Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-09-26

second lieutenantS. trooped INTO the
rotunda and seated themselves.
Members Of the Senate, members of
the diplomatic corps and high officials
Of the executive departments of the
government, all of whom were entitled
to seats. entered after the officers of
the army. having driven i'm the funeral
procession. When they got inside the
rotunda it was discovered that the
seats they should have occupied were
held by officers Of the army. who
could not be dislOdged without trouble.
In consequence, as many as could
found seats for themselves, while
others stood up throughout the cere-
mony. squeezing themselves among the
flowers back against the wall. The
whole affair was thus confused and
mismanaged, many of the rghtful
ticketholders being obliged to stand.
while others were treated with marked
Giscourtesy by oflicerssof the army
both at the doors and after they had
passed into the rotunda.
The serious charge is also made in
this article that the rush up the main
steps was directly due to an order
from Major General Brooke the chief
marshal. withdrawing the experienced
mounted district of Columbia police
under Lieutenant Pearson. Com
menting upon this the American says:
AS had been anticipated by Lieuten-
ant Pearson. trouble ensued. When
the remains Of the martyred President
and those in the funeral procession
had entered the rotunda the crowd
pushed forward. The marine guard
could not check the rush. The ropes
were cut and thrown down and the
thousands rushed pell-meil for the
main entrance. Seeing the stampede,
the mounted policemen at the House
and Senate wings of the Capitol struck
spur to their horses and dashed for
ward TO cheek the rush at the foot OF
the steps. 1t was the horses ridden by
these officers which were carried up
onto the Capitol steps by the rush Of
the crowd. What followed-the per
supal injuries sustained by scores OF
people and the disgraceful exhibition
of mob violence which marked the
state funeral of the dead President
has already bern told. No such scene
was ever witnessed at an Inaugural
ton and the District police are con-
fident that it would not have occurred
last Tuesday had it not been for the
bumptiousness of the army in object
ing 10 a display of civil authority.
Then follows detailed description Of
the wild rush of a number of army
officers at the close of the services to
possess themselves Of the carria ges re-
served for members OF the United
States Senate:
The first carriage was just about
ready to drive away" says the Ameri-
can. with four army officers when the
assistant sergeant-at-arm reached the
foot Of the steps. An officer was
standing with his hand on the closed
door of the carriage giving last direc
tons to the driver, when the assistant
sergeant at arms thrust himself for
ward and demanded 10 know what was
being done. He was answered in
contemptuous manner and informed
that il was none of his ID business.
His dandcr was at once aroused and
he ordered the army officers to empty
the carriage. The officer at the door
attempted to demonstrate. and Il fist
fight was all but averted The Capito,
police were sent for. and they rounded
The army officers up on the steps. The
q cSiSfanf a ia took
charge Of things. called his carriages
one by one. saw the Senators enter
ana be driven away. and finally.
when the last Senator had departed.
he ordered five carriages to remain in
reserve for other members of the
Senatorial party who might appear.
Then he raised the guard he had
placed over the gold -bedizened lot OF
army officers and permitted them to go
and DO what they pleased.
Certainly these are strong state
ments. and if they are not true the
army officers who were in charge Of the
funeral arrangements cannot afford t,
permit them to so unchallenged. The
article from which the above abstracts
are made closes as follows:
Inside the Totunda the closing scenes
were most disGraceful. As the rain
eoa ked thousands filed past the caSket
| ana took Il last look at the familiar
| features Of the martyred President. the
| Amy remained in charge. The crowds
| we're passed through the rotunda in
| double file at a rapid walk until about
| the time for closing the doors and
/ sealing the casket. AS that hour drew
! near the pace at which the crowd was
passing was increased until each file
| was travelling at the rate Of more than
| loo every minute. Just before the
| doors were closed there was enacted
| q scene which will never be forgot by
| those who witnessed il. An army
| officer stood at the head of the casket
| containing the remains of the dead
| President. The files were passing by
on a full run. and this officer was wav-
! ing his hands to hurry them along
and shouting 81 the top of his voice:
Gene on, Hurry up. This is your
| last chancen'
This and the other things herein re-
counted are the things which Senators
say will be investigated when Congress
| ,,-ha =.