Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1900-02-22

Craik closed his eyes. is ne Sono.
said Mrs. Washington, from the foot O.
the bed. DIR. Craik gave token OF as
sent. "'Tis we'll" she said. Inc
physicians returned to Alexandria put
it was church time before the news
that Washington was dead became
generally known The bells ceased IL
minutes and then began to toll, ana
the tolling continued night and day
until Washington was buried. When
one hand tired another took the rope
and the little town was filled with
sounds of mourning
Funeral Services.
His relatives were summoned. his
remains were inclosed in coffin OF
lead. which was placed in an open
lcasket and, in accordance with MS
wish that his body should not be
placed in the vault earlier than three
days from the time of his death, the
afternoon of Wednesday, December IL,
was appointed for the funeral. AS
early as II o'clock in the morning the
assembling at Mount Vernon began.
The civic, military and Masonic asso-
Citations of Alexandria made their way
to Mount Vernon. The Alexandra ar
tillery moved down the river upon
schooner and anchoring in front or
Mount Vernon, fired minute guns. At
8 o'clock in the afternoon the funeral
line formed in the following order:
The military, with arms reversed.
Music.
The clergy-Rev Dr. Muir and DR..
Moffit; DR.. Davis of Virginia, and Rev.
DR.. Addison of Maryland.
Washington's horse, with his mill
tary equipment, led by Cyrus and Will
son, the colored grooms.
Music
Guard of honor-a detail of the Alex.
andria Blues Captain Piercy.
The coffin borne by the following
pallbearers: Col. George Gilpin, Col.
Philip Marstiller, Col Charles Little,
Col. Charles Simms, Col Dennis RAM
say, Col. William Payne.
Then came the family mourners:
Lord Fairfax and Ferdinand Fairfax,
Mr.. Law Mr. Peter. Dr. Craik, Mr..
Lear, Mrs. Stuart, Misses Nancy and
Sallie Stuart, Miss Fairfax and Miss
Dennison.
In 1857 Mount Vernon was trans
ferred for 100000 by John A. Wash
ington a grand nephew of the general,
to the Ladies Mount Vernon associa-
ton, the money for the purchase hav-
ing been raised by popular subscrip-
ton, chiefly through the efforts of Hon.
Edward Everett. About 1850 a channel
was made sufficiently deep for steam
er to reach the wharf at Mount Yer
non. During the late war the grounds
were held free from the possession of
either the United States or the Confed-
crate States. In 1896 an electric rail-
way from Washington to Mount Yer
non was established, and for years pill
grims have approached the shrine of
the great departed by land or by water.
Tens of thousands visit Mount Vernon
every year.
Removal of the Remains.
There was some communication be-
tween Mrs. Martha Washington and
congress in regard to the removal of
the remains of Washington to a tomb
beneath the new capitol, but Mrs.
Washington died in 1902, long before
the capitol was finished, and the estate
of Mount Vernon descended to judge
Bushrod A. Washington, and after
ward to John A. WASHINGTON. under
whose auspices of those of George
w. T. Curtis transfer of the remains
to marble sarcophagus and a new
vault was made in October, 1887. No
newspaper report of the transfer has
been found, but there lived in Alexar-
dria until within a few years ago a
brick mason, William H. Burgess who
in an humble capacity had much to do
IN connection with the transfer of
Washington's remains He had been
one OF the masons who built the now
vault and was familiar with the sar-
cophagus which had been sent in 10
tober, 1887, from Philadelphia to re.
oeive the body of Washington. Once
as he told the writer of this sketch he
laid himself at full length in the mar
bic grave, and he was wont IN boos+
that he had occupied Washington,
tomb before the great man was nlacod
within it.
HE was at Mount Vernon to assist ~
the bricklayers' work on the dav ubo.
Washington's old coffin was onanod
and the body transferred to the "a,
cophagus. He said that there MO-.
few people at the grave when M
transfer was made Mr.. and NJ
Johnson of Alexandria and Mr. 1owis
the son of one of Washington's ro,a
tives. were all remembered az ~
been in the old vault before" no .o,sl
1T was damp, moldy place SOM :.
the collins were broken and 49,
could be seen, although the Iigbt =
the vault even at u O'Clock ON > -.
day was dim. Once I was ordarod ~
keep out of the vault, for soma 49,
had been stolen for the man -