Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-04-24
LAST SAD RITES.
The Remains ofOur Late Con-
gresham Laid at Rest.
Impressive Funeral Services, Thurs
day, at Belfast Largely Attended.
Many Distinguished Men Present to Sin.
cercly Mourn Great Loss.

Belfast, April 23-(Special.) -Fast day
acquired a new and sad Significance to
Belfast citizens, Thursday. 1t was
beautiful spring day. but all the bright
ness could not drive away the heavy
gloom that hung over the city; for in
the afternoon the last sad rites over the
remains of the late Hon. Seth L. MILL
ken. congressman from the third Maine
district, were performed. and the body
was laid at rest in the tomb of Grove
cemetery.
All the forenoon the body lay in
state in the Universalist church, of
which Mr.. MiIliken was a regular at :
tendant when at home, and a steady
stream of Belfast citizens, old friends
and neighbors of Mr.. Milliken, with
many from out of town, passed through
the church to'view the remains Four
members Of the local G. A. r. Post,
with their guns at their shoulders.
were on guard beside the remains al!
"Wednesday I1igght ard Thursday. All
Gay the flags en- the shipping in the
harbor and On the public buildings and
places of business were at half mast.
All stores and business houses Were
closed all the afternoon, and during this
funeral hour the bells We're toled,
Everywhere. and on all faces was mani
fest the profound sorrow inspired by
the sudden death of the man whom all
respected and loved.
At 11.50 A. NJ, a special train arrived
bearing the following State officials
and prominent political associates o!
the late congressman: GoverLCc
Powers, Secretary of State Byron Boyd,
State Treasurer r. M. Simpson, Coun-
cilcr Mayor Attorney General w. L.
Ha;nes, Deputy Secretary of State S. j.
Chadbourne, Senators o. B. Claso.l
and p. S. Hesld of kennebec, Mayor
w. S. Choate of Augusta, Postmaster
Thos. ]. Lynch of Augusta, ex-Gov-
ernor e. c. Burleigh, Hon. p. o. Wick
cry of Augusta, Warden Hillman
Smith of the State prison, Hon. A. NJ.
Spear of Gardiner Forest Goodwin %
SI1owhegan, Sheriff Payson Viles oc
Somerset county, Thos. Young of Scion
DR.. A. E. Farnham of Fairfield. Hon
Fred Atwood of Winterport, Oraman-
DIAL Snsi tn of Litchfield, Joseph T.. Alex
ander and a. d. Russell of the secre
tary of States office, w. E. S. Whit
man, John w. Chase. Chas. MilHken
VIM. p Walsh, w. B. Neweomb and
others of Augusta; and DR.. It. C.
Thsyer. w. NJ Dunn. John Wocdsum.
NJ. C. Foster and Rev. Fl. n. Charland
of Waterville.
1t had been planned to have the
funeral services in the UniversaliEt
4 ID = lna1
the forenoon to use the Unitarian
church instead, this being the largest
church in town, and the hour was
changed to 2 o'clock. The funeral ar
engagements We're in charge of Sergeant
alarms Price of the National House,
with Col. G. p. Lombard as marshal of
the procession, and each detail was
faithfully looked after, everything
passing off most smoothly.
Long before the time set for the SER
vices the church, which holds 800 peo-
pie, was crowded to its utmost ca
pacity, and large numbers were unable
to gain admittance Church street was
lined with people.
The casket was placed just in front of
the pulpit, and was almost buried with
flowers. The pulpit, draped in black,
was also covered with flowers. Some
of these had come from Washington
and other cities on the route, and there
was a beautiful large pillow from the |
wife, crescent from the sen, a floral
urn from Pittsfield citizens, beautiful
piece from the Colby Chapter of the |
Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity, of which |
Mr.. Milliken was a member, and special
designs, wreaths and bouquets from /
the G. A. r. Post, the Masonic lodge, |
Belfast citizens and other sources. |
Lilies. roses and ferns largely pre-
The plate on the tasket bore the
simple inscription Seth L. Milliken
December IL, 1881, April Is, 1897" 1t
was the common remark of all who
viewed the remains that the features
retained a remarkably natural and life
like expression.
In the mourners' pew sat Mrs. Milf
ken with her son, who wore his West
Point uniform of cadet gray. Beside
them were the two brothers of the dead
N. M. and Frank Mill
ken, both of Washington. Around
them were the members of the con-
committee who had accom-
panied the remains from Washington,
forming a party distinguished in ap-
pearance and in name. The party con-
sisted of Senators Hale of Maine, Gal
lirger of New Hampshire, and Carter
of Montana; congressman Boutelle OF
Maine, Terry of Arkansas, Shannon of
New York city, Skinner of North Caro-
lima, Hilborn Of California, Hicks of
PENNSYLVANIA. Weymouth of Maslza-
chusetts, Dinsmore of Arkansas, Ster-
ling of Illinois, Sergeant at Arms Price
ard his assistant Joseph L. White,
who is also cashier Of the House.
Thomas e. Hopkins, department COM
nander of the G. A. r. Of the Division
If the District Of Columbia, and Private
Secretary w. P. Wing.
Next came the large party of State
officials and political associates who
had arrived en- the special train at
noon. These, as we'll as the congress
sicrlal party, Wore white sashes with
black rosettes ON the shoulder. The