The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1906-12-03
GREAT MEN
DO HONOR
0bsequies Of President Spen-
Ger at Washington.
SOUTHERN HALTS SYSTEM
While Note Of Funeral March Sound
ed Through Church Every
Wheel Ceased 10 Turn.

tragic death on his own railroad on
the morning Of Thanksgiving day
shocked the people OF two hemlsphcrcs
was laid 10 rest yesterday afternoon In
Oak Hlll cemetery.
A notable tribute was paid 20 the
memory OF the distinguished railroad
magnnte by hls assoclatcs. 10y states
men and 10y men eminent IN all the
walks OF public life. The funeral ob.
sequlcs. held Ia historic ST. Johns
Protestant Episcopal church. were at
tended by railroad officials. nnanclcrs
aud public men from all parts Of the
country. Many OF them were lifelong
associates. Hundreds OF friends came
from the south.
Among the distinguished people who
attended the church services were Vice
President Fairbanks. Justice White OF
the supreme court Of the United States,
Senator and Mrs. Foraker OF Ohio,
Senator Bacon OF Georgia. Governor
Swanson and Senator Martin OF Vir.
ginin. Senator Kean Of New Jersey.
Secretary OF the Interior Hitchcock,
Senator wetmorc OF Rhode Island and
former Senator Henry O.. Davis OF
West Virginia.
Just ns the soft strains OF Chopin's
beautiful funeral march pealed through
the church from the organ at 2 y. m.
throughout the whole system Of rail
roads lately presided over by Mr..
Spencer every train came 10 a dead
stop. every wheel ceased 20 turn. ev
cry employee put aside his work. For
Ave minutes over the thousands OF
miles OF railway every employee paid
silent respect to the dead president.
To the strains OF the funeral march
the surplced choir OF forty male
voices silently entered the church and
ranged itself on each side OF the altar.
The choir was followed by the Right
Rev. Henry Y. Satterlee, bishop OF
Washington; Rev. DR. Roland Cotton
Smith, rector OF 81. Johns, and the as-
slstant rector OF the church.
Immediately afterward J. Plerpont
Morgan OF New York, lifelong friend
and business associate OF President
Spencer; Charles Sterling OF New York,
First Vice President Andrews and
Second Vice President Finley Of the
Southern railway entered the church
and were followed by the funeral par
ty, the great concourse Of people pres
ent rising and remaining standing as
the casket bearing the remains was
placed In front of the altar and the
members Of the family were ushered
TO their seats. 1t was peculiarly APP
propriate that the body bearers should
have been selected from among the
colored porters OF the Southern rail-
way. All Of them have been in the
service of the company for many
years, several of them nearly life
time, and all Of them were known per-
sonally to President Spencer.
Following the body came the hon
orary pallbearers, all of them personal
official friends of Mr.. Spencer. They
were principally presidents or high Of
6clals Of the railroads Of America, and
1t was noted that, either personally or
by proxy, they represented quite one
third of the vast wealth Of the United
States. Il. ii. Hartman, lifetime
friend, was one of the last to arrive at
the church.
The funeral service was strictly In
m 10 Will hA rit nf
estant Episcopal church. 1t was con-
Quoted by Bishop Satterlee, assisted by
Rev. DR.. Smith. A special musical pro-
gramme was rendered. Mrs. Spencer
having selected her favorite hymns
These were:
LEAD, Kindly Light" "For All the
Saints Who From Their Labors Rest"
abide With Me" and East Falls the
Eventide."
The burial anthem and gloria were
chanted by the choir to Felton's G
minor setting When Bishop Satterlee
had pronounced the committal service,
the committal being given in the
church because the body was to be de-
posted only temporarily, the choir
sang 81 Heard Voice From Heaven"
At the conclusion of the rituslistc
service the remains were borne from
the church during the singing of
abide With Me-"
No such wonderful profuslon of ex-
quisite floral offerings has been seen
in Washington since the obsequies of
the late President Mckinley as filed
the Massachusetts, avenue residence of
President Spencer and the chancel at
st. Johns church. These tributes came
from all parts Of the country. There
were carloads of beautiful emblems
wrought from the rarest Of cut flowers.
Only few wagon loads of the floral
offerings were displayed at the church.
President and Mrs. Roosevelt sent a
wreath of orchids and white roses tied
with white satin ribbons; Vice Presi-
dent and Mrs. Fairbanks, huge bunch
Of chrysanthemums; officers of the
Southern railway, a standing wreath
of orchids, lilies of the valley and vio-
lets; j. p. Morgan, mass Of rare cut
flowers, and e. II. Hartman, cluster
Of American Beauty roses, palms, vio-
late and lilies of the valley