The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-04-28
she HELPED MAKE Die FREE"
Touching Incident at the Tomb In the
Early Morning.

A feeling reverence for the great war
rio- whose renown was to be perpetual
ed was freely manifested by persons in
the surging crowd surrounding his
sepulchre. Gray-haired men were fire.
quently 10 be seen lifting their hats as
they were borne past the tomb in the
stream Of humanity, and one touching
incident occurred early in the morning
An aged darkey, with snow-white locks
and stopped figure. stopped near the
foot of one Of the flights of steps lead
ing to the monument. He carried in his
trembling hand a small bunch of vio-
let's. which he timidly asked police
MAJ 10 be placed at the entrance of the
tomb.
HE helped 20 make me free man,
boss" explained the old negro.
The policeman hesitated an instant
and then. mounting the steps, laid the
paltry token Of gratitude at the foot of
one of the columns OF the tomb.
SONS OF CONFEDERATES.
The Sons of Confederate Veterans,
who were TO arrive at the tomb at $50
O'Clock and place floral wreath with
crossed swords on the sarcophagus, were
an hour late in reaching the scene They
were headed by James R. Branch. COM
mander-in-chief of the Sons of Confed-
crate Veterans. The tokens were rev
erently laid on the sarcophagus by Cen
erai j. B. Gordon, while his comrades
stood by with uncovered heads.
AT THE GRAND STAND.
At precisely 1890 o'clock the carriage
bearing the president anad vice presi-
dent and the members of Grants family
and the foreign representatives arrived
al the grand stand. The president and
vice president were under escort OF
squadron A, n. G.. s. n. Y. while the
family of the dead hero were escorted
by mounted companies of the Society of
the Army of the Tennessee New York
commsndery of the military order of
the Loyal Legion, with four comrades
Of George Ct. Meade Post No. l, G. a.
K. department of Pennsylvania. in car
riages.
The escorts were under the direction
of General Daniel Butterfield. squadron
A being commanded by Charles r. Roe.
and were preceded and followed by a
platoon OF mounted police.
AS the carriages containing the dis
tinguished psrty passed between the
wall of people on the roadway the air
resounded With cheers. The president
acknowledged the salutations by bowling
and smiling. The party assembled The
stage on the west of the tomb and the
band stationed near by played patriotic
airs.
MAKEUP OF THE PARTY
The presidential party was made m
Of the following members: John Sher-
man, secretary OF state, and wife: I.y-
man ]. Gage, secretary of the treasury
and wife; Cornelius y. Bliss. secretary
of the interior. and wife; John n. I,or.,
secretary OF the navy. and wife: Cen
erai Russell A. Alger. secretary Of war
and wife; James F. McKeana, attorney
general. and wife; James Wilson. score
tary OF agriculture. and wife: Major
General Nelson A. Miles, commander Of
the United States army. wife. dausbte-
and aides. Next came the Grant fam
lily, enumerated.
The diplomatic corps followed. led by
The British ambassador, followed by me
French ambassador, the German am
bassador. the Mexican minister. Swiss
minister. Danish minister. minister az
Ecuador. Portuguese minister. Turkish
minister and Belgian minister.
DISTINGUISHED GUESTS.
After the arrival OF Mrs. Mckinley.
who had 70 De assisted from her car
riage 10 her place on The platform. the
ladies OF the cabinet and the diplomats
corps, The crowd in the grand stand
bark OF the speakers stand increased.
Conspicuous among them were Dr..
Caauncey ". Depew. Archbishop Corri-