Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-07-20
TRIP TO BOSTON.
Remains Of Ex-Governor Russell Arrived al
His Home, Saturday Night.

John to Boston,
1t was half past 5. yesterday morning
removal of Ex-Governor RusselPs body
from the Unitarian church IN tmoli
street st. John, to the grimy old railway
station for transportation to Boston on
the Flying Yankee.
Everything was shortly ready after .,
and four citizens, among them Mayor
Robertson, helped take the great box
| with its precious burden to the wagon In
| waiting.
AT - minutes past the hour. the re-
mains, were on the baggage car, ana =
prietor of the Hotel Dufferin lay at the
| head Before the hour for the train 10
pull out on ITS i50-milc journey several
prominent gentlemen who did not learn
| until late the night before that the pouy
was in town. came to the train to express
| sympathy.
| These men assured Colonel Russell and
| Mr.. Peabody that the brilliant young
Governor was well and favorably known
| in the lower provinces and the citizens
paid respects with full hearts.
| Flags were at the death mark before
the train pulled out, aud many remarked
| that the spectacle of an alien dag lowered
| to the half out of respect for q foreigner
not holding office was unique But every
| body had heard of the gifted son OF the
| old Bay state. and all who had read or
| heard by word OF mouth Of ms manly
qualities and his marvellous foresight and
! judgment were fascinated.
| The young Governor had friends across
| the border whom he never dreamt of, ana
| these friends were ready with acts OF
! kindness and expressions of sympathy
when such things meant much Mr.. Leroy
| Willis. proprietor of the DuHern, WAS
especially thoughtful. and it was he who
first deckcd the rude coffin with wreath.
The morning WAS rich In every thing
that goes to make mp II perfect day. The
sun was bright. the air was cool, ana
| there were just cloud neckins enough TO
relieve the monotony of clear blue sky
y great gong sounded at $50 o clock, and
the fastest train running East moved
with ever increasing speed out of the sta
ton
Colonel Russell and Mr.. Peabody were
in the stateroom OF the parlor car. both
badly worn out by long yigiis, grcif and
worry.
The dead mans brother was inconsol-
able. His eyes had not closed in sleep
since last Wednesday, and every time he
stepped from the train ut the stations on
the way TO Boston he Invariably turned
to the baggage ear and gazvd Wistfuliy
ut the long pine box with its silent tenant.
Al such times Mr.. Peabody came to his
relief and tried In every way 10 distract
his attention.
St. John. with its scores Of Imprinted
gloomy looking houses. and It's stacks
and chimneys vomiting the first smoke OF
the day was soon left behind. The train
was not crowded. but every passenger or
board knew that the baggage car con-
tanned the remains Of one whom many
mourned, and whenever Colonel Russell
showed himself ia the body of the ear hc
WAS followed out of sight by Chances Of
sympathy.
Women with eyes that bespoke their
feelings. whispered too bad tn ono
another, while the less sympathetic sat
and thought.
such a taking away ana in such Il
place furnished food for reflector. ana
those with tender hearts could nos help
feeling for the grief-stricken brother
when they awclt on those long. lone
hours in the deep woods OF tie PaboS
with owls breaking the mournfui silence
and the whppoorwill adding TO the drab
and gray of the occasion BY its doleful
notes.
The long trip down the river in Il
hirchen fabric with the dead statesman il.
the boat was another theme 10 touch the
hearts of those who feel for others. and
one woman actually sobbed when told
that the day before the two brothers had
pulled up The river in the same canoe.
casting their lures for ihe Carney dWeicrs |
beneath the ripples.
There had been 50 much uncertainty !
about which WAY the body would Dee
taken to Boston that but few along the |
route knew that it was in transit on the |
Yankee.
These came to the stations. and when
either Colonel Russell or Mr. Peabody |
appeared they said something to show |
that thc dead man was known and re- !
spcctcd even IN the little bamlets that !
line the Maine Central between Vauceboro |
dnu IaugGr.
Milford. a little village rcdolent of
spruce lumber and cedar shingles. dis |
played flags at half mast, and when the |
train passed by many of the sawmill /
hands uncovered. This little aot of rc- /,
spcct was extremely touching. This town |
Is opposite old Town on the PcnChScot !
III old Town flags were displayed out o. |
respect to the young statesman. also at |
Bangor. which was reached ut lis,
Thg, train was not at a standstiil when |
Il delegation from the Harvard Club. !
headed by William II. Schwartz, who i
pulled an oar in the Harvard hoat with I
MIR Peabody. called on Colonel Russell
W. g. Mason. John ;. Jenness. Edward |
Stctsou. e. 6. Merrill f. e. Hnklcy !
Or, J. X. Phillips aud john r. Mason |
They brought besides a large box Of cut |
flowers. a wreath of Easter lilies Pinks /
and roses. which was laid on the box
These marks OF respects for his dead |
brother touched Colonel Russell. and at |
times he eouldn's trust himself to speak !
During the forenoon he wrote a message /
expressing the profound gratitude of him /
self and Mr.. Peabody for the sympathy |
of the people of St John and despatched |
il to Mayor Robertson Of that city
a remarkable scene was that at Au-
guSta When ne train pulled into the |
Maine capital. at minutes before l. fully |
$50 ciiZcns with uncovered heads. were |
seen grouped nj the south end of the plat |
form.
the car. Mayor Choatc assured them that
Maine joined Massachusetts in her grief |
The most conspicuous figure in this I
gathering was that of the venerable ex-
United States Scnaor James W. Brad |
bury. who carries his q years with no APP
parent effort.
He bowed to Mr.. Russell. ana when tho
train started on its way he reverently |
bowed his head.
Mr.. Bradbury is lifelong Democrat
and was in the United States Senate long
before William Il. Russell was born. when
snch intellectual athletes as Webster.
Clay, Calhoun and Douglas charmed that
body with their eloqucnce.
Others in the gathering at Augusta
were eX-Afayor Charles f. Nash. eX-GoN-
ernor Seldep Conner Postmaster Thomas
J. Lynch, Editor Fred Plaisted. Colonel
'harlos Morton. ex-M Mayor l.. ID. Merchant
of fallowell and the present adjutant
general.
The colors on the Capitol We're ut half
mast. as also We're the flags on he new
City hall, the post Office and other build
ingS.
People in other places between Augusta
and Augusta came to see the funeral
train. but the stops were so short that no
one had time to say much.
There was fair-sized gathering at
brunswick many admirers of the ex-
Governor having come up on the branch
road from Bath. Here stop was made
for 10 minutes and the curious rushed
toward the baggage car. the door of
which was kept shut most of the time to
block the search of inuuisitive eyes.
There was deputatfon of citizens at !
Portland. They were either not aware
that the body was coming on the Yankee |