Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1917-02-21
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n Wednesday last the mortal
a " part of Washington the
%SzsF great--the Father Of His
Country and the friend of
man-was consigned to the tomb with
solemn honors and funeral pomp."
This is the opening paragraph in the
newspaper story of the burial Of
George Washington as told by the u
ster County Gazette. published at
Kingston, N T., Jan. 4, 1900. AL
though the column rules of the news
paper are inverted. the story appears
to have been only secondary in ilnpor-
lance in the minds OF the editors, as it
is published on the thisi page and
without any unusual display.
1t is dated at Georgetown, Dec. 20
1893, and bears the modest head
Washington Entombed." Genuine
copies of the paper are rare and valua.
BILE. but 1t has been reprinted In fac
simile many times
The paper says:
"A multitude OF persons assembled
from miles around at Mount Vernon,
the choice abode and last residence of
the illustrious chief There were the
groyes-the spacious avenues, the
beautiful and sublime scenes, the noble
mansion-but, alas, the august inhab-
liant was now no morei That great
soul was gone. His mortal part was
there indeed; but, ah, how affecting.
how awful the spectacle OF such worth
and greatness, thus, to mortal eyes.
fallen-yes, fallen. fallen.
I'm the long 3 nd lofty portico, where
oft the hero walked in all bis glory.
now lay the shrouded corpse. The
'ounteuance, still composed and serene,
seemed to express the dignity Of the
spirit which lately dwelled in the life
less form. There those who paid the
last sad honors to the benefactOr of
his country took an impressive-a fare
well-view.
"On the ornament at the head of the
coffin was inscribed Surge ad Judi
cum about the middle of the coffin,
| Gloria DeO,' and on the silver plate,
General George Washington. departed
this life on the 14th Of December, 1899.
Act 6s.'
Between 8 md 4 o'clock the sound
| Of artillery from the vessel IN the river
| firing minute guns awoke afresh our
| solemn sorrow-the corpse was remoy-
ed-a band Of music with mournfui
melody melted the soul into all the
tenderness of woe.
1.-THE procession was formed and
moved on In the following order with
arms reversed:
Cavalry, infantry, guard. music and
clergy.
1.-THE generals horse with his saddle,
holster and pistols
"Colonels Simms, Ramsey. Payne.
| Gilpin, Marsteller and Little. pallbear-
ers; corpse, mourners, Masonic breth-
rem. citizens.
when the procession had arrived at
the bottom of the elevated lawn. on
the banks of the Potomac. where the
family vault is placed, the cavalry
halted, the infantry marched toward
the mount and formed their lines. the
clergy, the Masonic brethren and the
citizens descended to the vault, and
The funeral service of the church was
performed.
The firing was repeated from the
vessel IN the river aud the sounds ech-
oed from the woods and hills around
''Three general discharges by the In
fantry, the cavalry and eleven pieces
OF artillery. which lined the banks Of
the Potomac back OF the vault, paid
the last tribute to the entombed com
! mander In chief Of the armies Of the
| United States and TO the departed hero.
'Srhe sun was now setting. Alas.
the son Of glory was set forever! No,
the name of Washington, the Ameri-
can president and general, viii triumph
over death. The unelouded brightness
Of his glory will illuminate the future
! ages