The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1900-02-17

v NSAt
Henry W. Lawton was buried yester-
lay in the national cemetery at Airing
ton, It was a nations tribute to a ma
tlon's hero, and the sorrow of a whole
people was expressed when was borne
from the chapel Of Cypress HUI the
brow that so long had worn the lalrei.
The burial service beneath the leafless
trees at Arlington was preceded ny u
service in the Church OF the vel
in which every department OF the gov
eminent was represented, the pics''
lent, cabinet, the army, the navy. the
supreme court and diplomatic corps
and as many citizens of all classes as
were fortunate enough to find standing
room within it's walls. But the crowd
was Insignificant when compared With
the crowds that braved the elements
Of a lowering winter day for a glimpse
Of the fag-draped caisson with its mn
ltary escort as it passed through inc
streets. Hundreds more made tile
toilsome pilgrimage to Arlington to
hear the last words pronounced above
the open grave, where the president
the cabinet and the general command
Ing the army. stood with uncovered
heads until the last volley was tree
and the bugle sounded. For a day AM
q night the body Of the soldier
Lay In State
in the Church of the Covenant. SO 1t
lay yesterday morning when the doors
we're opened, troopers from his old
command, with sabers drawn, keeping
vigil at the head and foot. About his
bier as the shrill pipes of the organ
trembled with the opening anthem
stood grouped his superiors and his
brother officers with whom his life
work had been done. Chaplain Pierce
Of Lawton's old command, read the
Presbyterian burial service, the
epistile to the Corinthians, and his
words of comfort seemed specially
pruned for the occasion. Then Presl-
dent Stryker, Of Hamilton college.
New York, clad in his divinity robes.
rose to deliver the Grafton. He had
been selected personally by the secre-
tary of war, who knew his fitness fol
the task. The choice was amply JUST
fed. Seldom has any ceremony called
forth a tribute O scholarly and elo.
quent, more simple and direct, and
more appropriate and fitting to the oc.
casion. A dozen troopers then lifted
the fower-laden coffin and bore 1t to
the door where 5000 soldiers and citi.
Eens in greater numbers waited to hon
Or the soldier in his last march to his
Final Resting Place
on the virginian hillside beyond TIE
Potomac. The casket was placed on
the rear caisson, an ideal soldiers
hearse. 1t was a dreary wait on the
cold, wind-swept slopes Of Arling;
for the hundreds who had made the
pilgrimage early in the day. But close
on sunset the boom Of the Sylpl's guns
on the Potomas was answered by the
crash of minute guns from Fort Myer,
and then the solemn notes Of the dirge
was borne down by the wind as the
procession moved toward the great
city Of the dead. The grave was in
the open space just south of the amphi.
theater and in sight of the Mansion
house. Gen. Merritt and his mounted
staff deploycd to the south road, while
solid ranks Of iismounted troopers
held back the crowd on every side.
Nimble cavelrymen swarmed around
the caisson, tossing loose the lashings
and bore the coffin, while the president
and the cabinet, with the gray-haired
generals, stood silent and bareheaded
as the chaplain pronounced the words
Of committal that consigned the NOR.
tai dust to the dust from which II
came. Then the firing squad wheeled
into line. The swapping Of the volley
echoed among the bare trees, but the
wailing Of the bugle as it fingered in
the grey winter twilight was echoed
and re-echocd among the different
hills. AS it died away the coffin was
lowered. Gen. Lawton's homecoming
was completed.