The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-06
MARY DANCERS FORTUNE.
The Completion Of a $4,000 Tomb in Ac-
eordnnce with her WIN.

eordnnce Win her VIII.
The finishing touch is to be put, to-day,
on the chapel monument in Greenwood that is
to perpetuate tho memory and good deeds Of
Miss Mary A. Dancer. tho daughter OF the late
Matt NJ Dancer. the most fortunate gambler
New York ever saw. Work was begun on the
monument early last spring OF the $4,000
devoted to the work $4,000 was expended in
buyng a lot. The plot is situated near the new
entrance to Greenwood. which is opposite the
old or main entrance. Tho Dancer tomb Ia
diagonally across the drive from the handsome
monument erected bv Florence. the actor. The
lot Ia n circle eighty feet in diameter. and is to
be surrounded by fence. consisting OF an
ornamental bronze rail, supported by granite
posts. The walk from the entrance OF the lot
to the door OF tho tomb consists OF a granite
slab twenty feet long. six feet wide, and foot
thick. II il the largest single block Of granite
ever taken into the cemetery. Ton pairs OF
horses were required to draw II into position.
The monument, n combination OF chapel and
tomb, Is a gothic structure OF cruciiorm shape.
The base is 2lX2l feet, and II rises TO a height
Of 3s feet. The materials used on the exterior
are the Westerly white granite with trimmings
interior Is finished I'm Italian marble. with trim
mings Of American dove-colored marble and
columns OF red Tennessee marble. Tho Wis
itOr approaches the entrance OF the chapel by
flight OF granite stops cut out Of single block
of stone. Double bronze doors OF artistic de-
slgu, costing $1,000. and protected by heavy
bronze shutters. close the entrance OF the gothic
archway The floor OF the tomb is laid in
English illuminated tiles. Directly opposite
tho doorway is the single window OF the chapel.
set with warm tirtcd cathedral glass. From tho
floor to the ton Of the dome the distance If about
twenty feet, The dome is supported by four
columns OF Tennessee marble. with capitals OF
italian marble The centre piece Of the dome
is marble panel. In tho centre OF the panel lie
basket is to depend, The basket is 10 be filled,
when the artist shall have completed his work,
with trailing flowers carved in pure white
marble.
Tho roof Of tho structure is a marvellous
pieco Of architecture II is formed OF four
pointed gables. Twelve huge slabs OF marble
slope from the sides upward TO an apex. and
the seams are so tightly Joined MS TO make them
seem like a solid piece OF rock. Rising from
the apex Of the roof OF the chapel Ia the mon
ument OF white Westerly granite. sixteen feet
in height. From the roof to the base OF the
The column II cylindrical and is surmounted
by Greek cross and crown.
within The tomb. Tbe Italian marble sereopha.
gus containing Miss Dancers remains Is To-
stand beneath the stained glass window. Upyn
iiarc to stand marble statueties three feet high,
Faith and Hope. by an Italian artist. There
are To be four tiers OF tombs on either side oil
the entrance. Miss Dancers mothers rrmi ,
the right those OF her father. Matt. NJ. DaHcer.
These are all the members Of Miss Dancers
buried in the remaining vaults. -,
Tho expenditure OF the S25 600 that Miss
Dancer desired to have expended on her mon
umeut has been superintendent by Mr.. Thomas
+. Jeremiah, her executor. The plans. were
drawn by d. 4 J; Jardine' the arehiteets,0i 227
Of the nrm Of Charles Cobb Co.. Atlanta.
Georgia.
pletes tho disbursement OF the last dollar Of the
enormous gambling gains OF Matt. Dancer, one
OF the very few men who could save money thus
earned. Starting out a third OF n century ago
~ n blacksmith's apprentice. Dancer drifted
into faro game In the Bowery Ho won and
way. whore he occupied many different rooms:
The most noted Of these resorts was at GIG
Broadway, where large stakes were lost and
faro bank in company with others, where
81 100000 Is said to have changed hands in two
or three years. Dancers protts were enor-
nous. and here he made the bulk OF his for
The nearest Dancer ever came to a serious
| loss was by robbery He kept about 800, 900
| In bonds In his house One day In July. 1875
| In broad daylight. two men, one Of them armed
Eleventh street. Mrs Dancer an invalid. was
alone. The men frightened her by threats
handeuned her, and rlned a bureau drawer
| got only $4,000 in Virginia bonds. which were
registered and were worthless 10 the thieves
Matt. Dancer died In August. 1876, leaving hall
| Of his property to his wife and halt 10 his only
daughter. Mary Mrs. Dancer survived hel
| property, estimated at s70O.0O fell to Mary.
| Mary Dancer was young woman OF {
|
was member OF the Methodist Church, but hei
| Christianity was OF a type that was not circum
| scrlted by sect She gave literally TO all de
nominations. and her charities We're manifold
| She was engaged TO be married 10 n Mr.. Stevens
telegraph operator In the Police Central ONCE
and the wedding was soon TO have taken place
! when she died.
Miss Dancer then in good health drew hel
| will on the 18Th Of December, 1875. just sixty
days from that timo she died after n short IN
| ness. BY her will She left flS5. 900 10 relative.
and friends and 1880 in legacics yaryinI
fr .. rfN cha tfaAl l.
| religious. and benevolent institutions in tn,
city and $4,000 for her monument A larg'
| residuary estate was left TO Mr.. Jeremiah. tn
! executor OF the will. Mr.. Dancers brother an,
! other relatives who We're not mentioned In thl
| will began q contest that was amicably settled
| Mr.. Jeremiah surrendered the rcsiduary be
| quest. which was divided among tho contest
| ants All the institutions named by Mis-
| Dancer accepted and were paid their money OF
| the final accounting before the Surrogate u few
| months ago. and the great gamblers money il
| now ministering 10 the sick at the dspensarie
and hospitals teaching young men the art o
| healing, relieving orphans, and sending tract
| and Bibles to the heather OF foreign lands.