The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-07-31
Governor Conner and Entire Legis-
 lature Attend Last Obsequies Over Soldier and Statesman.
Services at Home Were Simple Ac- cording to Wishes of the Distinguished Dead.
All Business Suspended in Selma During Hours of Funeral of Central City's Best Loved Son.
BY WILL T. STEPHAN.

Selma. July so.-(special)-The flowers that had been upon the bier or Morgan had scarcely withered, hardly a leaf of the laurel laid upon Morgans tomb had turned. when they brought Pettus and laid him to his rest under the trees of Live Oak.
 Pettus, like Morgan. Is with the brave and the true of all ages.
 To that splendid company that waits the end of all things in Live Oak caretery-that splendid company of those who had been warriors and statesmen. they brought Pettus. and the grass had not yet begun to grow green about the grave of Morgan. Lifelong friends-close-knit friends fin young manhood. fellow-soldiers of the Confederacy, fellow-leaders and fellow-servants of the people of Ala } ibama, they fell asleep almost together. ; and amost together their people laid them tenderly to rest, and to each their people gave his full measure of of each justly and fully will be given the care of Alabama's people.
 In Summer RainstOrm.
 Tn a summer rainstorm. a sudden violent break of lowering clouds. in a driving rain they committed the body of Edmund Winston Pettus today at noon to his native soil, and to the soil of the State he loved so well-the State he so well defended. Thousands were gathered there. a great throng The heavens opened suddenly as the casket was lifted from the funeral car and the earth and all who stood upon 1t were drenched with one of summers fiercest rainstorms.
 The morning had been dark and gloomy, leaden clouds had fioated Just above the tree tops. Now and then the sun had bravely burst through inc gloom in some narrow rift. but the nervous. threatening clouds would quickly mass again and shut out the sun burst of brightness.
 And now and then in the morning the burden of the clouds hung too heavy, and it would be scattered in misty sheets. The green trees, in which Selma is so rich and which is her chieftest beauty. hung heavy With water. Glistening drops nun4 lightly to the tip of the magnolia leaves. The oaks were dark kgreen under eheir
 Hx,xN. L. ..ly ( t1 blades were bowed down under their unaccustomed burden of summer rain.
 State and Nation Join.
 With the dark gray watery clouds overhead, with the earth damp, the sky dark, and to the wailing harmony of dead march, State and Nation, in their representatives. moved forward to consign the body of Edmund Win ston Pettus to the soil upon which he had 0, en born. The citizen soldiers of his own State. roo strong. lined up be- hind the wailing band, their uniforms of blue and brass glistening, even un- der the gloom of the clouds of a sum mer day. Officer and soldier moved forward to the slow harmony of the dead march and as they moved forward the rain drops gathered upon the sa- bre of the officer and ran down the rifle stock in the hand of the man as he held his rife.
 It was only a misty drizzle, as the Governor of Alabama, the Senators of the United States. the members of the American House of Congress the law makers of Alabama: the friends and the members of that large family cir cle of which Edmund Winston Pettus was the center. entered their carriages for the last drive to Live Oak. Thous- ands of eyes were turned upwards to the leaden skies and thousands of un- spoken hopes ascended that the mem ace of the elements should not find expression.
 But the hope was in vain The long line of carriages was turning it's way among the grass bordered drives of Live Oak, the citizen soldiers of Ala bama were marching and counter marching along the side of the stone wall for their formation for the exer- cises of the grave, thousands and thousands of Alabamas people Were hurrying into the cemetery to pay trib- ute to the memory of Alabama's best beloved son, and thousands of them were ladies who braved the threat of the clouds, when the skies opened and the storm broke.
 First Came Great Drops.
 It came first in great drops that fell upon the tree leaves with the noise of frightened animals scurrying through the autumn woods. Then men,