The New York herald., 1877-09-06
SIMPLE RITES OVER THE REMAINS.
"reminiscences of a Successful
and Honored Life.
ORIGIN OF THE EXPRESS BUSINESS,
incidents Gathered from the Way Bills
Of an Old Expressman.
ley TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD

Boston, Sept s, 1877.
The obscouies over tho remains of Alvin Adams,
lhe venerable founder OF the Adams Express Com
uapv were soemuized at his late residence, In the
suburb OF watertown, this afternoon. Although the
services we're of a private and unostsntatious ma
Er. they were attended by several hundred OF tho in.
innate friends the deceased of them from dis
taut clues and Including among tho number some OF
the most eminent business the
try. Not only wero there delegations present
from such neghoorng localities New York and other
easily accessib BILE points, but from the far West and
distant South there those who came to show
their regard ana affection for their distinguished
TREND All branches Of Boston commerce were repre-
sented amopg mourners, and there also pres
ent at the solemn numerous representatives Of
The national state and city governments The attend
OF who have passed the allotted three
and ten particularly noticeable, including such
the venerable Colonel Greene Charles Theodore Rus
sell, Charles Levi Woodbury., Moses Kmbal and Mayor
Prince. Probably not less than four or i've hundred
were present altogether.
SIMPLE SERVICES.
The services which were very brief and simple.
conducted by Rev. j. f. W. Ware pastor of the Airing
ton Street (Unitar!anI Church, in Boston. They
sisted hrs OF the reading OF appropriate passages of
Scripture, and were then concluded by short prayer
These and nothing more were the funeral rites OF ono
oil the disting guished business OF genera
ton now fast passing away
The features Of the deceased, which seemed as nat
ural as in life, were then viewed by the assembled
friends and then the remains conveyed their
dna resting place in Spruce avenue, Mount Auburn.
THE PAIL BEARERS
The officiating pail bearers were william B. Ding
more, President of the Adams Express Com pany; f.
S. Sanford OF New York; Ex-Governor James z.
English of Connecticut; Colonel James NJ. Thompson,
OF Springfield; 5. NJ Shoemaker, of Philadelphia;
John Hoey, of New York; Alfred Gather, OF New
York Henry Sanford, Of New York; G Spooner, of
the Adams Express Company and H. B. Plant, Presi.
dent Of the Southern Express Company.
NATURE
An autopsy in the clse revealed clearly the
Of the disease which caused the death OF Mr. Adams
w.t. water around the chest, about three quarts Of
which was drawn OF alter death 1t the opinion
OF one of his consulting physicians several months
since that this difficulty. and he advised Tho
drawing of OF this water by the more modern means
which is fast taking tho place of the old method
Of tapping, which, however, was not done.
"REMINISCENCES OLD ExPREssMEN
Tho death OF Dir. Adams, who, IRON humble begin
nings by perseverng toll aud well directed enterprise
earned fame and wealth in his vocation, has recalled
many interesting episodes incidental to expressmen
and expressing since the inauguration of the business
in 1882 1t is popular error toat the Adams Express
Company was the first institution OF It's kind that
common mistake beng shared on account of the great
prominence OF the company before the country during
the last twenty wears. The credit OF establishing the
first express to the late ". F. Harnden. Mr.
Adams did not commence the business until two years
alter the advent oil Harnden. several parties did
regular express business before Harnden, but not
known Dy the title of expressman. MI William c.
Gray OF Lowell, and still living at that place, ran
the road between Boston and Lowell with money pack
ages and freight early 1885, three years before
Harnden. Dean Davenport lnow Davenport Ma
SOM carried freight and packages between Boston and
1auuton IN 1886 and 1887, MI Mason, oil the present
But W. + Harnden was The first 70 adopt the name
TIE FIRST ExpREssMAy
From a work emitted "Waiis from the Way Bills Of
an Ola Expressman," written by 4 W. Tucker, and
published Boston in 1872, colate many OF the
teresting facts which follow regarding the origin and
continuance OF the express business:-
Mr. W. + HarndeD, the energetic pioneer in a busi-
ness now standing second IN Importance 10 any in the
country, born in Reading, Mass 1872 HIS
ather was house painter in moderate circumstances,
and gave his tar common school educatiou. He
tue sony was CT slight figure anu fragile constitution,
but Of great courage and energy he was employed rs
ticket master at tue Boston and Worcester Railroad
depot early as 1885 ana 1886, but the sedentary
nature of his employment, and The close application
required, gradually undermined his health, anu he
cast about him tor other and more active poymen
This he did not nnd until the early part OF The
1889, when be commenced an exp, r mental trip to
New York. via steamer ircm Providence, carrying
only q valise and paying passenger fare. his was
indeed the day oil small things, and his encourage
ment Tor time was not great H., however, kept up
good courage, aud alter short season, by dInt oi
sheer bard work ana earnest endeavor TO please his
lew patrons his business increased that made
ARRANGEMENTS with the StOnlngt "a mes
yenger OF thai line. he now arranged with Mr. Luxe
Damon aud his younger brotner Adolphus Harnden,
10 run each way on alternate nights Mr.. Damon was
IN his employ for several years aud was aerward en-
ployed by Kibsley 4 Co. as their Boston agent He
has now retired from the express business, after
OF nearly thirty years, and resides ia Caor-
MA. Mr.. Adoiphus Harnden was an active, energetic
young fellow ana Dade fair TO become eminent In his
profession
he continued 20 act as MESSENGER Tor his brother
dnlI the awful burning oil the steamer Lexington,
The fearful night January 13 1s4O when he
in hat areadiu catastrophe In addition TO tue afic.
tiou caused by the loss dearly beloved brother ny
the burning OF the Lexington, Mr. Harndep's loss OF
properly ruinous 10 man Of his limited capital;
but be was not called upon to make goou any portion
oil the property beon g ng other parties winch
entrusted 10 his charge. The most serious loss on
this occasion was that of $50 700 IN specie consigned
10 The Merchants Bank OF BOs on.
Among the prominent victims saorihced on that
fearful night we're mauy well remembered citizens.
Harvard University; Henry j. Finn. the great come
dian; Abraham Howard hrm of Howard merry, an
eminent mercantile house John Brown, head oi the
large house OF John Brown Co., Commercial
wharf; Isaac DAVIS, wei known dealer 10 iaucy
goods, No. IS Washington street. j. Everett Jr, nfm
Of Everett Searle. No. 81 India street; George
Lemist old and wealthy merchant OF Roxbury;
many o,her citizens less hnowu to the puoc Only
Tour persons survived that awful nigut, and OF the
racuous escape o. one member oi tnat utie party an
account Will not be unInierestng THIS man was
David Crowley mate OF the steamer, whose wonderful
escape and Almost superhuman endurance were aud
are without parallel IN The history OF struggles Tor
lc He says the recollection oil the har own- scenes
then passed through ever continues 10 haunt his
Dreams
The steamer Lexington left New York ON the even.
ing of January IL, lS40 with iu complement of pas
sengers and with FAIR prospect Of safe pleasant
trip, although the nlgut was intensely cold The
steamer was a comparativeiy new boat aud was
sidcred the handsomest aud fastest on the Sound.
Compared with tue present floating palaces she was
most ordinary crat but ID those times a model Of
beauty. Sue was COMMANDED by Captain Chd, an
experienced captain, aud was noted Tor her speed.
Sue made good time Tor three hours out Of New York
and had passed II huntington Light, about forty miles
m
broke out IN the engine room from some
which has never been iuy explained, and the doomed
boat all On Ore amdsnips. The flames
spread rapidly account oil the combustible nature
Of her deck load consisting OF cotton bales. In
sudden effort 10 head her Tor the shore rough sea-
he hide ulier rope on the arboard side pal ted and
the boat at tue mercy OF tue waves.
The that now ensued gst the ill-fated
messengers and fearful Mr. Crowley, upon the
Grsi alarm ahoul tnrulng nN unLIl LIZ .sxaIcun