Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-02-08
MRS. WHITNEY'S FUNERAL
Many Distinguished People Present-Rare
Flowers in Abundance.

New YORK, February THE funer-
al of Mrs. VIM. c. Whitney, wife OF the
ex-Secretary OF the Navy was held to-
day at St. Bartholomew's Church. Mrs.
Whitney's body was removed from the
room where she died at an early hour
and placed in one of the lower parlors,
where it lay until one o'clock.
A number Of the immediate friends oil
the family, together with the pall-oear-
ers, gathered at the residence and pro-
ceeded from there TO the church.
The Chancel OF the church and the
space around the altar were banked
deep with palms and lilies OF the valley
The reading desk and pupit were lost
in wreaths of white chrysanthemums
and lilacs interspersed with Splashes OF
roses and violetS. The pulpit itself
was festooned with white and crimson
roses. The central piece In the mass OF
flowers bore the words, "Consecrated 10
God" In purple letters on a white
groud.
The two pews on either side OF the
central aisles, at the front OF the
church, were reserved for the funeral
party, and one OF the family servants
stood there TO act as usher. The rest
of the church was thrown opent 10 the
public and was crowded.
Rev. DR.. Greer and his assistant went
up the central aisle to meet the funeral
party, and then preceded them back to
the chancel, repeating the familiar
opening lines Of the Episcopal burial
service.
MIR. w. c. Whitney with his siSter-in-
law, Mrs. Bingham, OF Cleveland, Ohio,
leaning on his arm, came first, followed
by Col. Oliver Payne; Mrs. Whitney's
sisters; Mrs Henry f. Dimock and Mrs.
Charles +. Barney, her eldest daughter
Pauline and the sons, Henry Payne and
William Payne Whitney. Next came
Mrs. Cleveland, who was leaning on the
arm Of Mr.. Don NJ Dickinson. In the
party were Colonel and Mrs. Dan La
mont
The coffin followed; plain cedar cas-
ket bearing an immense purple spectre
across its face. The pail bearers ac-
companyiDg il were: Grover Cleveland,
Cornelius Vanderbilt, George Peabody
Wetmore, Hamilton Mex. Tombley, +.
Randolph Robinson, George q. Haven,
George II. Benedict, Edward a. Wicks,
Thomas F.Cushing and Buchanan Win
throp.
A more distinguished gathering never
attended funeral service In this city.
Among those present were ex-Mayors
Hugh J. Grant, Abram S. Hewitt, VIM.
r. Grace and Edward Cooper; Chauncey
M. Depew, J. Pierrepont Morgan, Ell
bridge II. Gerry, w. ID. Sloan and fam
ily, Cornelius Vanderbilt and family;
Mrs. Eliot +. Shepard and Calvin 5.
Brice.
Following the reading OF the opening
words of the burial service qnartette,
assisted by thirty-tive voices, sang the
anthem from the 39th and Goth psalms.
The rest OF the service followed the
usual form OF the Episcopal church.
Meanwhile the florist to the Whitney
family had gone 10 Woodlawn Gene
tery, where the body was TO rest and
had covered the grave plot with white
lilacs and with the new rose known TO
florists as the "Testsut." Not a glimpse
OF earth was allowed to remain In sight
by the time the funeral party reached
the cemetery.
This new and rare rose was Mrs.
Whitney's favorte flower, Of which she
was extremely fond. The remains were
transferred in a special car, and the
last rites Of the Episcopal church were
said at the grave by Rector Greer.
The flowers that were used at the
funeral were by order OF Mr.. Whitney
distributed among the various hospitals
of this city. There were three wagon
loads OF them.