New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-04-08
FUNERAL OF PETER COOPER.
HoNoRs TO THE DEAD PnLANTHRoPIsT.

great tbronr of people to All Souls Unitarian
Church yesterday. IT had been publicly announced
that the body would lie in state from D a. m 10 3 p
m. but crowd of persons gathered III front OF the
church at Twentieth-st and Fourh-ave. as early
as $50 a. H. Before the coffin was taken to the
church simple service was held at the house. No.
Lexington-ave. at which only members of the
family we're present. The coffin then placed
in hearse and conveyed TO the church. IL was
followed by carriage containing ex-Mayor Edward
Cooper Abram = Hewitt, ex-Police Commissioner
Charles T. MacLean and a son of Mr. Hewitt
The coffin was of solid oak, covered with black
kroadcloth, and with silver handles. 1t was paoeu
III front of the pulpit on slightly raised plaV-
form The plate bore the inscription: Peter Coo
per- born February ~, 1901 died April 1, 1855
Only the head and the upper part of the body were
disclosed The right hand rested on the breast
and the features had peaceful expression Ihere
was no trace of suffering but rather the appearance
of sleep. In the coffin was a spray OF lily Oh 'no
valley and on the lid were spread white ana Ieu
roses azaleas and callas.
AS pnblic reouest had been made that no flowers
should be sent to the church, the horal deeoraous
were not extensive large split palm tree stoou
either side of the pulpit in front OF wh'cn was
heart made of lilies of the valley callas ana pam
leaves A pillow made of roses and other flowers
bore the words "Our Beneactor at Rest" III was
contributed by the students of Cooper Union.
Wilson G. Hunt sent q beautiful smear on Whioh
was the single word Rest" The 1ont heiu
magnificent collection of exOtics and there were
banks of flowers around the pulpit. committee
of eighteen members of the Alumni ASsoclauoh Vi
Cooper Union acted as a guard of honor Two OF
them stood at the head of the coffin ana TWO al the
foot changing every hour The following were the
alumni selected for this purpose William ID.
Whiting John Golf, Daniel Cook, John Mccarthy
John Bardon James Mcmillan. Robert Scott An
thony A. Griffin Walter Tinsley, Samuel Scottron'
Daniel A. Curtin. Henri D. Dickinson, James >.
McQuilan. Ernest J. Katenbach, Henry Dlttmar
John Allaire aud John BOssoug.
THE CROWD VIEWING THE BODY.
The crowd outside the church waited patiently
in drilling rain Inspector Murray and Captain
Clinchy, with 100 policemen, were present to SUI
perintend the arrangements. 1t was 9;2O
a. IN. when the doors were opened, and
at that time there were not less than
two thousand persons in front of the church, and
the number gathered there kept constantly hcreas-
ing. The line formed on the sidewalk reachcd
nearly block. The people were admitted through
the south entrances they passed down the aisle IN
front of the coffin and out through the north aisle
Albert J. Holden Organist of the church, played
funeral marches by Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Ham
del and Chopin.
Persons representing all the walks of life were
among those who viewed the body. 1t was evident
from their expression and manner that they came
from no idle curiosity, but out of regard TO one who
had been friend and benefactor to his fellow-men
The line was directed by policemen standing in the
aisies and the progress rapid as could be
expected The average of those passing the coffin
was about forty minute. Altogether about lZ.OOO
persons viewed the Dga{ for that had been
standing in line two hours There were about as
many men women in the line; few OF the latter
carried children IN their arms.
A ureftV incident OF the morning was seen when
the Young women of the Day Art School, who had
marched from the Cooper Union at the head OF
procession, entered the church in single hle AS
each student passed the coffin she LAID mower rev
erentIr unon II MANY were in tears as they looked
for the last the pleasant face OF their bene-
factor. Following the Art students were the IN
structors employed in the Union. The members OF
the Alumni Association, the students OF the various
classes and the members Of the Inventors Institute
came next. There were in the procession about
5000 persons.
soon after 10 o'clock an old man was assisted to
stem from the platform after stopping to take Sec
ond look the face OF Mr. Cooper; Instead Oh pro.
ceedIng with the line he stepped aside moment
and said to one of the ushers: " DIT: Cooper ana
were the only two persons living this week. so 1aT
as know, who walked at the funeral OF General
Washington. Now ! am the only survivor, and my
turn will come soon." The speaker was the ventr-
able lawyer. John Leveridge, and he said that he
was nipety-ive years of age and was Corporation
Counsel during Mayor Harpers administration forty
years ago.
THOUSANDS UNABLE To ATTEND THE SERVICES.
There was great disappointment shown by the
Thousands who could not gain admission to the
church The delegations aud societies wishing to
attend the funeral great IN number that 1T
was found that the seating capacity OF the church
would not accommodate them. Hence all the seats
were reserved with the exception Of four or five,
and those were filled nearly two hours before the
funeral began. .
At 3 o'clock the coffin was closed. Many
of the delegations had already arrived among
the first being that from the Union League Club
The Mayors marshal, carrying the stan OF ONCE
draped In mourning, entered the building at
o'clock. followed by Mayor Edison and President
Reilly of the Board of Aldermen. and the various
heads of depaTtments. They filled all the seats III
the south wing. Some OF the other delegations
nrrsent were those from the Chamber OF Commerce,
The Board of Trade and IraDSDOrtallOn the College
of the City of New-YOrk Cooper Union the juvenile
the Society for the Protection of American Indus
try workmen III Trenton and other places the
Produce Stock, Coal, Petroleum, Iron and Metal,
Cotton and the Mercantile exchanges, ana the
The mourners entered from the door at the side of
the pulpit. Ex-Mayor Cooper aud wife and Mr..
and s,nC Mr. Abram s. Hewitt occupied the seat in
ront of the coffin. In the next seat were the Misses
Hewitt and Mr. and Mrs s. tGya Snin Byo h he
a-bearers tok seats in front at the right OF tie
AISLE Hunt psey p pSy Jdha n'P
Alexander i We6b' Henry L. pleIsOn Jackson :
pnrsnns AID Henry b. Schieiiehn. The
ffanper Union delegation and the representa-
S:aS of the alumni were seated next to the
uonruers. There were many prominent persons In
IL. nbnrch, among whom were the following
.,,or Edson. Frederick d. Tappen,
mhy ra IIyacOek Thomas g. Acton,
Gen 10 William IL. webb,
yOnx.be,'w Eyarts, John A. stewart,
WIZ n Choate, David Miliikcn. IT.,
JSah nayis George r. Baker,
1TNo as a ri Cannon, William NJ 81 JOnn
!1,s3,I'a,, " Grace. ID. Willis james,
i W'an " Eafon William J.. Dodge,
1 ALBION r. Man, Y YnnId n poni tsia,a
JsmyS A peabody. Frederick A. r. Barnard,
SnaI Iowrey Albert BlerstaGt,
Jobn N. A. Griswold, ~. osseh D s,Ih,,
Allan Campbell, hos"eii ~; hitonooCk'