The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1902-04-23

&SoS DNsSs
tiful old cemetery at Trinity church, 1
sight of the capitol building on who's
steps he stood more than quarter of
century ago and spoke words of pacif
cation to an angered crowd of his fe
low-citizens, who felt that their right
were being trampled upon, advisin
that the peace be preserved and tina
retaliation for wrongs be put aside.
1t was an occasion the like of whicl
has never been witnessed in Soutl
Carolina until now. Simple, unosten
tatious, without display Of any kind, i
was in accord with the wishes of tn,
dead hero and patriot that he should b,
laid away, not with outward demon
stratlons that too often are meaning
less, but in the beautiful simplicity
which rises to grandeur when The
hearts of the people are attuned to the
sweet solemnlty expressive of their
honest grief and unaffected sorrow.
Under the wide-spreading branches
of live oak that looks to be the sur
vivor of centuries, and amid the sur
roundings that echoed the tread of his
ancestors upon pathways that lead to
the grave, their honored- dust to be re-
freshed with the knightliest of them all,
Wade Hampton was put out of the
sight of man, while the tributes of love
and affection were heaped upon the
new mound that marks bis resting
place henceforth. Not less than twenty
thousand people were there to testify
their gratitude for the life that had
ebbed away, while from far and near
had come floral offerings that were
expressive of the purity and beauty of
his character.
It had been announced that the
body would lie in state at the family
residence ON the corner of Barnwell
and Senate streets, in order that his
comrades especially might have last
look at the old warrior, and early in
the day there was q stream of visitors
who passed through the guard and
entered the house with uncovered
heads. The special guard of honor was
composed of detail from Camp Hamp-
ton, the members of which were clad
in Confederate gray uniforms, and
kindly received all who came. There
was hardly any cessation of visitors
from 10 to 2 O'Clock, and thousands of
people were ushered during that time
through the home, passing by the
casket and looking at the silent figure
that lay there with the calmness of
eternal peace on his countenance.
The funeral was beyond question the
largest that has ever been held in
Columbia, and many say the greatest
certainly the meet eventful in the
memory of those who attended the
great tribute to the virtues and upright
ness of Hampton. There was no part
of the State that was without represen-
tation at the funeral. This, in itself,
bore testimony 10 the great love the
people bore their hero of peace and
war. =,
Veterans, Sons of Veterans, Daugh-
ters of the Confederacy, citizens, SOL
diers, municipal delegations, civic Or
ganizations, all We'd fot place in the
great funeral cortege. -
Never before has there been such
superb collection OF floral decorations
and tributes to any mau in the State.
The larger pieces filed two wagons,
and each of the hundred Daughters of
the Confederacy was handed floral
design to carry in the line of march
and place upon the mound at the
cemetery. 1t was delicate compli-
m ent and at the same time kept the
floral offerings IN the best possible
condition.
In the line of march were hundreds
of young soldiers wearing the blue
that was 80 often the target of Hamp-
TOMS men and at the grave the taps
were blown by two young men In the
Union blue. There were no flags ex.
cept those that had gone through the
bloodlest of battles in the line.
The line of procession was formed in
front of Gen. Hampton's home and
the central committee in charge of the
arrangements, consisting of Messrs
Ambrose Il. Gonzales, w. I'll. Gibbes,
Jr., and Capt. w. ID. Startling, deserve
great credit. There was no delay, no
confusion, and for so large q parade it
could not have been better managed.
The line extended all the way from
the Hampton home TO Trinity Church.
The route of the procession was
from the residence to the church, and
it proceeded through broad streets be-
tween solid lines of people. Not only
were the pavements packed with peo
pie Of all ages and classes, bat Window
and piazzas in residences along the lin,
We're crowded with people. Ever,
point of vantage from which the pro
cession might be seen was occupied
The square about the church and th
churchyard itself was one solid mass y
humanity as the funeral cortege ap
preached.
Along the short walk from th
churchyard gate to the entrance, o
either side, were lined the Governo
and his staff and State officials, stant
ing Immediately behind members {
the Daughters of the Confederacy. A
the casket was borne into the church
followed by the family, the ladies 70
lowed, preceding the officers, aftt
them coming Survivors and distii
guished visitors uniil the large edi0t
could hold no more. Comparative
few OF the thousands attending IL
funeral could get into. the church, an
they, too, could not get near the gray
but they remained silently and respec
on