Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-04-17

NR. STE WARTS FUNERAL.
The funeral services of the late Mr. Stewart
were solemnized Thursday. At an early hour
people began 10 collect about the house of the
dead merchant, from which point the procession
was to start BY o'clock these had increased
to dense crowd, and by 10 Fifth avenue and
Thnty-fourh street were closely packed for hun
died. of feet in each direction. People
mounted on the area ratings and filled all the
steps in the neighborhood of the doors. Every
window was flied with heads Carriages made
their way through the crush slowly and with diff
Gully, only these being permitted to pass whose
occupants could show cards of invitation to the
ceremony. Strong cordons of police drawn up on
Thirty fourth street preserved an open square in
front Of the entrance to the house. Up the broad
marble steps double line of policemen was in
tersperscd with ushers, sombre with Grape, who
inspected the cards of visitors. The crowd was
orderly in an exceptional degree, and all the ar
engagements were carried out successfully and
without difficulty.
All the rooms on the ground floor were thrown
open to the reception of visitors. The reception
room on the right of the entrance, the great par
lor on the Fifth avenue side, the picture gallery,
the lateral Railways and the several large rooms
on the west side of the house soon became
crowded to the point of discomfort. The
body lay exposed in the ma lin hall. The coffin
in which it was inclosed wa, constructed of Eng
lsn oak, lined with deliberately quilted In
covered with Lyons velvet and ornamented with
gold plated moulding; gold fringe four inches
deep depended from Its upper edges; the hd
thrown back. bore upon its inner side silver in
seIjption plate. The &C Hin rested upon cata-
faque of flowers two and half feet in height.
At its head rose floral cross and a broken col
umn surmounted by dove the latter presented
by the employees of Mr. Stewart's wholesale house.
AT the foot of the coffin stood column surmount-
cd by violet wreath Other floral designs were
paced hickly roundabout.
The doors of the house were opened at s o'clock
-. "a u. II 4. ri. -. 4.
who were to act as ushers at the church, were adj
united to view Tie body. After this the invited
guests began to arrive and continued coming up
TO 10 80.
There was some little excitement at report
flat Mrs. Stewart bad tainted in the room above
just she about to come down to be present
at the service which Bishop Potter then wait
ing to read; bat she appeared presently leaning
upon the arm of Judge Hilton. The Bishop re-
pea,cd part of the Episcopal burial service and
the Lords II ay er, in which latter he joined
by those present DR.. Tying assisted The bishop
The services concluded, the Bishop retire 10 the
muse room, while the clerks of Mr.. Stewart be-
gan 10 march in single procession, passing from
right To left around the coffin and out again. The
march began at 10 rs and moved at the rate of
forty persons per minute but at the expiration of
an hour and more it was found necessary, owing
to the pressure of time, TO bring the procession TO
close before all had been given opportunity Of
viewing the remains.
closed and the pail-bearers took up their position
either side OF it.
The hcarse was constructed with glass sides, so
that the coffin could be plainly seen. Black vel
vet curtains, Hinged and tasseed with gold, hung
round about 1t IN graceful folds. 1t was drawn by
two jet black horses with silver. mounted harness
and black pumes. The drivers wore black silk
goves ard black beaver hats Following were
forty carriages, provided for the guests, whose
drivers aud foot men were attired similarly to
hngpn he pl uFt t,n- mi;
waite carriages, probably more than one hundred
III number.
As soon as the coffin had been carried ont Of
doors the throng inside pressed about the catafa-
que on which it had stood, in order to admire it
more closely, when the ushers began to pluck out
the ilo~ers of which it was composed, and dis
tribute them among the ladies, so that these went
oat TO their carriages laden with beautiful me-
mentoes.
The procession moved very slowly owing TO the
denseness OF the crowd. 1t passed down Fifth
avenue to Tenth street. and thence through Tenth
street to the church, which had long been illed
and waiting.
| Long before 10 o'clock the sidewalk in front of
St. Marks Church and the thorough for four
blocks around we've thronged with crowds of men
| and women anxious TO get glimpse of the fun
| eral. The windows and balconies of the houses
| in 1.-THE neighborh0od swarmed with we-dresscd
men and women, and the trees, lamppos.. aud the
| roofs Of the houses around the church were alive
with men and boys.
| AT II O'Clock he gates were opened, and when
| the people who came down with the funeral cor.
| tege had been admitted, there was not room for
more than half the other card-holdefs who rro-
ceeded, IN an orderly manner, tosqueeze in w..rre-
ever they could On II a toofhoid crowded every
corner aad recess, blocked up tie ases and then
! left many Of their nuglber out ON the sidewalk,
the gates having been closed again IS soon as the
| church was flied.
The body Of The church wa v bout decoration,
| except the handsome ole ngs Of flowers sent by