The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-12
THE DEAD MERCHANT.

PREPARATIONS roR THE FUNERAL OF THE LATE
4. 7. sTxwART-scEKxs AT THE HOUSE AND
| ABOUT THE STORES
| Tho people OF this city have for so long time
looked upon tho namo Of Alexander T. Stewart
synonym for wealth, influence and business success
thot the OF his death naturally became tho staple
subject OF conversation all day long yesterday. He
has figured so long and prominently among the
merchant princes OF America, and has had
an influence on trade SO widespread as
10 be famous wherever the Industries he
did much to promote are prosecuted. Conse
qucntIy there manifested everywhere an intense
interest in every circumstance OF his death, and tho
newspaper details eagerly dcvoured and quickly
bruitcd about
HOUSE
Yesterday morning Pack, the photographer took
several negat OF the dead mans face Ind then Bier
stadt, the celebrated painter, who had becn warm
personal friend OF Mr.. Stewart began sketch OF tho
dead, rigid features, which doubt tho artists skill
in connection with his familiarity with every express
sion they wore in life, will, enable him
TO reproduce upon tho with all
tho truth and vgor that genius can impart
During life Mr. Stewart had peculiar prejudice against
having his portrait painted only picture of him
exists, aad as that is by means perfect many Of his
acquaintanccs urged him to give clover artist
chance to test his skill, but always In vain. Hc a
who had certain pcculiarities to which he cung
and from faith in them no could not be dlssuadcd
This aversion to having portrait painted was
ono OF them and only a few weeks ago, when
an intimate friend asked him for picture as
souvenir he would esteem moro highly
than any other, and requested him to permit
an artist to mako sketch OF him he firmly declined TO
do Tho necessity however, OF having tho face OF
the great merchant preserved by occurred every
one, and so yesterday morning IN the chamber where
the body lay tho great painter performed duty which
his friendship for the deceased must have mado
labor OF love.
Tho body was prepared during tho afternoon to be
laid out in tho groat chamber Of tho mansion and horc
the dead merchants friends will DO admitted to-day
gaze upon his earthly remains.
| Mr.. j. WILSON Mcdonald also took plaster cast OF
the face
MARCUS ACCOUNT OF HIS PATIENT
Yesterday afternoon DR.. Erastus +. Marcy, who had
been Mr. Stewards intimate friend for years. and
the physician who attended him to his last moments
furnished HERALD reporter with narrative OF the
deceased merchants illness and with the story OF the
condition OF mind he in before the coma drowned
| consciousness In tho stupor Of death.
| 81 have known Mr. Stewart long" said the phys,-
clan, land have enjoyed his confidence and
!. society for ycarx He a man whose social
T! qualities were such to endoar him beyond ordinary
to those who brought intimate relations
with him. He had singular facility for conveying in
his everyday conversation with friends, expression
of his regard for them with peculiar decacy, but in
manner most strongly appealing 10 tho heart may
instance this myself Hc always called mo Doctor,
dear and never heard him utlcrna tho expression
without experiencing sympathetic stir OF friendly
'His illness brought about by cold he caught at
dinner given about three weeks ago. He accus-
toned, you must know to invite his friends to dino
with him regularly every Sunday II there werc any
foreign celebrities In the city their attendance
requested, and must say have spent some OF the
most plcasurabe moments Of nv lilo at these Sunday
banquets al Mr.. stewards table. About the iddlc OF
March he was complaining OF slight cold he had
caught, which, however, did not prevent his
to business, ard when he acquainted with his in
tenton OF inviting Sir Hugh Childcrs and some other
gentlemen who happened to be the city dino with
him on Sunday, tho 10Th OF the month"; endcavorcd
TO dissuade HIM, beng under the Impression that the
condition Of his health would not admit OF his presid
Ing there. He had issued his invitations however,
CONTRARY TO MY ADVICE
appeared ut the table, II was quite warm In the din
ing room aud when he rosc 10 escort his guests into
his gallery OF paintings which spacious and chilly
chamber tho proprety Of putting on an outer garment
shoud have occurred TO him. As Il was no had only
been short time on hts feet when no complained Of
pain in the sdc As he had been suffering from a cold
ho thought this result OF t. went back the din
ing aitcr MIS- overcoat and hat From gal
ery he passed into the library hero he again spoke
OF his complaint saying that It could only be tenn
pornry annoyance. That evening and next day he be-
came worse and to aggravatc his disease the wet
ton Mr.. stewart had frequently suHeredin the past
few from irritation OF the bladder, and infanna
.on setting IN now completely Frustrated him ! at;
sufficiently 10 DO able 10 sit up and transact somc
urgent matters OF business while attending 10 these
| self 10 sudden charge OF temperature
| for he caught cold again and his condition
day, and since taSt time Dr. White and myself have
been almost constantly at his bedside Every cxped
ease was tried but all Ia vain He died unconscious
or pain, and prepared, think, IN mind to meet his
death resgncdly Only few day: before his demise
and protested himself contcnted. "God has been very
good to me-" said lie. The has prospcreu in all
| things and l am rcsigned to what He may have In
store" Up 10 his last hour he looked hopefully for
ward tho Inevitable end and when the last stupor
came upon him II found him awaiting death with
calmncss.
Al about twelvc:o'cock was a, his bcdsde and when
bent over him and took his hand IN mine fancied
there a momcntary return Of consciousness HIS
lips moved and thought he moved his hand In rccog
milton, tut soon all motion ceased and from that time
he utterly scnsccss till lie died. When questioned
about Mr. stewards affairs DR.. Marcy said that nm
BUSINESS MATTERS
had been attended 10 long before he contracted his last
Illness and that his death would not any way
/ pede the completion OF his schemes Only short
womens Hotel, and then defined Tor hin, tho plan he
had in view for building n. For tmc he had doubted
It's asiby, but at that timc he was determined 10
test " and to urge work upon II until u would be
carried 10 completion.
THE PAIL BEARERS
Up TO late hour last evening tho pail bearers had
not been definitely selected, although tho OF
several gentlemen prominent In business and pro-
lessional lite and Who were known to be friends OF
the deceased had been suggested and acceptable
10 Mrs stewart, Mr. William I.bbcy End Judge Hilton.
Among the mentioned from whom pail bearers
will b. selected very probably Charles O'Conor,
William LiDbcy William H. Evarts, Central John A.
Dix Henry T. Davies Judge Noah Davis, Peter Cooper
stephen Ray. Edwin d. Morgan, Royal Phelps,
Chief Justice DAILY, r. l.. stuart and Francis
Cortinct Bishop Potter, OF the Episcopal
Church. will direct the services IN st. Marks
and tho rector, Rev. DR.. Rylance, Will also
assist IN the solemn ceremonies Mr. Ham,ll. the
dertnkcr, Is the who had charge OF
Liucon's funeral The preparations for interment
will not be OF ostentaticus character In conform
with the wishes OF tho deceased. II not yet
settled whether the interior OF St Marks will be
drapcd or nvi, but the probabilities that there
will not be any display.
The body viii not be placed in the casket until to-
morrow morning BY that time the rigor morris will
have pissed of and be easily habated for tho
4 xrl i.o drov fall dr,x,