The Services at Elberon.--Journey to Washington.--Lying in
State.--Queen Victoria's Offering.--Impressive Ceremonies in
the Capitol Rotunda.
On the morning of September twenty-first, the black-cloth casket,
containing all that was mortal of President Garfield, was placed in the
parlor of the Francklyn Cottage, at Long Branch; and for one brief hour,
a motley throng of city people and country folk were permitted to look
upon the wasted form of one they had learned to regard as a personal
friend.
Brief religious services were read by Rev. C. J. Young of the Dutch
Reformed Church at Long Branch, and then Mrs. Garfield and her daughter,
followed by the members of the Cabinet, entered the waiting train; the
casket was placed in the funeral car, and slowly, sadly, amidst the
solemn tolling of the bells, the heavily draped train left the Elberon
station. At Princeton Junction, three hundred students with uncovered
heads stood on either side the track, and scattered choice flowers
beside the train for more than a hundred yards. Bells were tolled in all
the towns and villages through which the funeral party passed, and a
reverent stillness pervaded the waiting throngs at the various stations
on the way.
At four, P. M., the train reached Washington, and the casket was borne
at once to the Capitol.
All night long, the remains of the martyred President remained exposed
to view, and without cessation the stream of visitors passed through the
rotunda. At an early hour in the morning the throng at the east front of
the Capitol began to increase, and at eight o'clock fully five thousand
people were patiently and quietly waiting in two lines. From that hour
the crowd constantly increased, and at eleven o'clock there was a dense
mass of people in front of the main steps on the east front, extending
for two squares up East Capitol Street. People from the outlying country
flocked to the city, while every incoming train upon the several
railroads was heavily freighted with those who had come to testify their
profound sorrow at the nation's bereavement.
Queen Victoria had telegraphed to the British minister to have a floral
tribute prepared and presented in her name. It was placed at the bier of
the President. It was very large, and was an exquisite specimen of the
florist's art, composed of white roses, smilax and stephanotis. It was
accompanied by a mourning card bearing the following inscription:--
"Queen Victoria to the memory of the late President
Garfield. An expression of her sorrow and sympathy with Mrs.
Garfield and the American nation.
"Sept. 22, 1881,"
By half-past one, P. M., on Friday, the 23d, arrangements for the
funeral ceremonies in the rotunda were all completed and the chairs and
sofas labelled to designate for whom they were reserved. The positions
of the floral offerings were changed, and now nothing remained upon the
casket save a few branches of palm. At the head of the catafalque stood
a broken column of white and purple flowers, surmounted by a white dove.
On either side of this were tastefully arranged a crown and a pyramid of
roses. At the foot, and resting against the black drapery, was the
wreath which by order of the queen was the day before placed upon the
casket. Arranged on each side of this offering from the queen were
handsome crosses, while at their base was placed a magnificent floral
pillow on which was inscribed in violets "Our Martyr President." Next to
this was placed "The Gates Ajar," which also attracted much admiration.
The Knights of Malta contributed a large Maltese cross, and the Union
Veteran corps of which General Garfield was a member, a pillow of white
flowers bearing in violet letters the inscription, "U. V. C., to their
comrade." The whole appearance of the catafalque was tasteful and
elegant. In front of the chairs which were placed on the south side of
the casket were arranged sofas for the accommodation of Mrs. Garfield
and the family of the late President. Directly opposite and on the north
side of the catafalque seats were reserved for the members of the
cabinet and distinguished guests. The front row of chairs in the
northwestern section of the rotunda were placed at the disposal of the
justices of the Supreme Court, while in the rear of these several rows
were selected for the accommodation of senators. The representatives
occupied seats on the southeastern and southwestern sections. Behind
these a row of chairs were reserved for the representatives of the
press, and the remainder of the seats in that section were given to the
public generally.
At exactly quarter to two o'clock the doors of the rotunda were opened.
The first society to arrive was the Knights Templars, Beausant
Commandery of Baltimore. They entered in full regalia, but did not
remain in the hall, simply passing around the catafalque in double file.
Four of their number--Sir Knights Stevens, Lawton, Butler and
Jennings--bore a floral offering in the shape of an immense Maltese
cross, which was reverently placed at the head of the dais. At ten
minutes past two the army of the Cumberland filed in by the door
leading from the senate chamber, and took the seats reserved for them.
Immediately after the doors were thrown open to all holders of tickets.
In ten minutes the chairs set apart for the general public were
completely filled. Soon the members of the diplomatic corps arrived, and
were ushered to the seats reserved for them.
Services were opened by Rev. Dr. Powers promptly at three o'clock. He
ascended the dais and briefly announced the opening hymn, "Asleep in
Jesus, blessed sleep," which was rendered by a choir of fifty voices.
Rev. Dr. Rankin then ascended the raised platform at the head of the
catafalque, and read in a clear, distinct voice the scriptural
selections. Rev. Dr. Isaac Errett then offered prayer.
Immediately after the close of the services the floral decorations were
all removed (Mrs. Garfield having requested that they be sent to her
home at Mentor) except the beautiful wreath, the gift of Queen Victoria,
which had been placed upon the head of the coffin when the lid was
closed, and which remained there when the coffin was borne to the
hearse, and will be upon it till the remains are buried. This touching
tribute of Queen Victoria greatly moved Mrs. Garfield, as only a woman
can feel a woman's sympathy at the time of her greatest earthly sorrow.
The coffin having been placed in the hearse, a single gun was fired from
Hanneman's battery, the Second Artillery Band struck up a funeral march,
and the procession moved around the south front of the Capitol to the
avenue. At least 40,000 people were gathered about the Capitol to
witness the start of the procession, while along the line of march to
Sixth Street the crowd was even greater than on the 4th of March.
Everywhere it was most orderly and quiet; and as the hearse containing
the remains moved along the avenue, from the very door of the Capitol to
the entrance of the depot, all heads were uncovered.
On reaching the depot the military were drawn up in line upon the
opposite side of the street, facing the Sixth Street entrance. The
remains were borne from the hearse upon the shoulders of six soldiers of
the Second Artillery and placed in the funeral car. The ten officers
from the army and navy, selected as the guard of honor, stood with
uncovered heads as the remains were taken from the hearse, and then
escorted them to the car. The diplomatic corps and others who were not
going upon either of the trains did not alight from their carriages.
President Arthur entered the depot with Secretary Blaine, and a few
minutes after entered the Secretary's carriage, and with Ex-President
Grant was driven up the avenue to his temporary home at the residence of
Senator Jones of Nevada. To avoid the crowd about the depot, Mrs.
Garfield was taken to the corner of Maine Avenue and Sixth Street, and
an engine and two cars, including the one intended for her use, were run
down the track, and she was taken on board the train without attracting
any attention. The funeral train was the same used on the trip from Long
Branch, with two additional cars.