Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1893-02-09

mast, and for period of thirty days
the department OF state be draped in
in mourning. Secretary Foster is,
sued an order closing the state de.
partment.
Blaine could not have a private
funeral; the surging waves of public in.
terest swept over the barriers and
made his private funeral one of the
most impressive public demonstra
tions. The most eminent men in the
nation stood around the bier. All
business in the national capital was
suspended during the services. The
presence of the president, the cabinet
and supreme judges, the high officials
of congress and the diplomatic corps
could not be more significant than the
homage OF the waiting crowds who, in
respectful silence, lined the streets
through which the funeral cortege
passed.
The parlor on the second floor,
where the body lay, was fairly en-
powered in floraltributes from promi-
nent people from all parts of the coun-
try, from President Harrison down.
the presidents tribute being wreath
of orchids and a cross, which were
placed on the coffin.
| AS the hour for the services arrived
the mourners, including the members
of the family, grouped around the
casket, and Rev. DIR. Hamlin, stand
ing beside the casket, delivered the
Presbyterian service for the dead,
Walter Damrosch in the meantime
touching the keys of the piano to the
notes OF a slow dirge. This ended the
brief but impressive service.
The casket was closed and tenderly
borne to the hearse, and the process
sion wended its way slowly to the
Church OF the Covenant. The street
outside was thronged with spectators,
who reverently doffed their hats as
the cortege passed. Following the
hearse came the pall-bearers who were
Senators Frye and Hale, of Maine,
and Morgan, OF Alabama, Representa-
tives Reed and Boutelle, of Maine,
Hit, of Illinois, and Bingham, of
Pennsylvania, Gen. Thomas Ewing,
of Ohio, John Hay, of Washington,
Joseph H. Manley, of Maine, Almet F.
jerks, of Brooklyn, and z. V. p. Ely,
of Boston, all intimate friends of the
deceased statesman. Following came
the members of family, the attending
physicians, and the the distinguished
guests in due order.
Mrs. Blaine was not among the
mourners at the church. Just before
starting the funeral procession from
Lafayette square Mrs. Blaine request
ed to be left alone few moments with
her dead. The parlor was cleared for
this purpose and when Mrs. Blaine
emerged she made her way, supported
on the arms of her son and daughter
the room where her husband had died,
and then gave way to hergrief in utter
prostration. Mrs. Hale and other
sympathising friends followed her to
the death chamber, but the friendly
minis rations were of no avail, and
Mrs. Blaine was compelled to remain
behind.
The church was not able to contain
all those who received invitations
Even the house was too small, and
| ,1no,.la a1 hai m,
riages, which filled the adjacent streets
extending along Pennsylvania avenue
in front OF the treasury, war, state
and navy buildings. A concourse o
several thousand occupied Lafayett,
square, opposite the Blaine mansion
and the doors, windows and adjacent
houses were filled with spectators.
; The services at the church consisted
simply OF prayer and the benediction
2 after which the procession moved Il
. Oak Hill cemetery, where all that wa
b. mortal OF the greatest American OF tn
age was consigned to earth.
/ The will OF Mr.. Blaine will be pro
e bated in Augusta, Me. The dlspos
e ton he made OF his property is chaI
i acteristic OF the confidence he repose
l.. in his wife, and which was so notice
v able a feature OF the married relation
d Everything is left unreservedly to Mrs.
d Blaine, she is to be the executrix an
e not to be required to give any bono
d The estate will amount to abou
SSOO,OOO.
8 BIOGRAPHICAL
James G. Blame was born in Wes
g Brownsville, Pa, January 81, 1885,
e He was the second son OF Ephraim
Blaine and Maria Gillespie. On hl
fathers side he inherited the hard
and energetic qualities OF Scotch-lris
It blood. His grandfather, Ephraii
le Blaine, born in 1741, died in 1SO4
n bore an honorable part in the revolt
tionary struggle, was an Office
: In the Pennsylvania line, a truste
1t friend OF Washington, and during tt
d last four years OF the war served q
IS commissary general OF the norther
end OF his command.
From the Cumberland valley, whel
o his ancestors had early settled, NJ
e. Blaine's father removed to Washin
r ton county, Pennsylvania, in ISL
=, He had inherited what was a fortuI
- in those days and had large lands
D, possessions in western Pennsylvani
ID Mr.. BIaine's mother was a woman
superior intelligence and force of cha
1. acter and was a devout Catholic, bi
her son adhered to the Presbyteria
u convictions and communion of b
n Scotch Irish ancestors. The early e
o. ucation of James g. Blaine was sed
a. lousy cultivated. He had the a
vantage of excellent teachers at b
Is home and for a part of the year 49,
ut he was at school at Lancaster, Ohio
n where he lived in the family of his rel