Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-11-30

ViroQua, Wis, Nov PA mao OF
the people was borne to his last earth
ly resting place this afternoon. With
the tones of Il tolling bell borne softly
on the cold winter wind and IN echo
ing muSket volley, the last earthly
farewell was said TO Gen. jeremiah
NJ. RuSk
A cOncourse of Borrowing friends
such us is seldom seen assembled TO
take part IN the services. Special
trains brought men of national promi-
hence who had known the dead man
in the halls of state and the councils
of the great; friends and neighborS
who knew him as stage driver, sheriff,
congressman, governor and cabinet
member but who knew him best us
friend, gathered by the bier; and
farmers came in sleighs from distant
parts of the county, Drawing zero
winds and yard-deep drifts OF snow.
The tribute was fitting one and was
paid in a homely manner us suited
the man, his life and his death.
Several special trains arrived dur
ing the forenoon bringing delegations
from Wisconsin towns within 4 IA
dius of fifty miles from VirOqua.
Shortly before noon the gubernatorial
train from Madison, which brought
Governor Peck and his staff, the state
officers, number of close personal
and political friends of the deceased,
many of whom had held office under
him during the years of his service
rs chief executive of the common
wealth, and nearly one hundred men,
bers of the Wisconsin consistOry Of
the military order Of the loyal legion.
The train from Milwaukee, bringing
ex-PreSident Harrison, eX-AttOrncy
General Miller, Senator Villas and the
eX-gOvernOrS and eX-SenatOrS OF the
state, reached the depot at 1:45.
A large crowd had assembled. but
beyond a general raising of hats as
Gen. Harrison stepped from the car
and crossed the platform there was
no demonstration of welcome or recog-
milton.
Carriages were in waiting. and while
Generals Harrison and Miller and Sen
atOr Villas We're driven to the family
residence to express their sorrow and
sympathy to the widow and bereaved
family the remainder Of the party
was taken direct to the church.
All night the nine faithful war com
radeS OF the dead had stood guard
around the bier. From midnight to
daybreak it was a lonely vigil. An
interior scarcely larger than a country
school house, Il dozen benches of gray
painted pine, around and about the
walls streamed festoonS and rosettes
of crepe relieved only by a mammoth
American flag, the stars to the north.
the stripes to- the south, forming Il
| background to the rOstrum; the casket
drapery of Silken stars and stripes
the calm, placid, white face of the
dead; the thin hand laid across the
breast and seemingly clutching the
bunch Of whitening viOlets; the last
fond token of the widow.
!, All through the morning the remains
rested in state, while steady stream
around the bier.
The church was closed for an hom
prior to the time appointed for the
| funeral services to begin; then thu
doors were thrown open and the Ma,
sonic bodies and the loyal legion filed
! in. In front of the caSket We're the
seats reserved for the mOurners.
! In the pew reserved for the mourn
erS also sat Gen. Harrison. At the
| left were the knights templar, at the
right the loyal legion, occupying seat
directly behind the pall-bearers and
! honorary pa9-bearers. Behind thes.
We're the state officials and other dis
tinguished personages from 4 distance
The church was far too small tc
accommodate the crowd that had as
Sembled TO take part in or witness the
ceremonies, and the churchyard and
the street Immediately in front of the
house of worship We're crowded. De
spite the cold wind hundreds stood in
the open air until the procession took
it's way toward the cemetery.
The funeral services began with the
singing of the hymn, Just as I Am,
sisting of Mrs. e. w. HaZen, Miss
Wheeden, DIR. Frank Morley and Jack,
son Silbaugh, Miss Regina Lindemann
officiating at the organ.
The Rev. G. w Nuzum. who had
known Gen. Rusk nearly half cen
nd tha+
twice saved his little home from the
sheriff's hammer. offered a prayer in
which he touchingly referred to the
dead, the living left to mourn and the
hope of a certain reunion beyond the
dark river.
The quartette then sang Lead Kind
ly Light, and the Rev DR. J. D. Butler,
Of Madison, delivered the brief ser
mon on the life Of the dead man, the
lesson it taught and the hope it gave
of everlasting life
DR.. Buffers text was from Jeremiah
4S, xvii.-"All they that are about him
bemOan him and all they that know
his name say how is the strong staff
broken and the beautiful rod 'These
words" began DR.. Butler, "befit a man
much lamented and much loved; much
lamented because greatly loved" He
continued:
"Such being the feeling of our coun-
trymen for the man who has fallen
they have come to this place. We have
come to bury him, to pay the last hon
ors to him, to pay our condolences, our