company of old soldiers, from the Ma
tional Soldiers home, the grounds of
which adjoin the Rock Creek cemetery on
the east, had obtained permission to wit
ness the closing ceremonies, and, accom-
panied by Gen. Wilcox, governor of the
home, and other officers, they were drawn
up in double line at the entrance gate and
RS the long cortege passed and wound it's
way under the dark arch which the foliage
of overhanging evergreen trees that border
the principal avenue had made, the Home
band, which headed the column of veter-
ans. played Nearer, My God, to Thee.'
The grave was on the side of II gently-slop-
ing hill, a little to the west and north Of
the center of the grounds, and just at the
foot of a towering oak. The services at the
grave were impressive.