The New York herald., 1877-01-08
1HE VANDERBILT OBSEQUIES.
Simple but Impressive Burial Of the
Dead Railroad King.
A LARGE FAMILY OF MOURNERS.
From the Church of the Strangers TO the
Home of the Dead.

The last sad rites were performed yesterday morn.
ing over the remains OF upon whose lips Wall
street and the whole American business world were
hung-Cornelius Vanderbilt At early dawn yesterday
morning there knots OF morbid curiosity hunters
the sidewalk in front Of bis rssidence Washing
ton place. The scene inside was mournful one. At
eight o'clock the gorgeous caskst moved from the
chamber oil death to plain catafalque in n recess
toward the end OF the lower hall stream Of relatives
friends, former associates and employees came to take
last LOOK the beloved and familiar features of the
dead Commodore, and not few astonshcd at the
simplicity OF the floral decorations beautiful
at tho head laurel wreath the casket and
anchor Of tuberoses and cameas at the foot
all. II was moving spectacle 70 sec many Of the
old friends and subordinaes Of the dead Commodore
who long had worked and striven with him cast
last look upon that lfe-lke but woiully emacatcd
white face aud then away tholr faces with an
preston Of sincere sorrow.
THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
In the parlors the whole Vanderbilt family had as
sembled, and also presented impressive spectacle
the men all OF the same sturdy rugged, snewy, broad
browed and strongnbed type and the women all in
visible from their heavy, long, shroudike black wells,
and ranging from the hoary grandmother 10 the
blooming girl OF sweet sixteen Then came large
number OF the old citizens Of New York. who had come
TO pay the tribute respect who with them
fought the battle Of life when the present genera
ton Of middle-aged men were scarcely yet born
Petor Cooper, Charles O'Conor, Thurlow Weed, Au-
gustus Schel Daniel Drew and other prominent repre-
sentatives of the cty Ex-Governor Morgan, Cyrus W.
Field Jordan W. burnham, Marshall O. Roberts, Rev.
John Hall. Joseph Parker, William rurnbull Otis W
Booth, jose +. Navarro Frank work-perhaps the
most intimate business associate of the deceased
during his lite; James NJ Davis and Francis p
Freeman, his brokers; William e. Dodge Morris
K Jesup while among the strangers other cities
the figure OF Sam Ward was especially noticeable. Al
informal service was held here, Dr. Deems Offering
bret but impressive prayer, and the casket was then
carried by twelve the Church OF the Strangers
No 269 Mercer street, which only short distance
from the residence, the mourniul assem following
on foot The following the order IN which they
left the house and entored the church, -
THE FUNERAL rRooEssIox
Rev. Dr. Deems. the pastor; Drs. Lindsey and
Elliott and Dra Flint and Van Buren,; Mr. wardell
and nurses-six In all. Then came the casket fol-
lowed by Mr.. William H. Vanderbilt and Mrs c. Van.
derbiit, the widow; Mr.. c. J. Vanderbilt and Mrs. W.
H. Vanderbilt, Mr.. and Mrs. j. N. Cross, Mrs Allen
and son, Mr.. and Mrs. Osgood Mr. and Mrs. Thorne
Mrs. La Bau and escort, Captain J. Vanderbilt with
Miss Phoebe Vanderbilt and Mra Crawford, Mr.. and
Mrs. Read, Mr. and Mrs G. v. Cross Mr.. and Mrs.
Morse, Mr.. and Mrs. Morton, Mr.. and MrR W. B.
Alien Mr. and Mrs. Frank Allen, Mr. and Mrs Harry
Allen, Mr.. and Mrs. Wallace, Mr.. and Mrs. Cornelius
Vanderbilt, Mr.. and Mrs. SHEPPARD Mr.. and Mrs
William X. Vanderbilt, Mr.. and Mrs Sloan. Mr.
Frederick and Miss Florence vauderbilt, MI. George
and Miss Lila Vanderbilt Miss Thorne and Miss Tor
rance, Mr.. and Mrs Meredith Howland Mr. and Mrs
Alfred Torrance Mr. and Mrs. Milford, the Misses La
N
ford, Mr.. ana Mrs. G. Deforcst, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel
Barton Mr.. aud Mrs. +. p Freeman Then came the rel
atives OF tho Deforest ana simonson families, the
families of the physicians and the invited friends,
among whom we're the numerous distinguished citizens
already mentioned.
THE BURIAL sERUCR
The procession, owing to the rightful condition Of
the slippery and slush covered street, very slow
one, and II was about ten minutes after the time
nouncsd for the beginning Of the services-ha past
tcn-when 1t arrived al the church. There was
small crowd in front of tho church. but friends
the deceased had been hitherto admitted The gal
leries filled with former employees Of the dead on
tho various railways which he controlled. Tho severe
simplicity OF the church edace unrelieved by any
floral iunereal decorations whatever, and the only
sign Of the solemn ceremony was the black drapery
around the pulpit The under the direction
and the regular choir, assisted by Miss
Emma Ransom, soprano, chaunted the thirty.
ninth Psalm and the hymn, ..One Sweetly
Solemn Thought" before the arrival of the mournul
procession AS tho procession filed slowly into the
church Or. Deems solemn voice could DO hoard open
ing the usual Episcopal burial service with 81 am the
resurrection and the hfe." When the casket had
been placed at the foot o the altar and the assembage
been seated the doors OF the church were thrown
open for the general public There was no crush,
however, and, owing to the extremely disagreeatle
weather, the church only comfortably nled. Tho
services were extremely simple, DR.. Deems reading
the fifteenth chapter Of Corinthians on Chns's res.
direction and then saying, 'Now sing that song so
much beloved by our revered dead, Sweet Hour OF
Prayer" This improssvcly sung, and, as the
songs and books loves are part Of hts history
tho frst verso may be here appended
Sweet hour Of prayer. sweet hour Of prayer,
And bids me at my Fathers throne
MAX. all my wants and wishes known.
NJ " ,ss'0n .a" Ss. OF ass Sis'rss; ss "a and grief
And oft escaped tho tempters suare
by thy return, sweet hour OF prayer
TIM PRAYER
Then came the prayer, which was also short and
SIMPLE ana whose most Impressive portion was that
bearing directly upon the pathetic lessons OF the
event The reverend pastor thanked the Lord for the
great bodily and intellectual endowment Of the de-
ceased Tor his long continuance In e for his efforts
TO raise tho owy and needy, to increase tho capabi
tics and the comfort oi bis fellow men. He thanked
him that the dead had such mother, such influences
about him In early e that all his life be had such
perfect confidence in Him. the only God ana saviour.
Hs thanked Him that, ike chid after his troubous
and weary life, he could lay his head upon the Lords
bosom. Now that he had been taken from their
midst he who was the leader OF their generation and
rock and shelter, fortress and tower many, he
beseeched Him to grant his fellow workers such |
grace and righteous living as to be able 10 iuy carry
forward the great plans OF his lie. He invoked tie |
blessings and consoations Of the Lord upon the bc-
reaved widow AMI children. now tuat their strong
staff had been taken away from them might they have
to bear the great responsibilities bcqucat he'd To
them and clcavc TO each other To further the great
forests connded 10 them. lie prayed tor those who
shared the bounty OF tho dead, tho lowly and tho |
broken TO whom he showed such kindness secret and
for those IN distant lands, In that remote university
" here young had been, through his assistance
enabled to scach the word OF God.
ThrOuc the praycr he deeDeet stIon retcnod