The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-10-26
SORROWS PAIL ON THE STATE
SPEAKER CRISP BURIED IN A CITY
FULL OF SADNESS.

cOrt of HOnOr-The Americus Light
Infantry Heads the COrtege-GOv.
Atkinson and the Other State OFF,
cials in Line.
Macon, Ca, Oct 25.-The remains of ex-
Speaker Charles F. Crisp were inferred in
Oak Grove cemetery at Americus this at
ternoon at twilight.
The funeral train bearing the body of
Georgia's dead statesman left Atlanta this
morning at 7:30 o'clock and arrived at
Americus, his home, this afternoon at
o'clock. The massive casket, placed in a
special car, under guard of honor. had
full glass front so that his familiar face
and form could be viewed by those who
loved and honored him in life, and now
revere his memory in death.
The casket was enshrined in the silken
folds of United States flag, while floral
tributes Of love covered the walls of the
car and were piled in profusion on every
available space. In the same car, in a
closed apartment, We're the members of
the family.
At various stations along the route, peo-
pie thronged by thousands and were per-
mitted to take a last look at their de-
parted friend.
The remains were accompanied by Gov.
Atkinson and staff, delegations from At
lanta and other cities of the state, men,
bers of the Georgia Bar Association, Hon.
Hoke Smith, ex-Secretary of the Interior;
ex-senator Patrick Walsh of Augusta,
Congressman Charles L. Bartlett and J.
C. C. Black ex-Congressman Barnes, a
military escort of commissioned officers
of the Fifth Georgia regiment, and several
hundred citizens. contributed by the
towns wherever the train stopped.
From the Macon bar came Dupont Guer-
ry. c. A. Turner, N. E. Harris. r. V.
Hardeman, Minter Wimberly, A. w. Lane,
Richard Hines, L. Jones and j. L. Harde-
| man.
! Among the many other distinguished
| gentlemen present were Secretary F. E.
| Galloway Judge J. S. Bayan, Judge John
| Gambler, Mayor King of Atlanta, the dem
ocratic nominee for congress from this
district, Hon. .. B. Lewis, Senators-elect
| c. G. Gray, A. c. Blalock and I. G. Hud-
| son.
| The military escort was composed of the
commissioned officers of the Fifth Geor-
! gia regiment under command of Lieut..
Col. Park Woodward of Atlanta.
| When the train arrived at Americus the
| entire population of the city had gathered
| at the depot. The vast assemblage, num-
| bering fully 5000, stood in silence with
| uncovered heads to show their respect
| and grief for the dead. The tolling bells
| of the city added to the solemnity of the
! occasion.
A large number of excursionists came
| in on all the roads, delegations being
| al111e
| laville, Smithville, Albany and other
! points below Cordele, Vienna and Abbe
! ville Five hundred came on the train
| from Macon.
| The casket was conveyed from the spe-
! cial car to the hearse, which was drawn
| by four black horses, each led by a sabled
! groom.
The Americus Light Infantry and del
egation of forty citizens preceded the
hearse, and the procession started to the
Methodist church.
The buildings along the line of march
were draped in mourning.
At the church an hour was devoted by
Mr.. Crsp's friends to viewing the re-
mains. 1t was a solemn procession.
Friend after friend, with eyes bedimmed,
looked upon the features of their fellow.
townsman for the last time.
At $3.50 o'clock the funeral service began.
The deep mellow tones of the organ pealed
forth a funeral dirge, while the people
were assembling in the church. The choir
then sang Eve Shall Sleep, But Not For
ever"
After reading appropriate passages of
scripture and offering a prayer, Gen.
Clement A. Evans, delivered a funeral
grafton. His tribute to the deceased was
impressively touching. AS a comrade in
arms in Virginia and a close friend in time
of peace, he knew we'll the worth and
character of the man he eulogized His
reference to the eminence Mr.. Crisp attain
ed in his congressional career was free
from any display of fulsome laudation,
but was in that simplicity which always
marked the even tenor of the life of the
man Georgia mourns. No higher tribute
could be paid a national character, nor Is
there one who more justly deserved 1t.
After the conclusion of Gen. Evans re-
marks, the choir sang "Asleep in Jesus"
The deep tones of the organ blending
with the solemn old hymn caused many
of the congregation to shed tears of sor-
row.
A conservative estimate places the num-
Der in and around the church during the
services at fully 5000.
The following prominent citizens acted
as pall-bearers: Judge w. II. Fish, Col.
E. A. Hawkins, Judge Allen Fort, Hon.
w. NJ. Hawkes., John w. Wheatley, DR.. G.
T. Miller, Hon. j. II. Black and DR.. +. ].
Eldridge. Rev Evans was assisted by
DR.. J. p. Turpin, Rev. r. M. Christian and
Leroy Henderson of the local ministry
The prayer Of DR.. Turpin was so force
full that the escort have asked for a copy
to be placed in the congressional memo
rial volumes.
From the church the remains were con-
veyed to the cemetery. Nearly every
dwelling along the route was draped. The
procession passed by the house in which
the Crisp family dwelt years ago. Friends
had placed a large arch over the gateway,
on which were the words, His Old
Home" People lined the sidewalks from
the church 10 the cemetery.
Arriving at Oak Grove the military
opened ranks and stood at present arms"
The remains were carried to the family
burying lot. A prayer was said by Cen
Evans and the body of the dead states
man was lowered into the grave to sleep
beneath the sod OF Georgia SOIL under
southern skies. in the city he loved, and
the section he served. II was at deep
twilight when their last act OF sorrowfu
duty was performed, which added to the
gloom of the occasion.
The people were In silence, and even in
departing no one was disposed to talk