Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-04
GEN. SPINNER'S BODY
On the Way to the City of His Birth
for Interment. I
HE ARRANGED HIS OWN FUNERAL.
Warner Miller Will Deliver the Address at
His Request.
HOW A FAMOUS SIGNATURE WAS MADE

NEW YORK, Jan. 3.-The body of Gen.
eral F. f. Spinner, who died in Jackson
vile, Fla, arrived in Jersey City to-day
over the Pennsylvania Railroad The
Adams Express Company had charge of the
body. which was transferred to the National
Express Company's Office at Weehawken
for transportation to Mohawk, n. Y. At
$50 o'clock tonight the body was forwarded
to Mohawk, where the interment will take
place tomorrow at 2 P. NJ. Several OF the
friends of the deceased accompanied the re-
mains to their final resting place. Mohawk
is the birthplace Of General Spinner
The arrangements for the funeral at Mo-
hawk were made by General Spinner HIM
self.
THE woRLD-FAMoUs SIGNATURE.
The signature OF General Spinner is per-
haps more familiar to the people OF the
United States than that of any other man,
living or dead. In making this signature
the General stabbed his old pen, with its
three points, down into the pudding-like
ink, which stuck to the bottom Of the
broken-nosed pitcher, and proceeded to pile
it up in ridicuious little heaps on cross
angles. The result of his piling was his
signature. 1t was considered great trl-
umph to secure the Generals autograph.
This is what he himself once wrote about
his wonderful signature:
1 first practiced on it " hile in the Sheriffs
office. say, in 1855 i used 1t while commissioner
for building the State Lunatic Asylum at Utica,
In 1889, and as cashier and President OF the
Mohawk Valley Bank, and for franking while
in Congress. It was brought to the highest per-
fection while was Treasurer.
AWAKENED BIZ AN IMPRESSION.
It is told of General Spinner that before
be began sleeping in the Treasury building
he was awakened in the night by a strong
impression that something was wrong in the
department. he lay for long time tossing
uneasily upon his bed and trying to close
his eyes and convince himself that it was
mere freak of an overtaxed brain; but it
would not be driven away.
At last, about 2 o'clock in the morning,
in order to assure himself that his impress
sion was at fault, he arose, hastily dressed
and set out for the Treasury. On his way
he met watehman from the department,
fastening to arouse linn, with the informa-
ton that the door of one of the vaults had
just been fonnd standing wide open. A
careless clerk, whose duty it was to close
and lock the door, had failed to perform
his duty that night, and the watchman, in
going his rounds. had discovered the ne
glect.
WHEN RICHMOND FELL.
This incident is also characteristic of the
General: The news OF the fall of Richmond
was flashed over the wires, reaching WASH
ington about IL o'clock In the morning, and
just after the days business in the Treas
urer's Office had fairly begun. The Gen
eral hastily came to the countec in the
cashiers room, and, in a voice fairlJ tremu-
lous with repressed excitement, called out
so that all could hear the peremptory COM
mand:
"Put that cash into the vault, boys and
get out from here as soon as you caul 1
want you all to yell! We've got RichmnndP
No order was ever obeyed more quickly
or perfectly, and. in the tremendous shouts
OF excitemen. and exultation, General Spin
ner's voice was heard, loud and clear, every
time.
SNAPPISH BUT ANIABLE.
General Spinner when Treasurer was an
object of personal curiosity to all sightseers.
He was bluff and even snappish at first ap-
proach, but after little snarling he sub
sided into the most amiable of men.
He was an exception to the official class
in his hate of exclusiveness and his never
failing accessibility. While he was Treas
urer of the United States every afflicted soul
in the great establishment was given cour-
faoro audionca opd rodraee if ~ moo poeo;