Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-12-12
VANDERBILT'S FUNERAL.
IMPR ESsIVE RITES WHICH
WERE DEVOID OF SHOW.

The Most Notable Gathering of PrOmi-
nent Metropolitan FinancIers in the
History OF the City-But Few People
Admitted to the Church-rho Inter
ment at New Dorp.
NEW YORK, Dec. 1.-THE last sad rites
over the remains OF William ii. Wander
bilt were begun this morning, when the
body OF the deceased was removed from
the ice box in which It has rested since
Tuesday to the coffin of cedar, covered
with black broadcloth. The coffin was
then placed on catafalque in the bed
room, on the east side OF the house. The
sun had barely appeared upon the pima
Giles OF st. Patrick's Cathedral before
small groups of people began to gather
opposite the house, and all of these wore
mourning liveries.
THE LAST LOOK.
Shortly before 8 o'clock Mrs. Wander
bilt, accompanied by her sister, Mrs.
Bromley, William X, Cornelius, Fred
eric and George Vanderbilt, her sons,
and her daughters, with the execution OF
Mrs. Shepard, who is abroad, entered the
bedroom and looked for the last time upon
the face of her husband. Her grief was
very great, and it was shared by all pres
ent. The service. conducted by Rev. DR..
Cooke, was simple and touching, consist
ing OF a prayer, few words of remem-
brance and others Of consolation to the
| bereaved family. The coffin was then
closed, and Mrs. Vanderbilt retired to the
apartment which she has occupied since
the death of Mr.. Vanderbilt. The coffin
was raised upon the shoulders OF the
undertaker's assistants. and, preceded by
the clergyman and pall-bearers, was
borne down the broad staircase TO the
hearse.
ATTHE CHURCH.
The doors of the church had been be-
sfeged all the morning by crowds OF we'll
! dressed people seeking admission, princi-
pally women. Nearly all we're turned
away unless they were known to members
Of the family, who were stationed at the
dOOF, as possessing some special claim to
be admitted. At no time did the latter
| exceed hundred or two In number. AT
! 1O:14 O'Clock the doors OF st. Bartholo-
news Episcopal church were swung
backward and the porters, bearing upon
their shoulders the rich and yet plainly
constructed coffin, entered the church by
the central aisle.
THE PALL-BEARERs.
Preceding the coffin walked the pail
bearers, wearing white sashes. These
were: Chauncey M. Depew, j. Pierrepont
Morgan, Judge Charles Rapallo,
William Turnbull, William Bliss,
George 1. Magee, G. NJ. Barger, Charles
G. Clark, Judge John b. Brady, w. l..
Scott, ID. o. Mills and s. W. Caldwell.
The deep tones of the organ sounding
| the opening measures Of ChOpin's funeral
march were heard as the procession
moved down the nave or the crowded
church. The Rev. DIR. Samuel Cooke. &c
companied by his assistant, the Rev. +.
w. Clampett, clad in the white robes Of
the Episcopal clergy, walked in advance
Of the solemn procession and read the
well-known lines of the burial service.
soRRowFUL SILENCE.
AS the rector read the crowded church
was silent. The waiting multitude lis
tened with almost bated breath until the
clergy had entered the chanoel and with
Assistant Bishop Henry q. Potter, who
had already preceded them, knelt in
prayer before the altar. Following the
coffin came the members OF the Wander
bilt family headed by Cornelius Wander
| bilt and his wife. The solemn music from
the organ, the sad faces Of the bereaVed
children, the respectful silence OF the
| hundreds Of business men who had known
the dead financier in his lifetime, render
ed the scene an impressive one. There
/
rial service which followed.
ABSENCE OF SHOW.
No public man has been buried with so
little OF what may be termed "showp
Upon the lid OF the coffin rested bed OF
violets, Mr.. Vanderbllvs favorlte flower,
and two leaves OF palm. When the music
of the funeral march at length came 70 an
end the choir sang the anthem beginning,
"Lord let me know my end" While the
last notes Of the song were yet lingering
in the ear the Rev. DR.. Cooke advanced
TO the reading desk, and read the fifteenth
chapter Of First Corinthians, beginning:
SHOW is Christ risen from the dead and
become the first fruits OF them that
slept" Then the choir and congregation
united in singing "Nearer my God to
Thee" The remainder OF the service
consisted OF the usual prayer for the
dead, and the singing by the choir Of the
anthem, 81 heard Voice from Heaven"
aud the occasional hymn, 81 Would not
Live Always"
LEAVING THE EDIFIcK.
1t was 1880 when the door OF the church
again swung backward and the solemn
procession returned TO the streets. Here
carriages were in waiting TO take the
coffin and mourning family and friends to
the ferryboat at the foot OF West Forty
second street. Probably never within
the history Of the city OF New York have
80 many men prominent In the financial
world assembled 10 do honor 10 the MEM
ory OF dead associate. No one was adj
mitted 10 the church except friends of the
family and representatives Of commercial
and business or educational bodies. AS
a natural result there was less than 100
ladies' admitted 10 listen 10 the services.
SOME OF THE PROMINENT MEN PRESENT.
Prominent among the business men
were the presidents and heads Of depart
ments OF all tho roads with which Mr..
Vanderbilt had been connected. Among
others who sat In the pews we're; Mayor
Grace, Judge Noah Davis, Thomas J..
James, Gen. Clinton B. Fiske. Cyrus W.
Field, Benjamin w. Field, Jay Gould,
Henry Clews, H. X. EnOs, Augustus
Sheppard, Robert Bonner, Russell Sage,
Whitelaw Reid, George w. Childs, OF
Philadelphia, John Mcbride, George
m. Blanchard, s. Il. Roberts. Com
missioner Albert Fink, Samuel ID.
BabcOck, J. NJ. Toucey, President Bar
nard, Of Columbia College; Salem II.
Wales, n. n. LangdOn, John A. King,
President OF the Erie road; j. II. Breslin,
w. G. Prime, Erastus Corning, A. j.
Drexel, Gen. y. r. WinslOw, G. NJ. Bis
sell, Superintendent Of the Hudson river
road n. LOOMS. q. II. Titus, John New
eli, President OF the Lake shore road
Alfred Skitt, Superintendent Of The Har-
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