The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-11-27
OBSEQUIES OF GOV. HOVEY
Mt. Vernon Thronged by a Vast Crowd
Anxious to Pay Respect to the Dead.
The Grand Army, the Militia and the State
Service Numerously Representative
preciative Tribute of Governor Chase.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.

special TO the Indianapolis Journal.
MOUNT VERNON, Ind. Nov. 2G.-Never
before has Mount Vernon experienced such
a sorrowful THANKSGIVING. Around the
public square,. IN the center of which
stands the old -fashioned brick courthouse,
gathered thousands all day long, blocking
the way. The courtyard was given
mp to the troops from Indianap-
oils. who arrived on the funeral
train last night. and whose numbers were
swelled to-day by Companies B. NJ. A. X
and E.. of the First Regiment, from Terre
Haute, Sullivan. Vincennes, Princeton and
Evansville. respectively. Great festoons of
mourning hung from the outside
of the dome of the courthouse.
while the windows, the entrance
and corridors were fairly swathed
in black. A large wreath of crepe, with
fluttering streamers. attached to the door
of a little one-story frame building across
courtyard called the attention OF
the army OF G. A. r. strangers in
the town to the old law Office
of the Governor. The business blocks on
three sides of the squar were profusely
decorated with black and white hunting,
and far down the four streets leading to
the public square q mass of flying stream
ers of the same goods caught the eye. A
special guard standing on either side of tho
door of q two-story residence opposite
the northeast corner of the courtyard in
dictated the old home of Governor HOvey.
There the remains had been taken last
NIGHT onG from fhara 0f y n,Nlnnk rhIa
morning. were borne over to the court
house. The floral offerings that covered
the bier as 1t stood In the state
house at Indianapolis were arranged about
the catafalque in the center of the main
corridor. whore the casket was placed.
From that hour until noon the dead sol
dlers friends and %neighbOrs were permitted
to pass through and gaze on the face Of
him who had done so much to honor their
little city. At IL o'clock the body
was taken back to the residence for the
Governors family to take q last look at the
father and grandfather.
To accommodate the vast crowd that de-
sired to hear the funeral grafton of Gov.
Chase, it was decided to hold the
services in the courthouse. Accordingly
at 1 o'clock the courtroom doors were
opened and all the available space of the
interior was soon crowded. Even then but
q slight portion could enter. From the
courtroom windows 1t was seen that the
A0 " 800
people with faces uDturned to the place
where the strains of the solemn chant
fiOated out to them.
GOVERNOR CHASE's sERMON.
At 1:S0 the Governors staff. Governor
Chase. ex-Governors Porter and Gray, Col.
]. n. Walker. Acknowledgement Ruckle and
the State officers met at the Governors res
idence and marched TO the courthouse.
Front seats had been reserved for the fam
lily and State officers. The religious service
was conducted by the Revs. Kemp. Black
burn and Dodge, of the Methodist. Baptist
by the Methodist Church choir Governor
Chase arose and spoke substantially as
follows:
1t is scarcely twenty-four hours since 1 was
asked to perform this service. 1t was not in my
the citizens or this State, as well as to myself.
II there be o time when one should be In pos
session of his best faculties 1T is in a supreme
moment like this in which We lind ourselves
to-day. There needs no apology for paying q
tribute to the memory of him to whom we are
paying the last respect. With these sorrowing
ones we stand side by side to manifest our SYM
patty. our hearts heating with their hearts. our
tears flowing with their tears; L have stood by
the the graves OF all my dead, and know
"If a man die shall he live aeainl'
That question has been glOriously answered in
the scripture TcdQ 10 YOU Inc trumpet mas
sounded that the dead shall be raised Incorrupt-
ible. Nature answers the question for us: 1.-The
grain that is sown shall furnish n harvest" Phi
losophy ia 10 consolation. Man has no need of it
unless he mas lost his way. l am here TO speak q
word for him with whom 1 had long been in con-
tact. There was no doubt in the mind OF the
illustrious deceased concerning the destiny
OF the human soul. He has grasped
my hand repeatedly and babe me GOdspeed
on my missions, and often and often
assured me or his faith in the eternal destiny.
His bpll1f NAV NOT have hpQn 0Qfpad- huf in hla
well-balanced mind there Yves no sign of Quib-
bling doubts. Few who have Tiled positions ON
the Idea of justice TO entertain n lingering doubt
OF tho eternal veritles. When John Quincy
Adams died his last words were. II am content"
Andrew Jackson was likewise sustained in his
last moments by q firm conviction in his souls
destiny. The hero whom we assemble to honor,
as Judge Pritchard. now ninely-six years old.
From the days Of the old brick-yard on up
through his career the truth of this estimate
was borne out by. his life. his heroic
Next to that do We remember his
love for his family-the sister, the
daughter. the son. who weep to-day; next to his
this reason | wish to call TO the attention of the
young men the example Of his life. / want to
esy that the notices in our schoolhouses to-
day, reading: + o God, home and native
land" should read. For God and native land
and home Our first duty is To God, then to oar
native land. for 1t is that to which we owe our
huhII oDl1 - khAt n W Suh NA0 u liVVAIr
patriotic man, and honored God aud his native
land and home. This he did to a degree that
has seldom been equaled. When a king dies we
hear of the country mourning, but l cay, and be.
lieve 1t in my heart. that no king has died as
worthy of tears as he. our Governor, was worthy
of yours, his own family's and neighbors'. 1
am advised Of the brief time there Is
for all to speak a word for him,
but to you, his mourning family. IL 1t be posi-
BILE. let me comfort you with u word OF assur-
ance. Have no fear, have no donbt that he
who is gone felt himself safe in the hand of Him
who has given life to us all.
FROM OTHER SPEAKERS.
Following this brief grafton. Rev. John
w. Huber. of the Mount Vernon German NJ.
E. Church, took the rostrum and said:
1t is but meet that a parting word be spoken in
behalf of those who, fol years. were the neigh
bOrs and friends of him whose loss we moarn TO
day and whose perishable dust we will soon com
NIT to earth. / wish TO bring a small
tribute of respect, as n citizen of Mt. Vernon. Il
him who was It's most distinguished and hon
ored citizen; who, beginning lite here. has by hi:
indefatigable energy, indomitable will power
and tenacity or puIl ose climbed the ladder oil
fame from the lowest round TO the
top: who overcame all obstacles to success
in life as he met them, and gained thereby WIS
dom and strength for greater deeds. While be
belonged 10 the State as its Governor. and to the
tionai reasons. all our own. His careel
has reflected honor not only on
ltrnaalF bis Gfa.a he cOunfrv hu-