The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-04-25

Lincoln's funeral was one of the mos,
extraordinary in the worlds history. The
mourners numbered more than 5000, 900
The funeral cortege moved over route
more than l,5O0 miles long. from the Ma
tional Capital. where the great President
had laid down his life in the service OF
his country, to the prairie city of Spring
field. ILL.,, whence he had come little
more than four years before to take UP
the burdens of the Presidency.
Along that route various haltS were
made, where Borrowing throngs paid
their homage of grief at the bier of the
bestowed man of his time. The Nations
tribute to Lincoln dead, on this solemn
funeral journey. was spontaneous. SIM
pie. genuine. showing now deeply the
plain, honest and loving man had touched
the hearts of his courtrymen. Men and
women gazed upon his features for the
last time. and wept beside his coffin. a:
though mourning dead friend. This
personal touch of sorrow. this tribute
to the man and not to the fallen ruler,
was the distinguishing feature of the
great funeral of Abraham Lincoln.
This funeral. begun in Washington on
April 10. lasted until May 4, when the
body of the President was put to rest in
a vault at Oak Ridge Cemetery. Spring
field. in the rolling, open country OF
Illinois. which he had loved so well.
On the morning of Lincolns death in
the little bedroom Of lodging house In
Tenth street, Washington. to which he
had been removed from the theater where
Booth shot him. his body. in a temporary
coffin, was taken to the White House.
There is was embalmed and placed in
suitable casket and there 1t lay. in
he act
April 10.
Then. while the churches Of the coun-
try were holding solemn services OF
requiem. the body was drawn in a great
funeral car through the blacE-draped
streets of Washington to the Capitol.
where il was to lie in state.
The strength and dignity of the nation
found expression in that first stage of
Lincolns long funeral journey. Sea
soned troops. splendidly equipped. from
the great army that had brought the
war for the Union to a successful issue
only ten days before, formed the funeral
escort.
The new President. his Cabinet. Sena-
tors and Representatives. judges. army
and navy officers. foreign ministers and
dignitaries in civil life followed the fu-
neral car. Among these mourners were
special delegations representing Lincoln s
State of Kentucky and mis- adopted State
Of Illinois, and at the head of the pro-
cession. In symbolism Of Lincoln's life
work done, marched a detachment of
negro troops.
From the forenoon Of April 10 to the
evening Of April 20. Lincoln's body lay
In state under the Capitols lofty dome.
while mourning thousands passed in slow
procession before 1t. and viewed the pale
face beneath a plate of glass
II was decided that the funeral Jour-
ney should be in reverse Of the route
Lincoln had followed when he came to
Washington for his Inauguration.
On the morning OF April q the body
was escorted with solemn pomp to a
funeral train, and placed in car that
had been reserved, in the war time. for
the use Of the President. Here. on a
plain. black-draped stand, the casket was
placed. Across the head Of the apart
ment was another and much smaller cas-
ket, that containing the body of Lincoln's
little son Willie. whose death at the
blow to the President. The little form
was now to make the last Journey to a
final resting place In Springfield.
An offlcial guard Of honor. members OF
the Presidents family. representatives Of
State and nation. army and navy, 5u-
dietary and executive, occupied the train.
which at q. m. drew out Of Washington
for the funeral Journey.
The first stop was at Baltimore, the
city through which Lincoln had been
obliged to hurry at night when on his
way to Washington. to escape supposed
assassins. Although the day was stormy,
with heavy wind and rain, crowds waited
the funeral train and when the body.
placed IN . great hearse drawn by four
black horses and escorted by military
forces and wailing bands, was taken to
the exchange. the people reverently barred
their heads n It passed.
CONN was placed upon a catafalque. and
q steady line OF people. AT 2:30 the comm
was closed and the funeral march was
resumed to Q station. from which the
train departed for Harrisburg. Pa.
Pennsylvania's capital was reached at
8 IN the evening. In IT. storrp-washed
streets throngs waited to watch the pass
ing OF the funeral corteye to the State
capitol. Here, until midnight, the body
was exposed 10 view 70 . stream Of
m0urners. Next morning the capitol was
opened at Z. and the crowds poured In
again. while diaAppointed Thousands wait
"a outside. At noep the funeral Journey
was resumed for PhfAdslphiA-
AZ IaAeDesAeaee Iaa,i.
A. the funeral trSin passed through
villages ana towns o. tie line to Phila-