Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-01-17
GRIEF OF A STATE
General Butler Buried as the
Peoples Friend.
ALL HONOR GIVEN IN DEATH
Thirty Thousand People. Composing thu
Highest and Lowest, Follow His
Remains to the Grave.

LOWELL, Mass, Jan. l6.-Today the
foremost cisizen-soldier of Aassachu.
setts Was laid {, rest with all the honor,
both military and civic, TO which his
high rank entitled him. Thousands
gathered around his bier to attest their
sorrow at the departure. The chief ex-
ecutive OF the commonwealth and the
humblest workman stood elbow to ell
bow at his grave.
Msj.-Gen. Benjamin F. Butter, jurist,
ex.congressnian and ex-governor, re-
ceived in death tho full measure OF
recognition which Was denied him IN
life. He was buried a. the friend of
the people. Death had quieted al dis
sensions and ended all strife. They
were true mourners who laid the states
man 1T rest today.
whole city mourned his death, .
commonwealth ceased ite executive
duties TO bury its former chief. The
veterans OF the great civil struggle, IN
which the dead man figured SO proml-
nently. rallied around him by thou
sands on his last march, eager To show
by their devotion that they accorded
10 him the full measure of credit for
peril. The bench and bar. too, sent
their most honored representatives to
bury the great lawyer. The private
services were held at the house. the
euology was spoken and the family
surrendered the body 10 those who had
been associated with him in the greater
affairs of public life, and who asked
the privilege of laying him In the
grave.
Tribute of Thousands.
More than 10000 people looked at
the face of the departed warrlof at
Huntington hall this morning. The
crrsh on the sidewalks. near the en-
trance, VAS frightful. Nothing like
this crush has been ever seen n Low
ell. At 1880 the hall was closed and
the body of General Butler was sur
rounded by the Grand Army, in whose
keeping it had been given by the state
military authorities. To them was as
sigued the duty of giving military
burial. Long before the hour of the
services in the church, the sidewalks in
the neighborhOod began to he crowded
and when the body was carried from
the hall across the street fully $4,000
persons were within sight.
Among those present at the services
in the church were Governor Russell
and staff, the governors coucil, the
committee of legislature, Governor
Smith and staff of New Hampshire,
Gen. John Palmer, past commander-in-
chief of the G. A. r., and the preseni
commander was represented by Inspec-
tor Goodale and aides.
The Inst volley Fired.
A regular Episcopal burial service
was performed by the Rev. DR.. St.Johu
Chambre and his assistant, the Rev.
| George Sinclair. When the services In
| the church were ended the line oi
march to the cemetery was begun, an
| impressive feature Of the solemn cere.
mony. The Sixth regiment was drawn
up IN battle array, ready to fire the
three vOlieys which would announce
| the consignment OF the body to the
! grave. Behind this line were the guns
| of Battery &, which thundered an &C
| companying salute, while the bugler
whose duty it was to sound the "taps,
was stationed in the rear line.
| The family and delegatIong gathered
in y square around the grave while ths
burial services were read. This occu
pied but few minutes. Then tht
signal was given. The major general
salute was fired, "taps" was sounded
and while these parting honors wer.
being bestowed by his comrades in life
the BODY OF the dead soldier and states
man was reverently lowered into th,
| Oravos