The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-29
Condolences for the Gresham
Family Come From Many
Lands.
PREPARING FOR THE FUNERAL
With Due Military and Civic Honors
the Secretary's Remains VIII
Be Inferred at Chicago.

ington was hardly prepared for the an
nouncement of the death of Secretary OF
State WalterQ. Gresham, which occurred
at such late hour last night that it was
not known to the public until read in the
morning papers to-day, for although the
fatal termination of the serious illness had
been forecasted, there was no general ap-
prehension that the end would come so
soon. Flags were lowered to half mast
on all public buildings and many business
houses. Official business for the time was
laid aside by the higher officers of the Gov
eminent and the members of all official
circles, together with prominent people
in private life, fastened to the Arlington
Hotel, where the Greshams have made
their home in this city, to leave their cards
and messages of coincidence.
The President and Mrs. Cleveland
called during the morning and were for
half an hour with Mrs. Andrews, the
daughter of the dead man, and Otto
Gresham, the son. Afterward the Presi-
dent and several members of the Cabinet
held conference at the White House to
consider the arrangements for the funeral,
and later in the day the President issued a
proclamation paying a warm tribute to
the character of his Secretary of State.
There was also a meeting of the diplo-
matte corps at the British embassy, where
appropriate action was taken.
The funeral ceremonies in Washington
will be of a semi-official character, as they
will be held in the east room of the White
House, with the President and his Cab
met, Justices of the Supreme Court, En-
bassadors and Ministers, representatives of
the departments and the army and navy
and other departments, and all official
business will be suspended for the day.
Major-General Ruger will command all
OF the military forces stationed about the
capital, which will act as an escort for the
funeral party from the White House to the
depot, where a special train will be in
readiness to convey the party to Chicago.
The train will leave Washington shortly
after noon and will have on board Presi-
dent Cleveland and all of Secretary Gresh-
ans colleagues of the Cabinet, who will
follow the body TO the grave. The seven
Cabinet officers with Assistant Secretary
UkI, who is Acting Secretary of State, will
oficiate as active pallbearers. If Secretary
OF the Treasury Carlisle does not reach the
cItY IN time from Tennessee he will Join
the funeral party at some point on the
route. Hon. Wilson S. BisselI, ex-Post-
mas.eT-General, has also been invited to
accompany the remains to Chicago, and it
is expected he will start from here. While
the details of the ceremonies in Chicago
are yet incomplete, it is said that brief
services will be held on Thursday after
noon at the cemetery to which the body
will be borne, accompanied by military
escort in harmony with the day, and Sec
rotary Gresham's well-known loyalty to
old-time war companions. The body will
be placed temporarily in vault in Oak
wood cemetery pending the decision by
the family regarding its final resting place.
The remains of Secretary of State
Gresham have been embalmed. The
funeral arrangements are dependent upon
the wishes of Mrs. Gresham, and owing to
her depression and grief, following the
death Of her husband, the details of time
and place of the interment have been left
until late in the day. The present inten-
tons of the friends of the family are to
have the funeral train leave Washington
tomorrow. A special train will be pro-
vided, one car to bear the remains and
another for Mrs. Gresham and her imme-
diate relations. These arrangements how
ever, are subject to such changes as Mrs.
Gresham may derire.
Otto Gresham, the son of the Secretary
arrived at $50 this morning by special
train from Harrisburg. He was met at the
station by Assistant Postmaster-G General
Jones, near personal friend of the family.
He Joined his mother at the Arlington
Hotel, and they were given such privacy
as it was possible to give.
Mrs. Gresham is broken in spirits and
body by her affection and the constant
vigils up to the moment of her husbands
death. Her daughter, Mrs. Andrews, and
another relative, Mrs. Captain Fuller, were
with her constantly last night.
The body has been laid out in the sleep
ing-room where the death occurred The
metallic coffin is to be covered with black
cloth with heavy oxidized silver handles
and the usual plate for the name and cir
cumstance of birth and death. Most of
the prominent men in public life called at
the hotel early in the day to leave their
cards. Floods of kilograms and cable
grams of coincidence came in during the
morning.
AT the conclusion of the Cabinet meeting
held this morning Secretary Lamont made
brief statement of the funeral arrange
ments. The remains of the Secretary will
De taken from the Arlington Hotel to the
executive mansion tomorrow and placed
In the east room, where the funeral services
VIII be held at 10 o'clock. They will be
conducted by Bishop Hurst of the NJ. E..
church. Seats will be reserved for the
mem oers OF the diplomatic corps, the men,
Ders OF the United States Supreme Court,
such Senators and members of Congress as
may be In the city and the chiefs of the
war and Navy departments
The President and all the members of
the Cabinet will accompany the remains
TO thelr last resting place. Secretary
Carlisle, who will arrive in this CITY to-day.
Secretaries Herbert, Lamont, Smith. Nor
ton, Attorney-General OIney and Post
master-General Wilson will act as honor
airy pall-bearers at the funeral, and the
body-bearers will be squad of marines
from the marine barracks in this CITY.
The funeral will leave the Burlington
and Ohio station about noon and arrive
in Chicago Thursday. The ceremonies in
that pitU will ba bald ~,