The evening world., 1903-07-10
! PooI-Room Queen Had Request
ed that at Her Funeral No
Sombre CoIors or Signs of
Mourning Should Find any
Place.
HER WISH Is CARRIED
~ OUT TO THE LETTER.
Room Is Draped in White, Or
chids, Carnations and Roses
of White Surround Her Bier,
/. and Her Body Is Robed in a
: Beautiful White Lace Dress.

The dying request of Gussie Mckee
known in sporting circles as the Pool
Room Queen. that no expense be spared
TO make her funeral artistic, was car.
rfed out to the letter to-day at hel
late home, No. 11S West Forty seventh
street.
Miss Mckee. when Informed by her
physician that her death might be
momentartly expected sent for her
oouain, William w. Webb, OF Indian.
epohs, who she appointed executor OF
ner estate. She said to him: "wlll, !
want a fine funeral and an artistic one,
! want a white funeral 1 have always
hated black and all the sombre colors
10 please see that everything is white
The funeral services were conduc,sd
on the main floor Of the house and
everything was white. Originally the
rooms had been done in white. The
vainscoattng was white enamel and the
walls were covered with white satin
damask. Large oval mirrors set In
frames Of cream white enamel accentv.
oted the brilliancy of walls and trim
ming.
Coffin White with silver.
The coffin in which Miss Mckee lny
was all white. The outer sides wey
covered with snow-white broadclotl
and the interior with white satin. Hug,
silver handles ornamented the sides d
the casket and the cover bore a plat,
inscribed 'Gussfe Mckee"
Banks of white orchids and wreath
OF white roses and carnations surround
cd the casket. From the ceiling hun
INTERVIEWING testoons of white flower
and all along the walls towering plant
with white blooms had been set. TIL
general white effect was enhanced by
background Of palms in the rear room.
The predominating flower was orchid
and the sitting perfume Of this exotic
together with the heat in the room
made conditions almost unbearable
There were not more than a dozen pres
ent when the funeral service was rea'
by the Rev. DR.. Bell. of the Union Meth
odist Church. Broadway and Thirty
eighth street
Among those present were Mrs
Lydia Dodd. Miss McKees sister; he
cousin. Mr.. Webb, and a few women
whose identity was unknown, but win
wept almost Historically at the bier
The colored servants who had been EN-
ployed by the Pool-Room Queen 70
many years were also present.
Sang "Nearcr My God to Thee"
After a few prayers had been salt
over the dead. DR.. BELL announced tina
Miss Collins Summers. a well-knowr
choir singer, would sing Miss Mckee,
favorite hymn, Nearer My God 4
Thee" The hymn was sung without &C
compartment and in the close, perfumet
atmosphere 1t had an unusually melon
choly tone.
The dead woman was dressed In q
white lace dress that Mr.. Webb sale
had cost $500. She wore no jewelry
Her hands clasped over her breast tiny
spray of sweet peas that had been pu
there by an old colored woman who haC
nursed Miss Mckee in her CHILDHOOD
and throughout her last illness.
After the ceremonies the casket wa.
carried to the hearse by the under
takers assistants. The hearse was white
and drawn by two snow white horses
THE internent took place in Woodlawn
as 1t was found impossible to fulfill Mis-:
McKee's request that she be buried or
Broadway.
Mr.. Webb said after the funeral tha
he had incurred an expense of 5000 t
carry out the dying wishes Of his cousin