The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-03-17
Throughout Afternoon and Evening
Were Thronged with Citizens.
BEAUTIFUL FLORAL PIECES
THE CATAFALQUE BANKED WITH
TRIBUTES FROM FRIENDS.
Not All Of the Magnificent Designs
Sent tn the StatehOuse-Fhe
Presidents Offering.

The body of General Harrison car
ried into the State Capitol at fifteen min
utes before l o'clock yesterday afternoon,
and lay in state beneath the dome of art
glass in the center of the first corridor
until a late hour last night. During the
ten hours the remains were exposed 10 the
public gaze they were viewed by the la;g
est throng that ever passed through the
Statehouse, or any other building in In
dianapolis, in which bodies of great men
have lain in state The people formed in
double line at the south entrance of the
Capitol and marched through in a constant
stream, dividing into single lines as they
approached the catafalque, each passing
the casket on different side.
The entry of the funeral cortege into the
massive building of stone and marble
a scene of solemnity and impressveness
that will not soon fade from the memories
of those who witnessed IT, The black cask-
ct. borne by eight stalwart mlitiamen,
coming slowly through the corridor to the
resting place provided for 1t, caused those
who were standing about to involuntarily
raise their hats and bow their heads in ST.
lent tribute to the distinguished form it
contained The men who bore the casket
were Sergts Ray Keesling, of Company G,
Second Infantry, New Castle; c. r. Rails
back. Battery A, Light Artillery, Indian
apolis: V. Gilbreath, Battery A. Indian
apolis; B. +. Barker, Company l.. Second
Infantry, Lebanon; Fred Mertz, Company
A, Second Infantry, Indianapolis; w. j.
Nancy, Company A, Second Infantry, In
dianapolis; G. b. Slifer. Company Nj, Sec
ond Infantry, Greenfield, and Frank Reed,
Company l, Second Infantry, Union City.
FOLLOWED BY COMMITTEE.
Closely following the pallbearers came
the committee chosen by Governor Durbin
Admiral Brown. representing the navy
Gen. Lew Wallace. the army, and Judge
John III. Baker, of the United States Dis
trict Court, and Judge Alexander Bowling,
of the Indiana Supreme Court, represent
ing the judiciary.
Governor ,Durbin, Private Secretary Will
son and Mayor Thomas Taggart, represent
ing the executive departments of the State
of Indiana and city of indianapolis. sue
ceeded the committee.
Then came a body of men at sight of
whom all present, by natural impulse, re-
moved their hats 1t was the group in
loved best to be found-the surviving men,
bers of his old regiment of the civil war;
the Seventieth. Indiana Infantry. Most of
these men carried greater weights of years
than did the man upon whose silent form
they gazed, although the hair of but few of
them had caught and held as much of the
falling snow of life's wintry seasons There
were not many of these veterans-less than
a hundred-but each one stood for little
group lying somewhere beneath the friend
ly sod. Doubtless memories of other fallen
comrades than the one upon whose face
they looked mingled with those evoked by
sight of their leader lying pale and cold and
majestic in death, for there was not a dry
eye in the group and many a bent form
shook with the depth of emotion only age
can feel.
With the veterans of the Seventieth came
also other veterans of the Grand Army of
the Republic. men who live in the memory
of great deeds wrought in the far-off past
What emotions passed through the minds
of these men, bowed with age, moving with
feeble, tottering steps, could be but dimly
guessed from the looks of sorrow upon
their faces. The spectacle of this remnant
of a Nations defenders paying their last
tribute of sorrow and affection to their de-
parted comrade was indeed calculated to
move the hearts of all who witnessed il.
whether they appreciated its fun signifi-
canoe or not. The passing of any host of
fighting men is a grand sight, but words
fail TO express the feelings called forth at
sight of the survivors of the greatest army
the world has ever known.
BEAUTIFULLY DECORATED
The Statehouse has never been decorated
more beautifully or with greater care than
1t was yesterday in honor of the man who
was the twenty-third President of the
United States. Flags and crepe constituted
the foundation of the decorative scheme.
The great marble pillars were alternately
draped with bunting and crepe, presenting
pleasing contract. The second and third
balconies were artistically adorned with
flags caught in the middle with loops of
crepe Suspended high in the air were ban
ners of great length. divided in the center
out for several feet. Thus was formed a
magnificent vista of flags and crepe.
through which the thousands of mourners
marched past the catafalque.
In the center of the building the decora-
.tions were displayed in greater profusion,
and the effect was heightened by the many
! splendid floral designs disposed with adj
mirable taste about the catafalque Flow
ers were heaped in such profusion in the
space beneath the dome that their perfume
could be detected in any part of the huge
edifce.
The casket containing the remains was
place upon draped platform in the center
| Illuminated by three electric lights. whose
rays beat down direct upon the paliid
feat ymRf the distinguished dead. Extend