Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-05-09

him. taking often flowers and delicacies
from Mrs. Merchants father. Frederick
II. Wolcott. of Hurl Gate Astoria, Long
Island who was a grandson OF Oliver
Wolcott. OF Washington's Administra-
ton. and a very ardent Republican,
while / was one of those silent Demo-
Gratis the North blushed for-all honor to
his liberal thought and loving. kindly
| acts toward Whiting-God bless him In
| the world beyond.
] have a sight recollection that Gene
raj Whiting dictated his report on the
| operations at Fort Fisher 10 the Con-
| federate War Department and was
much chagrined at Stantons refusal TO
| have it passed through the army lines,
| as also, / think, his refusal to return IT,
Another act, at the time. which touched
| Writings sensibilities was the execu-
| ton. within view OF his front window,
of Beale, a Confederate spy.
Before blood poisoning set in from MS
| wounds l saw he was losing flesh and
| strength. and had Robert urge him to
have Federal medical advice, but he re-
| fused the aid.
| An unexpected note from Colonel Bonn
I ford the gallant gentleman one after
noon in March came TO my office:
| IL think Whiting is falling rapidly.
You had better telegraph for his mother
| and sisters at Hartford, If you want
| them to see him. l will have my barge
| in charge of my coxswain at the Gov
errors Island landing at the Battery at
| II L. NJ. to meet you II the ladies arrive
| on New Haven and Hartford train, due
at that hour"
| I telegraphed, sending Robert to the
| island at once. Mrs. Whiting and one
| daughter arrived at 1880 Il. Nj. l met
| them and took them by carriage to the
| foot Of Whitehall street. the battery
| landing. A dense fog had settled over
the city and waters of the bay. The tide
was on the ebb, which meant no lifting
| of the fog. We waited an hour-tlll a.
| M-when, after a talk with the cox
| swain, we decided TO try the crossing.
Placing the ladies in the after part OF
| the barge with an order to keep the
| head of the boat well against the out
| flowing waters Of the East river, we
started out into the Zimmerman darkness.
We landed at the extreme western
point of the island, then crept along the
| shore of the wharf. When we reached
the hospital Whiting had passed
From grief and groan to a golden
Throne
| Beside the King Of Heaven
t, Then came the thought. what is the
| next move in this tragical outcomeF l
decided TO telegraph to the Rev. Edward
A. Washburn. the pastor OF the Writings
at Hartford. 10 come down and perform
| the funeral services, which / assumed
| We would hold at the chapel on Cover
nor's Island.
He answered he could not come, but
had requested Morgan Dix to act in ms
place. which was arranged for, and ne
| directed the remains be brought 10
| Trinity church.
AS | recall the tempestuous condition
| Of the public mind at that date; that
General Dix, whoever tears down the
American flag shoot him on the SPOT
was in command OF the military forces OF
the Atlantic Department, and was the
father of the minister who possessed
| stamina of character sufficient to order
! the conditions for Writings burial,
| feel obligated forever to respect ana re-
gard a man of such unbiased QUALITIES.
| / cannot remember all who were In the
vestibule of Trinity church at the time
| that we took a last look at Writings
refined and handsome features.
| I do remember, however, under the
| custom of those days the undertaken had
| men to carry the casket while the pail
| hearers filed on the side or in the rear
| of the casket do remember that Wnen
| the four men came in TO carry the casKet
up the aisle of the church to It's chaacel
| that ! said to those four men, Hold on
| and turning toward the friends pre-
| sent / said: "Gentlemen, we all loved
J Henry Whiting when he was alive ana
| with us. and l call for volunteers to carry
| the casket."
| | remember Captain +. i. Prince "a
| lieutenant in Writings corps and IN
| charge of Notifications at Alcatrae's
Island. San Francisco harbor, when
| Whiting was at Fort Point, on leave Oh
absenoc then in New York; Captain
| Berryea. q son-in-law of General Stan
| ton, formerly quartermaster-genera OF
| the United States army. both in Fede-
raj uniform: Sylvester Mowry. captain
| Third Artillery, United States army. In
| civilian dress; Robert f. X. Whiting, his