Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-02-14
THE LAST SAD RITES
OVER THE REMAINS OF THE
LATE A. j. STEVENS.
Eulogy by Rev. j. f. Won Herrlich-
Outpouring of the Populace-
Floral Offerings-Etc.


Outpouring of the Populace-
Floral Offerings-Etc.
The large funeral of the late A. ]. Stevens
which took place in this city yesterday tes-
titled to the great moral worth of the de-
ceased, and the love and affection in which
he was held by the citizens of this COM
munity. That he was friend of the labor
ing class was clearly demonstrated by the
fact that fully 1900 employees of the
Southern Pacific Company turned out to
attend the last sad rites of the man who
had built up the shops in this city and
ever regarded an honest toiler as one of the
noblest works of God Never in the his
tory of Sacramento did the death of one of
her citizens cause such universal regret;
never before were all the people so united
in deploring the loss of so good man, and
the grief-stricken family had the sympathy
that welled up from every heart in Sacra-
mento. Quiet, unassuming, man of rare
genius, to know him was to love him, and
even lnOSe M0O udQ UUL the nODOr OF an
acquaintance knew of him as a man en-
dowed with rare ability, one whose life
had been devoted to the building up of the
finest railroad shops in America, true and
steadfast friend of Sacramento. Out of
high regard to his memory, the bust
ness houses of the city closed during the
hours of the funeral service, and the citi-
Zens turned out en- masse filling for the
time the streets for several blocks in the
vicinity of st. Paul's Church, where the last
sad rites were held.
AT an early hour yesterday morning
floral contributions began to arrive at the
church, and were taken in charge of and
placed in position by Mrs. B. A. Worthing-
ton, Mrs. Maggie Breen and Mrs. J. r.
Watson. In number and beauty of struct-
ure their equal was never witnessed in Sac
ramento. They were from the floral gardens
of this city, Oakland, San Francisco and
San Jose. They completely filled the
spacious chancel, and filled the air with
their fragrant perfume. Among the more
conspicuous were the following:
From the Brotherhood of Locomotive
Engineers a large and handsome repre-
sentation of the emblem of their Order,
consisting of a large circle of bay leaves
tastefully interviewer. The background
was made of violets, in the center of which
was suspended the letter /" E." constructed
of camellias, hyacinths and gilly flowers.
Pendant was representation OF the golden
bar of the badge, and on a groundwork of
white flowers, wrought in yiolets, were the
appropriate words, " Our Friend"
The employees of the foundry contributed
an immense floral wheel, aspoke and por-
ton of the rim gone, in the center of which
was star of violets.
The Offering from the toi1 lore in tho hoi 1ar.
shop consisted of boiler five feet in
length and standing five feet high The
body of the piece was of blue violets and
the fire-box of variegated pansies At the
top, worked in violets, were the initials of
the deceased "a. J. s." and beneath the
words 'Our Tribute"
One of the handsomest pieces was that
contributed by the workmen in the ma
chine shop, and represented engine No. As
the locomotive in which was first placed
Mr.. Stevens patent valve motion. The
engine was four feet in length and con-
structed of flowers beautifully harmonizing
in colors. On the tender, worked in deli
cate flowers, were the letters &c. P" The
tender and fre-box were filled with the
choicest flowers tastefully and artistically
arranged.
W. P. Coleman contributed pillow con-
structed principally of camellias, with the
word Rest" worked across the center in
violets.
Colonel and Mrs Ed. R. Hamilton
sen. in handsome piece-a broken wheel,
a spoke and portion of the rim gone
which stood upon a column fully three feet
in hight. The spokes were of blue pansies,
the tire of ivy leaves and the rim OF
camellias, gilly and wax flowers.
The men who labor in the blacksmith
shop contributed large floral piece repre-
senting steam hammer. 1t was con-
structed of yellow, pink and red roses,
white and blue hyacinths. red carnations
and violets.
The machine shop employees contributed,
in addition to the locomotive, mammoth
and beautiful floral design of the ferry
steamer Piedmont. 1t was nearly six
feet in length and elegantly proper.
toned, and the very best effort of the
florists art. twas some three feet in hight
with upper and lower decks, wheel and
pilot houses, hagstaffs, ETC., worked in
| flowers of every hue, harmonizingin colors
all arranged artisticallY. On the wheel.
house, worked in violets, was the word
Piedmont The same shops contributed
| large and handsome floral settee, on The
top of which was the word Res" and
beneath the emblem of hope both worked
The employees in the blacksmith shop
also contributed an anvil of violets ant
pansies, surmounted with vase made o.
gilly and wax flowers, interspersed with
| roses.
One of the handsomest and most elabor-
ate offerings came from the car department
and was representation of q sleeping-car
1t was five feet in length, with wheels
platforms and the main body of the cal
made of pansies, violets, camellias an6
other flowers.
| Besides the above there was large mum.
| Der of floral contributions sent in without
cards attached, which consisted of broken
columns, stars, anchors, harps, etc.
| At half-past eleven the workmen at the
shops assembled in their respective depart
ments, and under the marshalship of c. @
Bonte marched four abreast through the
depot to Second street, to J, to Eighth
to st. Pauls Church. When the column
reached its destination it numbered fully
| 1000. In this line were many delegation!
| of railroad men from the towns and cite:
along the line of the various railroads con
| verging at this city. As many as coul(
marched in and took the seats reserved fo
| them, while the others remained on Eight
| street.
No services were held at the family resi-
| dence and here were found only the mem
bers of the family and immediate relatives
The casket was covered with a deep blacl
pail. On the casket was silver plate upoI
| which was inscribed:
! DIED, FEBRUARY IL, 1888.
| ANDREW J. STEVENS,
Aged 81 years, months and IS days.
At 1870 the honorary psll-bearers formed
in the stairway leading to the residence
took charge of the casket transferred it t.
the hearse and then followed it to tn
church. When the remains arrived at tn
house of God the streets were LITERAL,
packed with people. As the funeral corteg
entered the church DR.. Won Herrlich met i
] L.