Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-01-29
GENERAL WHEELER HONORED
North and South Joins in Paying Tribut,
to the Departed Soldier,
ALL ARMS OF SERVICE IN THE PARADE
Rector of Church Pays splendid
Tribute TO the worth OF the
Departed-FinaI Honors at
Arlington Cemetery.

Arlington Cemetery.
NEW YORK. Jan. S.-An imposing milf
/ tsry pageant passing across Brooklyn
! bridge, brief services at St Thomas Epis-
copal church in Fifth avenue and an escort
across the North river ferry to Jersey City.
4 where the body was placed Oh a train TO be
! taken to Washington for mtcmcnt in the
National cemetery at Arlington. marked the
funeral in this city today Of Brigadicr GEN
, oral Joseph Wheeler. cavalry leader Of the
confederacy and later one OF tho most prom
inent figures among the generals Of the
I Spanish sh-American war.
} The body of the dead soldier was wrapped
in the flags under which he had served with
almost equal vigor and distinction. the stars
and bars of the confederate states and the
Stars and Stripes. Veterans Of the south
ern and northern armies mingled today in
paying tribute to General Wheeler with the
younger veterans of the Cuban aud Philip
pine campaigns of 1898 and 1899. The route
OF the funeral cortege lined with great
crowds. most of whom stood with barred
heads a the procession passed. The funeral
took place from the home OF General
wheelcr's sister, Mrs Sterling Smith, in
Brooklyn. where General Wheeler died on
Thursday of pneumonia.
The body was borne from the house by
eight noncommissioned officers OF infantry
and placed upon a flag g-draped artillery
J caisson. Squadron G and d detail OF tho
Second battery of artillery escorted the
body. and on the Manhattan side Of the
bridge the Seventy-hrst reg mont. New ork
National Guard in full dress uniform. was
drawn up. The Seventy-tirst regiment
served under General Wheeler in Cuhn and
was given the post of honor. Infantry from
Governors island. United states army. also
Joined tho procession on this side of the
river
From BROOKLYN bridge the line NJ march
lay across town to Washington square and
thence up Fifth avenue from Eighth street
to Fifty-third street to ST. Thomas church.
\ ridcrlcss horse, with boots reversed in
the stirrups and cavalry sword dangling
from the saddle. was led just behind the
caisson.
Church Ediace Throngcd.
The church edifice was throngcd. Seats
had been reserved for members of the
Southern society, the Confederate Veteran
association. the Society of the War uf
1872, several other organizations and the
personal friends of the family. Reserva-
tions had been made for the honorary pail
bearers. the staff of General Frederick ID.
Grant. L. s. A., and the officers of the es-
cort Tho altar of the church was almost
hidden beneath the floral offerings, one
among them, a great wreath, sent by
President Roosevelt.
The brief services were conducted by Rev.
Ernest Stires. rector of the church. as-
sisted by Rev DE- Morgan, Dix. who. meet
ing the, body ct the door. led tho way TO
the chancei. They were followed by the
.Nf n n lie
George McCulloch. Miller Atterbery. Ansor
r. Flower and Charles H. Stout. Follow
ing these came the honorary pail bearers
Colonel ]. J. Astor. r. 7. Wilson. Fitch
Smith, DR.. John Wyeth. John McKeeson,
S. r, Betron, DR.. William M. Polk. Com
mander Parker. u. s. N; Archer Hunting
ton. General j. II. Wilson. General Kent
Senator Clark OF Montana, Charles s. Fair
child General o. o. Howard, U. s. A., re-
tired: General Stewart L. Woodford DR.
r. Ogden Doremus, J. Pierpont Morgan and
DR. Parrius.
After the casket had been placed on the
pedestals the full vested choir of ST
Thomas entered the church singing as a
professional hymn Lead Kindly Light"
Right 10 he Called Great.
DIR. stires in his sermon said:
This is one of the great occasions of oui
lives, Tor we are met TO the memory OF 2
rare man. l do not speak to you of hin
? principally as citizen, statesman. oil
soldier. for the mere record of his deed:
is far more eloquent than any praise OF
ours could be- 1t is of the man / think
: at this hour. Was he entitled to be called
great? 1t is not difficult for you to decide
He was distinguished by courage without
rashness, by wisdom without pride, by
) gentleness without weakness, by patieuc,
always leaned toward mercy. He honoret
: man, he trusted man. and to every mar
he was read:' to give his time, his sub
The north gives him ynstinted honor; IN,
south. even In her grief. is proud OF hel
loyal son. Cuba, for whose freedom HI
and the whole world pauses for momen
today to declare that this indeed was {
man.
Following the church services the bod,
was escorted to Jersey City. where It wa
placed on board a train which left TO
Washington shortly after o'clock.
Arrangements at the Capital.
WASHINGTON, Jan. &.-Brief funera
services over the body OF the late Genera
Joseph Wheeler. supplemental to those TO
day in New York, will be held at St. John
Episcopal church here tomorrow at
o'clock in the afternoon This is a modi
. hcation OF the original program OF the mil
tary.s funeral here, which contemplate
simply that the body should lie in stat
at ST. Jouhn's until o'clock tomorrow
" and then be taken Immediately TO Arling
, ton, attended by a military escort. Thi
\ is according to the wishes OF the famil
and will give an opportunity TO many o
his comrades who desire to do so to homo
the dead general Following this the bod
will be taken TO Arlington.
The body Of General Wheeler arrive
here at 1855 o'clock tonight and was take
p at once to St. Johns church. A detachmen
: of Spanish war veterans OF this city forme
an escort from the station and constitute
g a guard OF honor at the casket This de
y tachment will remain guard until tn
. regular army guard takes its place at