The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-04-27

Late IN the afternoon the catafalque
reached the small plain, brick vault sur
mounted by a gilded cross that shone in
the sunlight. At this time the entire
surrounding area was mass of glistening
blyonets and noddiag plumess'
soldiers on horseback and sol
ders on foot and battieworn nags.
Standing near the spot whero tho
body of General Grant was Co rest, in addl-
tion TO the president, former presidents
and the cabinet officers, was "a host Of
governors senator's, chief Justices. con-
gresSmen, generals, afinlTu-s and galaxy
Of famous men. Colonel Fred Grant with
his wife wns there and behind him were
his sister, Mrs. Saratoris and his brothers,
Josse ANA Ulysses, .Jr., with their wives,
children and relatives
Tho warships in the river thundered
sal,tts The banu ~ the tomb played q
dirCe and the roll of mufiled drums and
music of other bands were heard from
near aud distant spots. The concourse
stood there with heads barred in silent re-
sroot ns the simple iuneral services were
bsgun.
a wreath Of oak leaves made by tho
children in the woods &. Mount McGregor
wds placed upon The purple casket and
the bugler sounded the " Rest call.
There was profound stiffness as Bishop
Harris read prayer and Parson New
funeral service of the Methodist church.
The ritual Of the Grand Army was read
and followed by tr1mpeter OF the regu
lar army sonding Taps" the last call
of the camp, by the side of the casket.
It was the final scene. General sherman
cried outright General Sheridan ana
General Johnston and other noted men
gave way 70 tears. while thousands of
veterans md on-iookers could not re-
strain their grief.
Colonel Grant and his relatives went
beside the casket and the children threw
their offerings of flowers upon IL and
retired. Mrs. Grant, the generals $
widow, was not present Some of her
friends urged her To be there, but she said
that she had bade the general goodbye
at the funeral services at Mount Nc
GregOr and SHE preferred To have that as
the remem brance of thcir last parting.
To the low strains of music the casket
was borne into the tomb, and placed in
the steel cosing. The door of the vault
was locked and the key handed To Gen
eral Hancock, who passed 1t to Mayor
Grace. In turn, the mayor gave the key
To President Crimmins of the park COM
mission.
The Seventh Regiment faced the river
during this time and three volieys re-
sounded. Then three vollcys more belched
from the guns of the Twenty second
followed. The sentries were placed and
they began the vigil which has not since
ceased. Then the vast procession and
gathering began to disintegrate. AT D
o'clock when the last of the troops had
gone, 10 Of the soldiers of Battery IL Of
the Fifth u. :. Artillery arrived az the
door of the tomb where two soldiers
stationed themselves with presented arms.
Hithcr and thither paced two other SEN
tinels with trailed arms.
That night men who had fought in the
blue and men who had marched in the
grny met ms comrades to talk over the
time when they had faced each other on
the field OF battle. AS the sentries paced
in front of the unpretentious tomb every.
one knew that the time so ardently hoped
for by General Grant had come in spirit
as well rs in name. The immense crowds
dispersed To their homes, and the city re-
sumed its normal aspect.
The Old Tomb.
The old tomb of General Grant-a squat
little brick built affair which was in
tended as temporary resting place for
the body and held it for almost twelve
years-stands as n woeful contrast to the
new tomb i'm which the remains are to
rest for all time
The two-thc old tomb and the new