Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-03-21
THOUSANDS VIEW REMAINS
Body Lies in State House and Long
Lines of Mourners File Past Yet
Many Are Turned AWay-Services
at Church to Be Restricted and at
Grave Very Simple.


from the warship Indiana during the
| naval battle of Santiago, the body Of
eX-President Harrison lay in state
nine hours yesterday During that
time fuzzy $4,000 people passed by the
| coffin to take last look at the distin-
guished dead and when at 10 o'clock
the capitol doors were finally closed
enter there were several thousands
| waiting patiently in line. The body
lay in state from 1 10 in the afternoon
until 10 last night and not once during
the hours was there break or halt in
the lines which passed rapidly by on
the right and left of the casket. In
front of the Harrison home and along
the streets through which the remains
were carried on their way to and from
the state house In lines that
stretched at times half mile from the
doors of the capitol building, men,
women and children stood for hours
waiting an opportunity to pay tribute
to the dead. 1t was an immense
throng, but one more easy to handle,
or rather one that required less hand
ling never gathered anywhere. Not
single Objectionable feature marred
the day. Weather more perfect could
not have been desired.
The dense throng gathered around
the Harrison home an hour before the
parade which formed at the state
house arrived. For the most part it
was made up OF women and children.
although many men in the lower walks
Of life stopped work for the day or
long enough to show respect by stand
Ing with uncovered heads while the
body Of the honored dead passed on
its way to the state house. Shortly
before therremoval of the casket, Mrs.
Harrison, with little Elizabeth, both
attlred in deep mourning, came in the
apartment to view the face of the hus-
band and father. Mrs Harrison was
composed but showed plainly the
traces of deep sorrow through
which she had gone. She
remained only few minutes and then
retired to her apartment. After she
left Russell B. Harrison and his wife.
with Mr.. and Mrs. Mckee, entered the
room and looked again at the face of
the dead
Early in the morning Mrs Harrison
entered the room where her husband
lay to be alone with him for the last
time. AS she stood in the darkened
chamber, the door of the room opened
mr. oil
age and shivering in the bitter cold of
the morning came slowly in. He did
not see Mrs. Harrison and leaned over
the dead face while tears came to his
eyes.
Colonel" he said softly. and
touched the white hand on the gener-
ais breast, Colonel"
Mrs. Harrison came to where he was
standing and said:
Il am Mrs Harrison"
E1ou will excuse me-" the old man
said, for intruding on your grief, but
L wanted to see my old commander
once more, just once more. I tried
very hard to come to indianapolis to
see him when he was alive, but never
could. When I heard he was dead I
wanted to give salute for the last
time" and raising his hand to his
forehead in true military fashion the
Old man turned away and passed from
the room. The incident nearly over |
powered Mrs. Harrison.
At 11:45 Gen. Mckee ordered the
300 Infantrymen standing at "atten- |
ton" on both sides of the street TO
present arms" and in the reveren-
tlal hush which ensued the casket
was carried from the house and placed |
IN the funeral car. Six sergeants
from the state militia, with two SER
geants from the Indianapolis light
artillery, carried the casket. The
aged survivors of the Seventeen
regiment marched to their place of
honor behind the hearse, and when
the old, bent soldiers of the civil war
saw the black covered casket holding
the body of their old friend and leader
borne to the hearse many of them
were moved to tears. The bar asso-
citation and clubs marched slowly by
with uncovered heads and took up
places in the procession which then
led on to the state house.
In marked contrast to the military
display of yesterday will be the
funeral service tbs afternoon at the
First Presbyterian church. The rites
will be simple, dignified and unosten-
tatious. The church has been richly
but simply decorated with drapings OF
black and white and the American
flag. Owing to the limited capacity
Of the church, which will seat only
about 1000 persons and because of
the great demand for seats the COM
mittee on arrangements found
it necessary to announce that
admission to the church
cards. The services are intended
only for the friends and relatives of
General Harrison. These will gather
at the Harrison home at l o'clock
The service will be conducted by Rev
M. L. Haines, pastor of the First
Presbyterian church, assisted by Rev
Or. Samuel j. Nicolls. pastor of the
Second Presbyterian church of ST
Louis. At the conclusion Of the SER
vice the funeral party will leave the
church, going direct to the Crown Hill
cemetery. The services at the GENE
terry will be simple and brief. AT
sunrise today the United States ar
senal force will fire a salute of thir-