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.
icy TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD. I

BOSTON, sept D, 1877.
The obscquies the remains OF Alvin Adams
The venerable founder OF the Adams Express Com
pany, were soempizcd at his late residence, in the
suburb of watertown, this afternoon. Although the
services OF a private and unostentatious ma
rre ttes attended Dy several hundred Of the in
innate friends OF the deceased many OF them from dis
tant ciies and including among tho number some OF
the most eminent business the
try. Not only there delegations present
from such neighooring localities New York and other
easily bile points, but from the far West and
distant South there those who show
their regard and affection Tor their distinguished
TREND All branches of Boston commerce repre-.
sened smong mourners, and there also pres
ent at solemn representatives OF
The NATIONAL State and city governments The attend
OF men who have passed the allotted three score
and ten was particularly noticeable, including such as
the venerable Colonel Greene, Charles Theodore Rus
sell, Charles Levi Woodbury. Moses Kmball and Mayor
Prince Probably not less than four or We hundred
were present altogether.
SIMPLE SERVICES.
The services, which very brief and simple. were
conducted by Rev. J. W. Ware, pastor OF the Airing
ton Street (Untaranj Church, in Boston. They con-
sisted first OF the reading OF appropriate passages of
Scripture, and then concluded by short prayer.
These aud not hing more the funeral rites OF one
OF the most distinguished business men OF genera
tion now fast passing away
The features Of the deceased, which seemed as
ural as in life then viewed by the assembled
friends and then the remains conveyed their
dnal resting place in Spruce avenue, Mount Auburn.
THE PAIL BEARERS
The officiating pail bearers william B. Dins-
more, President OF the Adams Express Company; Z.
s. Sanford, OF New York; Ex-Governor James E.
English, OF Connecticut; Colonel James NJ. Thompson,
OF Spring1eld; s. NJ. Shoemaker, of Philadelphia;
John Hoey, of New York; Alfred Gather, OF New
York; Henry Sanford of New York; c. spooner, of
the Adams Express Company, and H. B. Plant, Pres.
dent Of the Southern Express Company.
NATURE OF THE DISEASE
An autopsy in the clse revealed clearly the nature
Of the disease which caused the death OF Mr. Adams
10 w.t. around the chest, about three quarts Of
which drawn OF alter death 1t was the opinion
OF one of his consulting physicians several months
since that this the difficulty, and he advised tho
drawing of OF this water by the moro modern means,
which fast taking .ho place of the old method
of tapping, which, however, no. DONE
"REMINISCENCES OLD ExPREssMEY.
The death OF Mr. Adams, who, IRON humble begin
ninss, by perseverng toll aud well directed enterprise
earned fame and wealth in his VOCATION has recalled
many interesting episodes incidental to expressmen
aud expressing the inauguration OF the business
in 1S39 1t Is popular tbat the Adams Express
Company the first institution OF It's kind, that
prominence OF the company before the country during
the last twenty The credit OF establishing the
first express due to the late W. +. Harnden Mr.
Adams did commence the business until two years
alter the advent OF Harnden several parties did
regular express business before Harnden but
known Dy the title OF expressmen. Mr. William c.
Gray. OF Lowell, and still living At that place.
the road between Boston and Lowell with money pack
ages and freight early AS 1885, three years before
Harnden. Dean Davenport lnow Davenport Ma
SOM carried freight and packages between Boston and
Iaunton IN 1886 and 1891 NJ Mason, oi the present
firm Of Davenport Il Mason running as messenger.
But ". +. Harnden was the first 70 adopt the name
''expressnian'
The FIRST ExPREssMAy
From work emitted "Wails from the Way Bills Of
Ola Exprcssman," written by 4 ". Tucker, and
published III Bosl on In 1872, collae many OF the IN
teresDg facts which follow regarding the origin and
continuance Of the express business
Mr.. W. + Harnden, the energetic pioneer in a busi
ness now standing second IN importance 10 any in the
country, was born in Reading, Mass IN 1872 HIS
iaher was house painter, in moderate mstances,
and gave his son a tar common school education. He
ltne sou) was CT slight figure ana fragile con stuton
but OF great courage and energy He was employed
ticket master at tue Boston and Worcester Railroad
depot early as 1885 and 1886, but The sedentary
nature of his emp .oyment, and The close application
required, gradually undermined his health, anu he
cast about him Tor otner and active employ ymenL
THIS he dd not nnd until the early part OF The year
1889, when be commenced an exp mental trip to
New York. via steamer ircm Providence carrying
only valise and paying passenger fare. his was
indeed the day oil small things, and his encourage
ment TOR a time was not great H., however, keptup
good courage, aud alter short season, by dint oi
sheer hard work ana earnest endeavor 10 please his
lew patrons, his business SO increased that he made
Senger that line. He nov arranged with Mr. Luxe
Damon aud his younger brother, Adophus Harnden,
10 run each way on alternate nights Mr.. Damon was
IN employ for several years and was alterward
ployed by Kiusley & Co. as their Boston agent He
has retired from the express business, after a
service OF nearly thirty years, and resdes IN Caior.
Mia. Mr.. Adoiphus harnden was an active, energetic
fellow and oade fair TO become eminent in his
profession.
BURNING OF THE LEXINGTON
He continued act as MESSENGER Tor his brother
dntl the awful burning OF the steamer Lexington on
The fearful Dght Of January l3 1910 when he pcfshed
in hat dreadiu catastrophe In addition to tue anlic-
ou by the loss oil dearly beloved brother by
the burning OF the Lexington, Mr. HaIDdeD's loss OF
property runous 10 a man of ms limited capital;
but be- was called upon to make good any portion
oil the property beongn 10 other parues winch was
entrusted 10 his charge The most serious loss on
this occasion was that oi $50 700 in specie consigned
TO the Merchants Bank OF Bos on.
Among the prominent victims sacrificed on that
fearful night we're many well remembered cilzens
Prominent amoug them we're Professor Folleu, OF
Harvard University; Henry J. Finn, the great come
dian; Abraham Howard hrm Of Howard 4 Merry, an
eminent mercantile house Jonn Brown, heau OF TIE
large house OF John Brown Co.. Commercial
wharf; Isaac DAVIS. well known dealer 10 fancy
goods, No 2s Washington street; j. Everett Jr nrin
OF Everett Il Searle. No. 81 india street; George
Lemst old and wealthy merchant OF Roxbury;
EDerlc, the actor; A. Harnden, the expressman, aud
many other citizens less known to the puUlic Only
our persons survived that awful nlgut, and OF the MI
racuous escape Of Que member ol that little party an
account Will not be upInierestng 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 strugges
life he says the recollection oil the harr OWN. scenes
thou passed through ever continues 10 haunt his
The steamer Lexington left New York the
ing Of January H. ls40. with iu complement OF pas
sengers aud with lair prospect OF safe and pleasant
trip, although the nlgnt was INTENSELY cold. fhe
steamer was comparstively new boat aud
sidcred the handsomest aud fastest the Sound.
Com pared with the present floating palaces she "a
most ordinary craft, bat IN those times model Of
beauty. Sue was COMMANDED by Captain Chid, an
experienced captain, aud was noted Tor her speed.
Sue good Time tor three hours out of New York
and bad passed Huntington Light, about forty mts
from New YORK, some our miles, when fire
broke out the engine from some cause
which has never been iuy explained, and the doomed
boat was all Ore anidsnips. The flames
spread rapidly account oil the conbustiDle nature
o. her deck Load consisting OF cotton bales In the
sudden effort 10 head her fur the shore a rougn
.he hide uller rope the arboard side parted, and
the boat was at tue mercy Of tue waves.
The scene that ensued amongst the ill-fated
passepger and iearu. Mr. Crowley upon the
first alarm, about turning in" until his "watcnD