The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-12-03
FINAL TRIBUTE TO
SAMUEL SPENCER
Funeral of Late President of
Southern Railway Attended
by Many NOtables.
EVERY WHEEL ON VAST
SYSTEM IS STOPPED
Vice e-President Fairbanks, J
PierpOnt Morgan Among
Those Who Mourn.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2.-All that is
mortal of Samuel Spencer, late presi-
dent of the Southern railway, whose
tragic death on his own railroad on
the morning of Thanksgiving day
shocked the people of two hemispheres.
was laid to rest this afternoon in the
receiving vault at the Oakhill cemetery,
there to await final disposition.
A notable tribute was paid to the
memory of the distinguished railroad
magnate. The funeral obsequies, held
in historic st. John Protestant Epis-
copal church, were attended by railroad
officials, tinanciers and public men from
all parts Of the country. Hundreds of
friends came from the South.
Long before the hour announced for
the funeral, the church was crowded and
hundreds Of persons stood outside in
the crisp December air throughout the
services, paying solemnly and silently
their tribute of respect.
The officers and employees of the
company throughout the system were
in attendance, and representatives from
two dozen other roads also were there.
Vice-President Attends.
Among the distinguished people who
attended the church services were Vice
President Fairbanks, Judge White of
the Supreme Court Of the United
States and Secretary of the Interior
Hitchcock.
just at 2 o'clock the soft strains of
Chopin IS beautiful funeral march pealed
through the church. AT the same in
slant, throughout the system of rail.
roads lately presided over by Mr., Spen-
Ger. every train came TO a dead stop,
every wheel ceased to turn, every em-
ployee put aside his work For FIVE
minutes over the thousands of miles of
railroad every employee paid silent re-
spect to the dead president,
To the strains of the funeral march
the surpliced choir of forty male voices
entered the church, followed by the
Right Rev. Henry Y. Saterlee, bishop
of Washington, and Rev. DR. Roland
Cottonsmith, rector of st. Johns.
Leading Financiers Mourn.
Immediately afterward J. Pierpont
Morgan, lifelong friend and business
associate of President Spencer; Charles
Sterling Of New York, and First Vice
President Finley of the Southern rail
way, entered the pew reserved for
them. They were followed by the fu-
neral party, the concourse Of people
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. The body bearers were selected
from among the colored porters of the
Southern railway. All were known per-
sonally to President Spencer
The honorary pall-bearers were prin-
cipally presidents or high officials of
the railroads of America, and, either
personally or by proxy, represented one
third of the vast wealth Of the United
States. T.. II. Hartman, lifetime
friend, was one of the last to arrive at
the church.
Bishop Saterlee Conducts.
ance with the ritual of the Protestant
Episcopal church, and was conducted by
Bishop Satcrlee A special musical pro-
gramme was rendered, Mrs. Spencer
having selected her favorite hymns.
AT the conclusion of the ritualistic
service, the remains were borne from
the church during the singing of
Abide With Ne" No such wonder
full profusion of exquisite floral offer
ings had been seen in Washington since
tho obsoqules of the late President Me.
kinley rs today filed the Massachusetts
avenue residence of President Spencer
and the chancel of ST, John s church.
These tributes came from all parts Of
the country. President and Mrs. Roose
welt sent a wreath of orchids and white
roses. tied with white satin ribbon.
BY special direction of Mrs. Spencer,
all of the floral offerings were distrib-
uted later among the various hospitals
and charitable institutions of Washing