The San Francisco call., 1896-12-28
CAP TAIN SWASEY
HONORED IN DEATH
Pioneers Last Marks of
Respect to a Loved
Brother.
They Gather in Large Numbers
at the Beautiful Funeral
Services.
Eloquent Words of Praise Mingled
With Consolation by the Rev
w. w. Case.

Many distinguished members of the
Society OF California Pioneers gathered
yesterday at Pioneer building on Fourth
street to bid their last farewell to one OF
| their number, one WHO through long.
eventful, honorable career had been an
ornament to the pioneers, Captain William
+. Swasey.
Without one exception, all venerable
men were they who could look back over
vista of many years panionship
with the departed brother, the man who
had helped to raise the stars and stripes
at Monterey and on Portsmouth square,
San Francisco, when Sloat gathered the
golden west into the diadem of States.
They one and all wore grave faces upon
which was plainly stamped deep-seated
sorrow, for they full well realized the loss
their society suffered. Among them were
men prominent in California in various
walks of life-merchants, hysicians, law
ye-s, soldiers. When all were gathered
the large parlors OF the building were all
too small to hold them, and quite q num-
ber had 10 be content with standing in the
main hall. Every member of the society
wore a mourning badge OF black and
silver with the bear and its somber back
ground, rosette tipped with silver.
Among those present were not few
ladies
Captain Swasey died rather suddenly
Friday night at his residence, 80 Sixth
street. Next morning the Pioneers took
charge of the funeral arrangements, and
yesterday afternoon held burial services
over the body of the departed pioneer.
The casket bearing the remains were
borne from the hearse 10 an open space at
one end OF the main parlor, followed by
mourning friends of the dec -ased. Soon
after, Rev. w. w. Case took his stand
beside the bier and read the burial service
of his church, which was imbued with
beautiful sentiment and hope and full of
consolation. The prayers over, Mr.. Csc
delivered a-brief address, highly eulogistIc
OF the dead and OF the Pion eer Society.
He said: Again, dear friends, we are
met 10 pay the last Office of respect to one
of your company-a company which is
growing smaller and smaller every month.
There does not often gather round the
casket Of a d. parted one such company
as is gathered here to-day, comp posed
largely of men who have seen great deal
of the world, of life, who were intimately
associated with the earlier history of our
State and City. You have come out OF
respect to him who has passed away.
There must come into your thoughts
when one of your number dies a feeling of
sadness, and to us outside your circle it is
a feeling of extreme sadness. One of you
has gone who filled niche in the history
of the Nation that never can be occupied
by successor; and when you, too, are
gone there will be none to represent you.
Yet such is life. such is .the iuevita BILE.
Wise men will always MAKE preparation
for the inevitable. / conjure you to-day
to set your house in order, tor thou shalt
die and not live
I'VE can do nothing more for him who
has sed from US, but if we cannot fur 1
ther administer to him, we can show that
we believe in the rotherhood of humanity.
So let US do for some brother who needs
generous act.
1T is not for me to tread within the pre-
cincts of the family, not for us to meddle
in a strangers grief or strangers sorrow
but fer the family. | may say, we can COM
mend you TO him who is able TO comfort
you, to sustain YOU and to give you peace"
This part of the service concluded with
a touching prayer for the deceased's fam
lily and for the Pioneer Society. The
choir, consisting OF d. M. Lawrence, G. M.
Elliot, D. B. Crane and L. A. Larsen, COM
posing the Knickerbocker Quartet. sang
Nearer, My God, to Thee with much
feeling. and then John f. Pinkham, mar
shal of the Society of Pioneers, read the
funeral prayers of the society.
Before reciting the service he briefly an
nounced that IL was not necessary for him
to add to what had been spoken already
of Captain Swasey, whom he character
lied as dear brother, true friend and
good fellow-citIzen.
"Sweet Hour OF Prayer" was sung by
G. NJ. Elliot, by request of Mrs. Swasey
The beautiful hymn was touching in its
te iderness and seemed peculiarly appro-
lrlate. When it was concluded the mar
shal announced that on account of the in
clemency OF the weather there would be
no service at the grave and it was thought
best TO conclude the ob>equjes in the
hail. The quartet chanted How Dark
the Road We Go" and when this solemn
song was ended all present arose and,
forming in procession. passed beside the
casket to see Captain Swasey' face for the
last time, and mean while the choir sang
"Sleep on, Beloved.
The cisket was beautiful one, and lay
half covered by the 1olds of an American
flag. OF floral pieces there was none,
simple bunch of Californian violets alone
gracng the coffin lid.
The remains were carried out by Thomas
Eager, j. p. Bearing and j. J. Wentworth
of the Pioneer Society and S. j. Loop and
James Kane representing the Mexican
veterans and John G. Innes OF the Cali
fornia Volunteers, who acted as pallbear-
ers. Immediately after walked the widow
and family of Captain Swasey, who was
inferred in the Pioneers plat in the Ma
sonic Cemetery.
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