The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-10

|
and after It representatives Of the army.
ravy, and civic bodies
| When all was in readiness at 500 O'Clock
the order was given tc start. Commands
rang out down the long line. The bands
played a solemn dirge. and with rattle
| of trace chains and a rumble of heavy
| wheels rpou the pavement the caisson
moved forward and the long procession
| was on lis way 10 Arlington.
The column proceeded slowly through
Connecticut Avenue to X Street to Penn
sylvania avenue. Both sides Of these
thoroughfares were lined with people who
silently viewed the spectacle. Here and
there head was uncovered as the caisson
passed, out of respect to the memory of the
brave man. who fell fighting his countrys
battles. The cortege passed along the Ave
nue to NJ Street and proceeded thence to
the Aqueduct Bridge. Here the siege bat
terry left the line. being unable to draw
the heavy guns up the hill at Arlington.
Thousands Of people stood shivering for
hours in the keen wind that blew across
the rolling hills and swept through the
tree tops of Arlington as they waited for
the arrival OF the funeral procession. A
detachment Of the Third Cavalry, mounted
and dismounted. acted as police, and under
the direction of Colonel True the crowds
outside of the roped- of space surrounding
the grave. AS early as noon people began
to gather. and from that hour until the
arrival of the caisson the throng was con-
stantly augmented by fresh arrivals.
They came on foot by the car lines. on bi-
cycles. and in every imaginable sort OF
vehicle. II was a decorous and orderly
crowd. They seemed to have been i'm
bued with the solemnity OF the occasion.
and obeyed the orders OF the military po-
lice without trouble of any sort.
Beside the grave which had been dug
on the hilltop near the superintendent
quarters, and which was entirely lined
with spruce boughs, was an immense
mound of the floral offerings brought from
the church. while covering large portion
of the adjacent space we're boards laid
for the use OF the party at the grave. The
arrangements were admirably planned and
well carried out by the men under Colonel
Trues orders. 1t was nearly o'clock
when. from the gates opposite Fort Myer,
the flag of the garrison was seen to drop
from the top of the staff to the middle
and cannot shot reverberated among the
Virginia hills. There were thirteen minute
guns as the -caisson and its escort moved
through the garrison and a new forma-
tion for the final procession to the grave
was effected. The entire body of troops
was drawn up in review as the body passed
between the files of cavalry. artillery. in
fantry, and marines TO its last repose.
The Arrival mt Arlington.
Shortly after o'clock the band of the
Third Cavalry entered the cemetsry.
playing the dead march General Mer
ritt and staff followed, then the cais-
son. and finally the troop which was
TO fire the salute over the grave. The |
clergymen aighted from their carriages
as the procession came to halt. and took |
their places at the grave side. The presi- |
dent and Cabinet followed and stood un-
covered at the grave as the band played |
Nearer. My Cod. to Thee and during !
The entire ceremony. The horse in mourn
ing stood quietly near by. and as the oaskst
was lifted from the caisson by sixteen men
from Troop q and carried to the grave the
animal seemed7ao appreciate the solemn
dignity of his position. for he never moved
an inch from the position in which he had
been left by the orderly in charge OF him.
No more affecting feature marked the en-
tire funeral than this horse. the saddle
empty. the boots Of the gal
liant soldier strapped to it. and the calm,
quiet of the animal that must have felt
The prominence OF his position as much as
my human tHtEe unueTstOOu tue lnedUluS
lf this last sad tribute.
Mrs. I.awton and the immediate family
took their plsces sat the foot OF the grave,
The clergy standing opposite, while the
President aud Cabinet soccupied the side /
opposite the banks OF floral tributes. Cen
sral Merritt rode up behind Mrs. I.awton
md remained mounted. while his aides
wheeled TO the right and stccd at the end
,f the line on that side, the troop of cav
airy on their left, and just across the road
rom the grave. On the platform with the
Presidential party were General Miles, !
General Shafter, General Corbin. General
Ruggles, General Breckenridge. General
Wilson. and many others. both military and
,ivil. Generals Miles and Shafter stood
,ide by side Immediately behind the Pres
dent and Secretary Hay, while General
-orbin occupied the last place on the
-igh. of the party. Mrs. Lawton bore up
,ravely at the last moment. and watched
he descent of the casket into its walls OF
living evergreen in comparatively calm
esignation. Her two sisters Mrs. Cuibert-
on and Miss Craig. stood beside her. while
Ter brother-in-law gave her the support
II his arm during the brief but impressive
services.
The President mt the Grave.
The face OF President Mckinley was alb
olutely impassive he stood with uncov-
red head and watched the body descend
nto the earth. his form clad in long. dark
'vereoat. his silk hat held in his black
.loved hands. while the chill wind cut to
he marrow those who were not very
warmly clad.
The services began at once, and were
onducted by Chaplain c. c. Pierce. who
anne from Manila with the body of Gen
raj Lawton. On the right of the chaplain
tood DR.. Stryker while DIR. Hamlin was
m the end. There was perfect quiet. save
or the moaning of the wind in the pines |
IS the words OF the burial service were
RELIEF IN SIX HOURS.