The Savannah morning news., 1901-03-17
BODY LAY IN STATE
,vDIANA HoNORs HER DISTIN-
GUIsHED DEAD.
ALL CLASSES SHOW RESPECT.
MANY THOUSANDS PASSED CAsKET
IN REVIEW.

tOI
tisgo Flag of the BattleshiD In
diana tn eCnsket's Only DecOra-
tiop-Touching Incident of an Old
soldier Who Came to See His Dead
colonel for the Last Time-Mrs.
harrison Greatly Affected.
Indianapolis. March 16.-Beneath a can
INV of back, placed on the rotunda OF
the capitol building, the casket covered
with the silken folds of the Stars and
stripes. surrounded by thousands of bios
SONS. while over all swung the great
hattie flag that flew from the warship
Indiana during the naval battle of San
tiago. the body of ex-Presdent Harrison
law in state for nine hours to-day.
During that time fully $4,000 persons
passed by the coffin to take last look
at the distinguished dead, and when at
10 O'clock the capitol doors were finally
closed and the people told that no more
could enter, several thousands more were
waiting patiently in line. The body lay
in state from 1:10 O'Clock in the afternoon
until 10 o'clock at night, and not once
during these hours was there break
or halt in the lines which passed rapidly
by on the right and left of the casket.
1t was Indiana's day with her dead, and
most touchingly was the esteem and hon
or in which Gen. Harrison was held by
his fellow citizens revealed. In front of
the Harrison home, along the streets
through which the remains were carried
on their way to and from the statehouse,
in the lines that stretched at times a half
mile from the doors of the capitol build
ing men, women and children stood for
hours waiting their opportunity to pay
tribute of respect to the dead. Weather
more perfect could not have been devised,
a trhe cool in the earlier part of the day
il grew warmer during the day and was
most pleasant throughout
Thousands Stood For Hours.
A dense throng had gathered around tn,
Harrison home on Delaware street for
hours before the military escort arrived.
Down Delaware street much farther than
the eye could reach the crowd packed the
sidewalks to the doors of the residences
along each side of the way. For mir
teen squares, all the distance to Wash
irgton street, tens of thousands of peo-
rle stood for hours, not from idle curios-
ty or the desire to view an unprecedented
spectacle, but from the simple wish to
express by their presence the respect and
admiration in which Gen. Harrison was
held by his fellow citizens of Indianap-
Cls.
Two hours before the police detail and
the military at the head of the funeral
procession from the Capitol began to ap-
pear around the corner of Thirteenth
street from Pennsylvania avenue the
crowd began assembling. For the most
part it was made up of women and chill
dren, although a considerable proportion
consisted of men; men in the lower walks
of life, who had stopped work for the
day or long enough TO show respect by
standing with uncovered heads while the
body of the honored dead passed on it's
way to the statehouse.
After the military escort of three regi-
ments of infantry and one battalion OF
artillery arrived from the state Capitol,
an hours wait ensued.
His Wife and Little Daughter.
During this hour Mrs Harrison, with
little Elizabeth, both attired in deep
mourning, came in the apartment to view
the face of their husband and father. Mrs.
Harrison was composed, but showed
plainly the trades of her sorrow. She re-
mained only a few minutes and then re-
tired to her apartments. After she had
left the room and just before the casket
was taken away. Russell B. Harrison and
MS wife. with Mr.. and Mrs. Mckee, en-
tered the room and looked again at the
face Of the dead.
Early in the morning Mrs. Harrison en-
tered the room where her husband lay,
to be alone with him for pobably the
last time. AS she stood in the darkened
chamber, the door of the room opened
holselessly and an old solder, bent with
age and shivering in the bitter cold of
the morning, came slowly in. He did not
see Mrs. Harrison and leaned over the
oead face and tears came to his eyes.
An Old Soldiers Tribute.
Colonel" he said softly and touched
the white hand on the generals breast
Colonel"
Mrs Harrison came to where he was
standing and said:
l am Mrs. Harrison"
ou will excuse me-" the old man said,
Tor intruding on your grief. but I wanted
10 see my old commander once more, just
once more / have tried very hard to
come 10 indianapolis to see him when he
was ahve and never could. When heard
mat he was dead / wanted to give him
lHe old salute for the last time" and
iolslng his hand to his forehead
III true military fashion, the old man
turned away and passed from the room.
me incident nearly overpowered Mrs.
ilSrrison' and it was some time before she
iesained her composure.
AT l;i5 O'Clock Gen. Mckee ordered
twenty-five hundred infautrymen standing
a. attention" on both sides of the street
i" present arms" and in the reverential
Hush which ensued the casket was car
tied from the house and paced in the
funeral car.
ne order for the return march was
tFen and headed by the state guard
marching with reversed arms. and In slow
.he TO the music played by the band the
Ieidue moved slowly away. At the head
'he column rode Brig. Gen. Mckee and
,'s slar. commanding the first division.
'Hposed entirely OF state troops. The
sHhents were all In heavy marching or.
ana presented a splendid appearance.
only the Stars and stripes.
surrounded by the members OF Gen.
.iaftlsons old reglment-the Seventeen
Ni"pa lninntry-cafne the hcarse, drawn
tour magnificent black horses over
black cloth covering the casket were
N""n The II ken folds OF the stars
..l stripes There was no other dec
'uon about the funeral car.
NIlfifG az the State House the escort
~ afaWn up 20 one side Then, while
military presented arms and tho
Nms rolled softly, the cashet was
N,l.s 70 the State House
~ qlriHg che afternoon the crowd
t'heq through che state house unceaHiuE.