The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-04-12
ALEXANDER 7. STEWART.
THE PREPARATIONS FOR A GREAT
MERCHANTS OBSEOUIEs.

The Corpse Photographed, and an Artist
Making sketches for n Portrau-The Dts
position Of MIR. stewards Vast Property.
T. stewart h Co.'S wholesale store at
Chambers street and broadway was closed yes
terday to tho general public. The numerous
clerks inside were packing goods to nll orders
that had been given before Mr.. Stewards death,
and could not be postponed, but no new bust
ness was transacted. From early morning until
late in the afternoon q multitude stood before
the only door that was open, gazing at the un-
wonted spectacle OF the closed shutters and re-
warded II they obtained an occasional glimpse
OF the Interior when some one sue
coeded In persuadnR the doorkeeper, pro
tenn, that his business was OF SUFFICIENT
importance to warrant his admttance. MIR.
Llbbey, the only general partner now living OF
the firm OF At. Stewart & Co., arrived at tho
wholesale store soon after ten o'clock, and ind
ing himself at once the source from which all
information relative to the dead millionaire was
expected. he retired into his private once and
refused TO see any one whose business with him
not OF paramount Importance. But the in
quirers were not 20 be denied, and he finally
drove up town to the mansion at Fifth avenue
aud Thirty-fourth street. Mr.. butler said that
before noon he had granted interviews to at
least lfty persons. II was point Of honor with
present.
In the retail store at broadway and Ninth and
Tenth streets no business OF any kind was done,
tho clerks having been all dismissed until
Friday morning. The doors were all closed, ex-
cept the one in Ninth street, and the shutters Of
every window were drawn down. Mr.. Denning,
the Superintendent, had charge OF the cstab-
lishment, and told those who insisted upon see
ing him that he had nothing to say about the
affairs Of his late employer. lie was less pressed
for information, however, than were Messrs.
Llbbey and Butter. for the great majority Of the
callers were ladies. who, seeming not to have
heard ANYTHING about Mr.. Stewards death, and
falling to interpret the significance OF the g
uoating above the building halt mast high, per-
sistently tried TO enter hy one door alter an
other, and expressed surprise when they learned
that their purchases must be deferred until
Friday morning.
The flags OF the City Hall, and of nearly all
the public edi1ces as well as those over large
mercantile houses. were lowered to halt mast,
and in every part Of the city the one absorbing
topic among business men was the death uf Nr.
Stewart. But the central point of interest was
the marolc mansion In Ftith avenue where the
blinds were drawn down. there, early as
o'clock, multitude congregated, ana flr at
least ten hours the idlers stared persistently at
tue great house opposite. As the day wore on,
Fiftn avenue, near Thirty-fourth street, was
ulled with promcnBders, aud all looked ~ At
the Windows. and audinly wondered In which
room the remains wero iing. The seryant who
opened the door for unlicensed visitors had
little or nothing to say. except that Mr.. stewart
Was dead, and that he said in the oriofest man
ner possible.
MR.. STEWARDS BODY.
The BODY was lying In what Is known as the
lace r"om, AN unusually long aud somewhat
'rrow apartment, overlooking Ihirty-fourth
street on the side Of the house furtnest from
fihn avenue. Police officers were stationed ut
the door and around the house to wan away In
trudeTs. but thoy were very rarely called upon
to exert themselves. for the loungers on the
eide~sih- seemed perfectly content to wait on
the opposite side Of tue stree! snd stare unceas-
ingy
the dead merchants face, and Yesterday morn
ing Nj. Albert Bierstadt began to sketcn the
features With view OF painting an oil portrait
flr the family AZ II o'clock Mayor wickham,
Judge HI on, Mr. Llbbey, and several otner
gentlemen were I'm the " ltce room" with Mr. 7.
w. Pach, photographer of the United states Nil
ithry Academy at West Point, whO was to take
aphotoGraph Of the face aud bust for Mr. Bier
sfadt's use. Mr.. stewart never had photograph
taken IN his life. The body was raised in the
bed and three excellent negatives were taken
tirely fu face.
Among ths numerous persons who rang at the
craze -nung door were many ladies', friends.
chiefly. Of Mrs. Stewart. who, u was said, having
been prostrat d by the shock Of her husbands
Ge,,., was unable 10 receive visitors.
Tbs rem~. hte TO be prepared for burial to-
Day aud AL o'clogS ,o-norrow morning they
Of which M. stewar. wa.a member FOR ,r---,
who were to be pail be4rers, but the following
John A. DIX, ex-GDv. Edwin ID. Morgan. ex-
Judge Henry. L. Davies. Chef Justice Noah
Davis Cnief Justice Cnbrles =. d Nv. Charles II.
Russell, Robert l. STUART, Royal Phelps. Jacob |
ID. Nermilye, William LiObey, William NJ. Evarts, |
stephen WraY, Francis Cottenet, aud Peter |
Cooper.
THE COFFIN AND THE ToMD.
The comm Is Of oak. covered with black silk
velvet. The handles and mountings are OF gold, |
and the lining Is Of whi o satin and fringe. Inc
box In which the Coffin Is to be enclosed to pre-
serve II from decay, Il OF cedar, lined with lead
two inches thick. The plate reads rs follows |
" Alexander L. stewart Born October Il, 1893.
Died April 10. 1876"
st Marks Church Will seat only about 200
persons Hence as IL Will he "A large funeral. no
one can be admitted without ticket. Mr.
stewart As member of the Union, the Cen
tury, and the Union League Clubs, all OF which
Will send repre entatiyes TO the funeral, and -
Will most Of the large dry goods houses. A
large numOer Of A. /. Stewart & Co. army OF
employees Numerous enough themselves to far
more Than iii the church, will probably attend.
st. Marks cnurchyafd, ia which tne remains
OF the dead merchant are to be Inferred In the
family vault, IA at Second avenue and Tenth
street. The Lenten Sc. vices were conducted Ia
the church yesterday, and many Of those who
attended afterward walked into the adjoining
burial ground to see the vault IL Is one of a
number covered with marble slabs and sur
rounded by an iron fence. IL Is IN the centre OF
tho third row, looking somewhat neglected, and
bearing these worus: