Rensselaer Journal, Volume 10, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 March 1901 — FUNERAL OF GEN. HARRISON [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

FUNERAL OF GEN. HARRISON

Final Marks of Respect to Dead Statesman. IS PRONOUNCED A PATRIOT. Fraeldent MeKlnley at th* Funeral Sunday Afternoon The Entire Nation Mourns with the State of Indiana the Loss of Her Foremost Citizen. In the presence of 15,000 friends, neighbors and admirers the body of General Benjamin Harrison, former president of the United States, was Sunday afternoon lowered to its last resting place in the beautiful Crown Hill cemetery. The scene was deeply impressive. Indiana was paying her final honor to her foremost citizen. The nation was bidding farewell to a clean honest, patriotic and fearless leader —a man tried on the field of battle, and the no less exacting arena of statesmanship and found wanting in neither. He had won abundant honor during life; in death the public to whom he had endeared

himself withheld no honor or reepect which could be shown. Beside the coffin stood the chief executive of the United States, men distinguished in all walks of life, of all shades of political color; mourners from every state in the union; back of them, massed as far as the eye could reach, were the thousands who knew General Harrison as a great man and leader; all gathered to pay reverential tribute to his memory, the silent yet eloquent mark of respect that Americans show to a thorough American. Sorrow Is General. It is doubtful if any public man, at least in this generation, was borne to his last resting place among so many manifestations of respect. Of passionate grief there was little beyond the members of his family, but the tribute of respect was universal. It came from all alike, from those of his own political faith, and from those who differed with him; from men who have been his lifelong friends and from those who knew him merely by sight and to whom he never spoke. It came from women and children, from white and black, from all conditions and kinds of people. There was no exception anywhere to the expression that the nation had lost one of its ablest men and the greatest man of his generation in his own state; there was but the one feeling—that a man had died who was honest at all times with himself and with others and whose ability and character were such as the nation could ill afford to lose. Granted a Perfect Day. The weather was unsurpassable, bright sunlight—the warm breath of spring in every breeze, and yet in the air a touch of winter that brought the blood to the cheek and the sparkle to the eye. The services at the church and grave were simple in the extreme,

all in most excellent taste,and, like the proceedings yesterday, there was an utter absence of friction in everything that was done. All was well ordered and well performed. At the Harrison home before the remains were taken to the First Presbyterian church, were the full service was held, there were brief exercises for the members of the family and mors immediate friends of General Harrison. Possibly 150 people

were present. Mrs. Harrison did Mat appear, but remained in her room util it was time to leave for the church. President McKinley, accompanied by Governor Durbin, called at the house about 1 o’clock. At about the same time came the members of President Harrison’s cabinet and others continually arrived until the short services were over. House Was Crowded. The people sat in the parlors, filled the halls and a number of them sat upon the stairs while Dr. Haines read a short passage from the scriptures and made a few remarks touching the life and character of General Harrison, as did Dr. Niccols of St. Louis, and after a brief prayer by Dr. Haines the services were over. The florist’s wagon backed up to the front of the house and a number of the larger pieces were loaded into the vehicle preparatory to being taken to the church. Word was then sent to Mrs. Harrison that the time had come for the body to be removed to the church, and she at once came down from her room into the parlor. There were a few minutes of bustle, whispered directions by the undertaker and his assistant and a marshaling of the honorary pall bearers into column of twos. The doors were thrown wide open and the honorary pallbearers, who were General Benjamin F. Tracy of New York; John Wanamaker of Philadelphia, W. H. H. Miller of Indianapolis, John W. Noble of St. Louis, Charles Foster of Fostoria, Ohio; General Lew Wallace of Indianapolis, Judson Harmon of Cincinnati and William A. Woods of Indianapolis, came slowly down the walk leading to the street. Carried by Noted Men. After them came the active pallbearers bearing the casket. They were A. ■L. Mason, James Whitcomb Riley, Evans Woollen, Harry J. Milligan, Clifford Arrick, William C. Bobbs, Harry S. New, Howard Cale, John T. Griffiths, Newton B. Tarkington, Hilton U. Brown and Samuel Reid. Behind the casket came Mrs. Harrison with her brother, Lieutenant Commander Parker, of the navy, and little Elizabeth Harrison. At the Cemetery. It was nearly 5 o’clock when the line of relatives and friends came up the graveled path to the tomb. The stillness of evening had come. There was hardly a sound in the air. On the arm of Lieutenant Commander Parker Mrs. Harrison took her place at the head of the coffin, which had been borne to the side of the grave by the pallbearers. Through the heavy mourning veil which she wore there were visible marked signs of the grief through which she had passed. Her lips trembled continually, and it was evident that she kept her emotion under control by the greatest effort. Near her on the left stood the general’s son, Russell B. Harrison, with

his wife and Mr. and Mrs. McKee. 001. Harrison kept his eyes fixed on the casket, never turning them away from it during the service. Mrs. Russell Harrison and Mrs. McKee were composed, but now and then a little storm of emotion would shake them and their faces would be buried in their handkerchiefs. The brothers of Gen. Harrison—John Scott Harrison and Carter B. Harrison—stood close together, old men with faces that revealed how deeply they felt their loss. Mrs. Newcomer and Mr. and Mrs. S. V. Morris were together at the side of the grave. The other relatives stood to the left and slightly below them in the circle which was formed for the service of burial. President McKinley came to the grave with Mrs. Durbin and stood with her during the brief service. When the prayer was offered the president was seemingly in deep thought and remained so with bowed head after the final word had been said. Gen. H»rrtion a Patriot. The Rev. Mr. Hainee in his brief sermon at the house said: “What a noble example he furnished of Intelligent and courageous and continuing patriotism. He felt himself to the last to be a vital part of the nation. He did not lose his interest in its welfare after he came out of office. On the contrary, that Interest deepened and increased until its strength upon his mind and heart was heavy."

GEN. HARRISON IN 1864.

MRS. HARRISON, THE WIDOW.

ELIZABETH HARRISON.