The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-07-22
The Funeral of Hon. II. II. steele.

We find in the Burlington Free Press
of Monday aletter containing full account
of the funeral Of Judge Steele, AS every
thing pertaining to the last hours and
burial of one so well known and respected
is full of interest to the public we give the
main features of the occasion that have
not already appeared in the GroBR.
The remains of the late Benjamin II.
Steele were buried at Hartland Friday after
noon. A cold dripping mist that shrouded
the village during the funeral ceremonies,
added gloom to the mournful occasion. A
short preliminary service at the late resi-
dence of Judge Steele was conducted by
Rev. DIR. j. G. Hubbard of Claremont, N
H., after which, family and friends formed
in procession and passed to the little church
near by, where the deceased had formerly
been worshipper
The pall-bearers were Messrs. Herman
Holt, G.. ii. Fletcher, A. b. Nelson, George
ID Wymen, w. d. Boardman, w. II.
Sturtevant. All but two of these gentle
men had been students at law in the Office
of Judge Steele.
After appropriate religious exercises in
the church, sermon was preached by Rev
j. O. Bittinger, of Hartland, some time
| since pastor of the Congregational Church
in st. Adams. Mr.. Bittinger was class
mate at Dartmouth of Judge Steele and
knew him intimately, both in his youth and
in his mature years. The discourse was
devoted to eulogistic but discriminating
sketch of the life and services of the de.
ceased, drawing attention to the main
events in his brief but brilliant career and
to his salient qualities as scholar, a law.
yer and man. Judge Steele, according
to the speakers estimate, was a man OF
keen and vigorous intellect, man of broad
and generous culture and man of positive
though liberal religious convictions. AS {
politician, he was high-mnded and honor
able, and never retained any feeling o.
personal enmity toward political opponents
Of his social qualities as neighbor ant
friend, it was enough to say that his dealt
brought sorrow to every household il
IIartland.
The emotion so generally manifested b,
the listeners to the discourse gave evidenc
that the people of this neighborhood SUI
fered real bereavement in the death o
Judge Steele.
The remains were laid to rest in church
yard which overlooks the winding Connec
ticut and broad and varied landscape @
hill and valley.
Had it not been for the uncertainty as t
Just where the funeral was to take place
there would have been larger attendant
upon the ceremonies. AS it was, the train
, brought in considerable number of til
Windsor county bar and other gentleme
of prominence in this State.
Although Judge Steele had been hop,
) lessly ill for long time, yet his deaf
, coming SO soon as it did, was a sudden an
unexpected blow to his friends. In ia,
the sick man lived on by sheer force {
will so long as he had the slightest physic
basis to support him. Suddenly this fe
) away and death followed from simple e.
haustion. A short time before he died
called in aphysician from whom he learnt
that he could not, by any possibility, r
3 cover. He then inquired if he had left III
tried any remedy that might have effectt
, his cure. The physician told him that
had done all that he could have done, al
that nothing would have saved him. judi
4 Steele replied that having done his best
J. preserve his life for the comfort of friend
he could but congratulate himself, no
5 that he had failed; and in this spirit
f phlosophic composure he passed away.