coln, throughout the day. At intervals the coffin was freshly covered with flowers by the ladies. It was estimated that more than fifty thousand persons viewed the remains, and when the coffin closed, near midnight, there were still hundreds in line, disappointed in their efforts to look on the face of the dead. The funeral party being the guests of the city, were quartered at the Weddell House. While the funeral party were in Cleveland they were waited upon by Charles L. Wilson, editor of the Chicago Journal, as chairman of the Committee of One Hundred citizens, appointed by the City Council of Chicago, "to proceed to Michigan City to receive the remains of President Lincoln, escort them to Chicago, and accompany them to Springfield." Mr. Wilson tendered the hospitalities of the city to the funeral escort when they should arrive in Chicago, and stated that, up to the time of his departure, forty-one organizations and societies, representing twenty-five thousand men, had reported to the Chief Marshal their intention to form part of the procession. The saloons of Cleveland were all closed during the stay of the funeral party in that city, by a proclamation from the Mayor; and, in order to control the movements of the vast multitude, all the streets leading to the Park were fenced up and gates placed in the centre. They were guarded by military, and the people admitted no faster than they could view the remains and pass out. In this way, all crowding about the temple was avoided. The procession began re-forming about ten o'clock p. m., and escorted the remains to the depot. CHAPTER XVIII. At midnight, the funeral cortege left Cleveland, to continue its westward course. Rain continued to fall, but that did not abate the anxiety of the people. Among the towns worthy of special mention, on account of their costly and elaborate demonstrations, were Berea, Olmstead, Columbia, Grafton, Lagrange, Wellington, Rochester, New London, Greenwich, Shiloh, Shelby and Crestline, the latter place being reached at seven minutes past four o'clock a. m. At all these places the depots were draped and the national flag shrouded in mourning. Mottoes and inscriptions expressive of the sorrow of the people were everywhere visible. Through the rain and darkness they came, bearing lanterns and torches, that they might obtain a passing view of the great funeral pageant. Galion, Iberia and Gilead, each presented the same appearance, and the train arrived at Cardington at 5:20 a. m., Saturday, April 29. The largest gathering seen after leaving Cleveland, were collected at this place, about three thousand people being present. The depot was handsomely draped with mourning flags. Over the doorway was an inscription, in large letters, "He sleeps in the blessings of the poor, whose fetters God commissioned him to break." The train arrived and departed to the sound of minate guns and the tolling of bells. Ashley, Eden, Delaware, Berlin, Lewis' Centre, Orange, Westerville and Worthington, all presented the same appearance of depots draped in mourning. with mottoes, inscriptions, and increasing crowds of people. The train arrived at Columbus, Ohio, at 7:30 a. m., Saturday, April 29. By way of preparing for appropriately honoring the remains of the late Chief Magistrate, the following order had been promulgated at the proper time: General Order, No 5. GEN'L H'DQ'RS, STATE OF OHIO, Major John W. Skiles, Eighty-eighth O. V. I., is hereby appointed Chief Marshal of the ceremonies in honor of the remains of the late President Lincoln, in the city of Columbus, on the twenty-ninth inst. He will appoint his own aides, and will have entire control of the ceremonies and procession attending the transfer of the remains from and to the depot. All societies, delegations, or other organizations, wishing to participate in the ceremonies, will report, by telegraph or letter, to the Chief Marshal on or before ten o'clock a. m. of Friday, the twenty-eighth inst. The headquarters of the Chief Marshal, during Thursday and B. R. COWEN, Immediately on the arrival of the train, the funeral party were taken in carriages, the carriages moving three abreast, and the coffin was conveyed to a magnificent hearse. It was seventeen feet long, eight and a half feet wide, and seventeen and a half feet from the ground to the top of the canopy. The floor of the hearse was four feet from the ground. A dais was raised two and a half feet above the floor, making six and a half feet above the ground. On this the coffin rested, where it was sufficiently elevated for all to see it. The canopy was formed like a Chinese pagoda. The interior of the canopy was lined with silk flags, and the outside covered with black broadcloth. The dais, main floor,and the entire hearse was covered with black cloth, which hung in festoons from the main platform to within a few inches of the ground. The broadcloth was fringed with silver lace and ornamented with heavy tassels of black silk. Surrounding the cornice were thirty-six silver stars, and on the apex and the four corners were heavy black plumes. The canopy was curtained with black cloth and lined with white merino. On each side of the dais was the name "Lincoln," in silver letters. The hearse was drawn by six white horses, all covered with black cloth, edged with silver fringe. The heads of the horses were surmounted with large black plumes, and each was led by a groom, dressed in black, with white gloves and a white band around his hat. The flowers of Buffalo and Cleveland were still on the lid of the coffin. The procession was by far the most grand and imposing of any that had ever marched through the streets of the capital of Ohio. It was composed of soldiers, citizens and civic societies, not of Columbus only, but of Cincinnati and other cities and towns for many miles around. At the Soldiers' Hospital, the invalids had adorned the palings in front of the building with national flags, trimmed with mourning, and displayed other evidences of sorrow. These invalids, made so in the service of their country, gathered flowers and branches, principally lilac, and for several hundred yards, had strewn them on each side of the street, where the procession was to pass. Many of the soldiers appeared on crutches. Amid the tolling of bells and the booming of cannon, the solemn cortege wended its way to the State Capitol. The pillars of that beautiful white edifice were artisticially draped in mourning, and flags were at halfmast on each side of the dome. Displayed conspicuously, in large black letters, were the following words: "With malice toward none, with charity for all." Arched over the gate leading to the grounds, were the words, "Ohio Mourns," and over the entrance to the building, "God moves in a mysterious way." The interior of the capitol was draped in the most elaborate and costly style. The coffin was conveyed into the rotunda, where it was deposited on a mound of moss, thickly dotted with the choicest of flowers, and surrounded by elegant vases of rare exotics. The walls were adorned with Powell's great painting of Perry's victory on Lake Erie; with clusters of battle flags, torn and riddled with bullets, as they were borne by Ohio regiments in suppressing the rebellion. These were festooned with crape, and drooped sadly around the spacious rotunda. As soon as the coffin was properly arranged, the spectators began to pass before the re-. mains. Solemn dirges were performed at intervals, and guns were fired during the day. In the afternoon, a meeting was held at the east side of the capitol. On the stage were Major Generals Hooker and Hunter, with the clergy of the city. Rev. Mr. Goodwin opened the services with prayer. The Hon. Job E. Stevenson then addressed the vast assemblage, in a most eloquent and thrilling oration. He was listened to with the most profound attention from beginning to end. I can only give a very brief synopsis. He said: "Ohio mourns, America mourns, the civilized world will mourn the cruel death of Abraham Lincoln, the brave, the wise, the good; bravest, wisest, best of men. History alone can measure and weigh his worth, but we, in parting from his mortal remains, may indulge the fullness of our hearts, in a few broken words, of his life, his death and his fame. A western farmer's son, self-made, in early manhood he won by sterling qualities of head and heart, the public confidence, and was entrusted with the people's power. Growing with his State, he became a leader in the west. Elected President, he disbelieved |