Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-01-31
mss. BLAINE OVERCOME
Aei Unable to Attend the Public Ceremonies
a. the Church

the Lor,l's PRAYER being repeated by The
pastor and par, of the congregation. belic.
liction was invoked. A, l2.t5 the church
services closed and the casket was placed
once mere in the hearse, all the disnn.
guished coneoprse standing as it was horne
| from ,he church.
Thea it was uoted that Mrs flaine WAS
not among the moarnors, as was supposed.
Amons 50 many deeply welded figures her
form had not heretofore been missed.
Prior 10 the starting of the procession from,
l.afayet,e square, Mrs. Blaine requested to
I hc left alone for IL few minutes with her
/ dead.
| The parler was cleared for this purpose
and when Mrs. blaine emerged after livo
or 10 minutes silent communion with grief,
/ she made her Way supported on the arms OF
her son amt daughter. Miss Hattie, 10 tie
| room where her husband died, aud Their,
gave yay to her grief in utter pro~tratiun.
/ Mrs Halo AMI other friends followed tur
/ TO the death chamber, but their iricudiy
administrations we're of no avail and Mrs.
\ Blaine was compelled to remain behind.
Z The masses of people in the vicinity of
/ the church pressed closer rs the sir about
/ the main doorway tuh thcm the services
were over, The procession was soou tnoN-
/ ins IN ihe direction q. the cemetery, hcated
! by platoon If police, |, moved westward
on n street To 2ist, north to T.. rfos-jas
Rock Creek into Georgetown. At "s,hl lnd
7 streets the cottcge changed its lirrriou
10 notth and went directly 10 the east Etie
of the cemetery
Few people gathered along the streets,
but the windows uf the residences were
crowded aud thc great number of ,l,osc
~ho had been spectators onis,.e of thr
church walked along the paSeplcniS, aud ON
either side was long line of carriages,
On the succession of terraces in Oak
il,ll Cemetery that border the winding
pathway lcatling to the grave
scores of spectators were standing.
Many pressed forward to pluck ginw,r
from wreath or column that adorned the
dead mans bier, but the police and art,n-
dants stopped this. The floral ,rihutcs, so
numerous thut five wagons were necessary
TO convey them TO the cemetery, were ar
ranged tr,istically back of the grave on
huge strip of canvas, Mud and melting
snow was everywhere under foot aud tenn
porary plank walks was placed near the
grave.
Ou them the family, friends and official
associates of Mr.. Blaine stood during the
last ceremony. Overhead the sky was hid
den by clouds that forcshalowed rain 1T
one side, near the head of the grave, stands
tail hickory tree, partially 'iecaycd.
With the exception Of Mrs Blaine, alI
the famil, and relatives were there. BE
hind them stood the President, pail hearers.
members of the cabinet, Vice Pre>ilcn,
Morton. and many intimate frienis and
political associates.
Dr. lIamhn read the simple burial ser
vice of the Presbyterian church This wa
followed by IL briet extcmporancous prayer.
Then came the bcncditton aud all tia, wa>
mortal of James Gillespie Blaine was con
signed to the earth
The cortcgc entered the cemetery at So
and the intermcnt was over in 10 minutes
Slowly ;hc crowd dispersed The l'rcri
'lcnr, cabinet, senators, family AMI others
entered the carriages and were driven
away,
.lames 6. Blaine junior no longer. sto1
beside the grave of hi, father, until tie
Inn.ous hal brirkei IN the caSkpt and The
grave ,liggers filled in the remaining space
When all this was accomplished he turned
home and the last group Of spectators dis
pcrsed
The desire of friends who attended TN
services at the church. to carry awas
Hcmentocs resulted ia complete stripping
Of the blooms from the pulpi, and organ
rail, almost before HE rortcs,c had faiIl,
begun the march to the ccmctcrv
rhc viii of Mt Blaine VIII bo probateti
at Augusta. Me. his legal residence. Every
ding il left unrescryedly to Mrs Blaine
She is to he the SOLE cxcrutriS and IS not
To be required 10 giyy@bonds. MIR. Blaine