Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-31
WILLIAM THAw,
Died in Paris, France.
August the l7th, 1889.
Aged 70 years and 10 months.


Upon the upper part of the coffin Law q
large sheaf of rye, upon which rested g
sickle composed Of purple and yellow life.
everlastings and white roses. This was re.
moved when the cover over the face was
lifted of, and was placed back of the coffin.
The remains were accompanied to the
church by the eight pallbearers and two
young men from the Pennsylvania Railroad
Offices, who stood by the bier as guard Of
honor. A great crowd ofpeople surrounded
the church long before 10 o'clock. Captain
Dan Silvius, Lieutenant McRoberts and four
patrolmen stood at the gates and kept the
people in order, seeing that they did not
crowd in too rapidly.
CROWDS VIEW THE BODY.
Estimates of the number of men and
women who viewed the body during three
hours vary from 5000 to 10000. The latter
estimate would allow one second and is
perhaps too high. The thropg was an inn
.mense. one. Rich and poor alike pressed
into the church and shed tears st the sight
of the calm, dead face. The mourning null
titude was a magnificent tribute to the life
and character of the deceased. The people
went in at the east door. passed along the
east aisle by the altar, and emerged by the
west door. In the line were many we'll
known men of this city and prominent rail-
way officials from other cities. They took
their places with the day laborer and with
the women who wore faded shawls about
their shoulders and carried little children
in their arms.
At 1 o'clock the line was stopped. the
church doors were closed and the cover was
replaced over the face. For one hour the
church was quiet and cool. The windows
were open and the summer breeze blew
through the holy precincts. The church
ushers allotted the several parts of the audi
torium reserved for the various attendants.
The front portion of the central block of
seats was set apart for the members of the
family and relatives. The front portion of
the western block was allotted to railway
officials. On the eastern side spaces were
reserved for the trustees and faculties of the
Western University and the Homeopathic
Hospital.
At about 2 o'clock Mrs. Thaw and her
large family arrived in carriages and were
admitted by the side entrance on Cherry
alley. By this entrance also were admitted
the special visitors and the members of the
church choir. The following railroad gen.
eral officers were present:
President George B. Roberts; First Vice
President, Frank Thompson; Second Vice
FErssiaent' Eos. J. y; pu Barry; Directors: h. H.
Little; General Solicitor, John Scott: General
Superintendent of TRANSFORMATION q M
Preyost and General Superintendent of
Motive Power, Ely, of the Pennsylvania Rail
road Company; w. n. Barnes, Receiver of the
Allegheny Valley Road; F. l. Neail, of the
Inman Steamship Line; Stephen Little Gen.
eral Auditor of the Pullman Palace Car Com
pany; d. 8. Gray, General Agent of the Penn
sylvania Company; f. 81. Kingsbury, General
Eastern Superintendent Union Freight Line; E.
Union Line; w. w. Chandler Agent Union
Line at Chicago; w. E. Lawrence Western
Manager Inman Steamship Line; William Bor-
Company at Chicago; II. w. Brown. General
Agent Union Line at Cincinnati; d, r. Nc
Cabe, Assistant General Freight Agent Pan
Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad; j. H.
Aughart Assistant to the President of the
Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad; e. e.
A. T. Wilds, Agent of the Union Line at New
York, and 8. H Church, Superintendent of
Transportation of the Panhandle Company.
NOTED MEN IN THE AUDIENCE.
The front doors were opened at 2i5
o'clock, and within ten minutes the church
was crowded SO densely that 1t was i'm
possible for others to get inside of the doors.
Among those who sat in the audience were:
SOuu W. Sudlldut, w lllldm 6pa0g. Dr. PaSsa-
want, Joseph Horne, Hon. John Dalzell, James
y Scott George w. Hubley, T. b. Swearineen.
r s. p. Mccall, Charles Arbuthnot. ex-Sheriff
Gray. Jacob Reymer, Frank McCatcheon. John
N. Mech, Captain A ishart. and many other
men prominent in business and official lives.
Many of the ministers of the two cities
were present. In the great body of the au-
dience many poorly dressed men and women
were to be seen. The front portion was oc-
cupied by many gray heads. The regular
church ushers seated the audience in an ex-
cellent manner.
At 2:3O o'clock the choir sang an anthem.
Nearer, My God to Thee" Rev. DIR.
George 7. Purves offered prayer and Rev.
DR.. E. p. Cowan read the Nv. chapter of |
l. Corinthians and the last chapter of the |
of st. John. Mrs Jean Wallace
Webster sang, 81 Know That My Redeemer
Liveth."
Rev. DR.. Purves then spoke briefly, say
ing in substance:
It is my part TO utter the sentiments of this
communfty. Mr.. Thaw has been for MANY
years identified with this city. He has seen il |
grow from village to metropolis and has
been personally interested in It's changes He /
has been known by all classes, knowing ali |
classes. the Friend of all, whose face was 4
Iamtliar object IN our streets 1t is but scant
Justice that we should lay our tribute Of affec-
1on and love upon his coffin. We testify our
-ratitude to Gcd for what, through this servant
" Bis. He hag done for US. In him the COM