Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1876-04-20
Funeral Of the Great New Yelk
Merchant.
A Vast Assemblagc Follow His
. Remains.
Bishop Potter and DR..
Tying Officiate.
His Employees Require One
Hour and a Half to See His
Remains.
Some Interesting Facts Connected
with His Life and Death.

New York, April l3.-Great crowds
collected at an early hour,in the neighbor-
hood Of the late A. T. Stewards house, to
witness the funeral procession.
All along Fifth Avenue the spectators
were stationed in windows and on tops of
houses.
The vast asSemblage was very orderly
and subdued. A small police force in
front of the residence of the deceased kept
back the crowd, and only allowed those to
enter the dwelling WHO wer: provided
with tickets of admission.
The funeral procession started from Mr.
Stewards house about / 80 o'clock.
The body lay iu state all morning, and
was viewed by fully 1000 people. The
remains were supported on bed of
flowers nearly Two feet high. The other
floral decorations we're superb, and could
hardly be excelled in magni6cence. The
coffin was coverd with black velvet, and
bore an inscription on a plate of solid
gold, with gold handles and heavy gold
fringe three inches deep all around it.
The casket was lined with white silk
The body was dressed in a suit Of black
cloth.
The floral gifts we're presented by Mrs.
General Dix, Robt. W. Stewart AID
others.
Bishop Potter and Rev. DR.. S. II.
TJng read a brief funeral service at the
house before the body left. After this
service the employees were all allowed to
enter and take last look at the deceased
They passed at the rate Of about forty.fve
to the minute, but at this pace it took
nearly an hour and half to get through.
The coffin was then lifted and the pros
cession moved down Fifth avenue to
Tenth street, AID across the later thor.
oughfare to the church. The cortege
numbered two hundred carriages, and
extended long distance. Preparations
at the church had been compenced early
in the forenoon. Floral tributes there
were magnificent. The cattafalque stood
at the lower end of the main aisle, and
consisted o. mass of flowers. Large
crowds of ticket holders stood outside of
the church clamoring for admission. 1t
required the utmost efforts of strong
police force to restrain them. Delegations
were present at the church from the
Merchants National Bank and Union
League Club. .....
SCENES AT THE DEATHBED.
Drs. White and Marcy, Mr.. Stewards
family physicians, state that week ago
they entertained hut little hope of their
distinguished PATIENTS recovery. The
malady from which Mr.. Stewart was sut-
fering prostrated him very much from
first, and, although all that patient cafe
and medical skill could accomplish was
done for him, he sank rapidly. For the
three years his health had been better
than for long time previous, and those
who knew him well prorhesied for him
long lease of life despite the fact that he
was nearly seventy.four years of age
Three years ago this spring be was very
seriously i'll, and he then asked his ply
sicians what his prospects were for living
any length of time. He was informed
that they were not very assuring, where,
upon he set about arranging his business
affairs. So thoroughly did he perform
the task Of settling his affairs that the
other members of the firm say the busi>
ness will not suffer any interruption
whatever, but will be carried on as
before.
As has been said before, Mr.. Stewards
condition was past all human remedy
week ago. He was informed OF this fact,
but to the last persistently refused to
permit the public to be aware of it. Last
Sunday morning he was so low that bis
demise was momentarily looked for, but
he held out and to the surprise of his
medical advisers, survived the night.
.7rr THE DEATH SCENE.
One of his physicians, his family and
his faithful butler. William Smith, re.
mained constantly BY his side. During
the forenoon yesterday, be grew very
feeble and gave unmistakabie evidence Of
rapidly approaching dissolution. He had
net been wholly conscious for the past
rty'eight hours, although at times Lo