The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-31
THOUSANDS WITNESS
 TIE CLOSING SCENE
Funeral Train Reaches Selma at 5 O'Clock and Funeral Is Held at
 1 O'Clock In the
 Afternoon.
BY R. E. L. NEIL.


 Selma, July .-(speeial)- Beside her who in life was his tenderest concern, his wife for 62 years, within a few steps of him who was bis greatest pride his dls- tinguished son, sleeps Senator Edmund Winston Pettus, patriot soldier, states. man, citizen beloved and revered. Ten derly hands wonted to grasp his in warm est friendship laid his mortal remains over the open grave and thousands of eyes sccus tomed 10 greet his stalwart form day by day tearfully saw 1t descend into the earth from which it sprang, at 1 o'clock this afternoon. Earth to earth. dust to dust, ashes to ashes" said the preacher, and there echoed back in truth, "Oh grave where is thy victory. Oh, death, where is thy sting?"
 Follows Morgan.
 Selma again opened Its sorrowing arms today to receive another distinguished brought back cold In death. Six weeks ago, on June l5, John Tyler Morgan was appropriately, tenderly and lovingly laid to rest beside the tomb over the grave of William Rufus King, once vice president Of the United States. Today a half hun dred yards from where sleeps his col league, and about twenty feet from tho tomb over the remains of Lieut. Gen. William J, Hardee. c. g. A., was laid to rest with similar tenderness and love Edmund Winston Pettus. Not in the his- tory Of any city does such an experience come. and there is no wonder that Sell mians go about with hushed voices and bowed heads. Proud of her Morgan, proud of her Pettus, to have them both in less than two months time is enough to weigh down with sorrow and grief any com- munity.
 The remains of Senator Pettus reached the city about o'clock and remained at the depot until o'clock when they were taken from the car and placed in the hearse to be transported to the residence on Alabama. where he has lived since coming to Selma in 1S66
 Back Home.
 It was an imposing spectacle that the large crowds of citizens who thronged either side of Broad street witnessed as the funeral corteg passed to the home ]. from which the stalwart form of the hon i ored dead had passed only few weeks ' ago in robust manhood The military pageant was splendidly conceived and spendicly carried out. It was perhaps the first time in the history of Alabama since the war at least that military e. cort of such proportions officiated at the obsequies of a distinguished citizen. Sen ator Fettus acquired the rank of a brig adler general during the war between the gtates. AS a brigadier general he was Il i'd to rest today. The military escort
 insists for brigadier of a regiment oF .fantry, troop of cavalry and battery artillery, commanded by, a brigadier sneral. The military today was in com land of Gen. Bbb Graves, the ranking ,,icer of the National Guard present. Me- ulls band preceded the procession, fol-
 ing close behind the platoon of police
 ..ch kept the streets clear. The first ,npany in line was Company c, the Ah- ott Rifles of this city. This company as also especially detailed to form the nes between which the casket enclosing ,.6e remains of the dead senator passed {from the train to the hearse and from the 3hearse into the house and at the grave. Following the military escort came he ministers carriage and pallbearers' coach, the heaEse, the carriages containing the family and members of Camp Jones, l.. L. E of which Senator Pettus was mem- ber At the house the casket was borne over the threshold by loving hands and the body placed in the parlor, where It lay, in state until the hour of the funeral
 Governor and Legislature Arrive. At il o'clock the train bearing Gov ernor Conner and several members of his staff, court officers, state officials and senators and representatives reached the city, and were transported 10 the Central FCity club where they remained until the hour for the burial.
 The congressional committee also as sembled at the club rooms and shortly after 12 o'clock the line of march was formed, and the distinguished guests wen 10 the late home of the senator to witness the funeral services.
 The Services.
 Conducted by Rev. F. G. Railing. who is supplying the pulpit of the Broad Street Presbyterian church. the services were tmple but impressive The choir sweetly endered My Faith Looks Up to Thee and Rock of Ages" the lesson being read from the 14th chapter of St. John, and but one prayer being offered. Within the house were allowed all that could be com fortably accommodated and included. be- sides the family and most intimate friends the members of Camp Jones, T.. C. ", the congressional escort, the governor and staff, chief justice of the supreme court, state officers and prominent members Of the legislature of both houses.
 Rain Drenched Crowd. As the funeral cortege entered Live Oak cemetery there was slight drizzle of rain , which quickly turned into downpour, literally drenching the two or three thou sand men. women and children present Umbrellas were raised but the intensity of the shower was such that no simple umbrella would shed the water and it was a bedraggled throng that after the