Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-02-23
WITH SILENT POMP
The Nations Dead Hero Is
Borne to the Tomb.
LAST H0N0Rs TO GEN. SHERMAN.
Thousands OF His Comrades Swell
the Splendid Pageantry
of Death.

His Countrymen of Every Walk in Life
Join the Throng That Follows Him to
His windowless Palace of Rest-An
Imposing Demonstration Fifty Ex-
presses the Nations Grief and Closes
the Record OF Country's Defender
Affecting Incidents of the Occasion
The BugIe's Final Requiem
ST. LOUIS, Mo-, Feb. 23.-The train
which bore the body of Gen. Sherman TO
this city arrived here at s:4s a. m Satur-
day. The last eight hours of the run were
marked by the same exhibitions of grief
given expression by the wayside as had
been the feature of the whole journey.
Terre Haute, Ind, was not reached until
a. m, but at that hour there were some
hundreds of veterans and citizens on the
station platform, minute gun thunder
ing its farewell to the old soldier. and
with uncovered heads the waiting crowd
passed through the funeral car \ long
wait took place here in order that the
train might get into St. Louis we'll after
sun-up. Then the iron horse was got in
motion again AMI plunged through tn"
darkness, drawing its precious freight TO
the place where it should be placed 10 the
bosom of mother earth.
Scenes in the Gray Dawn.
On across the rushing Wabash into the
wide prairies of Illinois went the train; on
past slumbering villages; on past farm
houses where the sleeping occupants
knew not that deaths latest great victim
was at their doors for an instant; on
through wood and field until overtaken
by the dawn, when the watcher by
the casket, who alone was awake
OF the passengers saw in the dim
light a gaunt figure start from
cabin by the roadsi de, hasten to the track
and present arms-an old army musket
The next instant there was a flash and a
report, and one of Sh ermans comrades
had done what he could to show his grief
at the nations bereavement Further
on, when the fastening dawn made OBJ
jects still more visible, figure on horse
back was deserted galloping toward the
railway line. On arriving he halted, and
as the train dashed by the SLOUGH hat came
off the grizzled head and the solitary
horseman remained uncovered until the
train had passed away and plunged into
the still present but vanishing gloom.
Arrival at st. Louis.
On and on, past towns where the citi-
gems were gathered on the platforms, I'M
covered, while the veterans formed in line
and presented arms; on like the wind went
the train, and at last the broad Mississippi
burst into view and the journey was nearly
over. short stop at East St Louis,
where two draped locomotives were
coupled to the train, and then as it was
suspended in mid-air on Eads' great tri-
umph, the four members of Ransom
post TOOK the places of those who had here
tofore guarded the casket and in a mo-
ment the tran was at its destination, the
station at ST. Louis, and those on board
witnessed sight that showed that his
old home would not be lacking honor to
the great military leader.
An Ocean of Humanity.
AS far as the eye could see in all direc-
tiOns surged an ocean of people. In silent
grief they looked at the car which bore
the revered dust, and waited for the mov-
ing of the last great pageant in which
the hero of the march to the sea would be
the central figure Meanwhile the differ
ent bodies of troops, veterans and citi-
zens were taking their places ready to
swing into line. The blare of the trumpet
and the tread of hosts sounded on all
sides. Twelfth street to Washington a We
nue. was black with people, the center of
the street being kept clear for the move
ment of the column. At l0:40 the casket,
covered by the flag its occupant loved so
well, was transferred from the funeral car
to a caisson, and proceeded to its place in
the line, and at 1l:20 Gen. Merritt, the
chief marshal, gave the order to move