Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1907-01-14
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS RANK
Funeral of The Late Thomas c.
COoney, U. S N.
PATHETIC INCIDENTS SURROUNDING MS
DEATH IN NORFOLK.
Remains Inferred In The Naval Cemeteay
With Ritual of B. p. O. EIk's.

The funeral OF Thomas c. Cooney,
Chief Carpenter, United States Navy,
promoted for bravery during the
Spanisn-American War, with the rank
of Ensign, took place yesterday after
noon at 3 o'clock from st. Anne 5
Protestant Episcopal Church.
The funeral was one of the largest
attended that has ever been held at
this church. Nearly every member of
Annapolis Lodge No. 622 b. Z. o.
Elks. which numbers nearly two hum
dred, was present at the services at
the church besides many friends, and
brother naval men, all of whom hon
ored and admired the brave man
whose deed of heroism had commend
ed him a few years ago to the Navy De-
partment for promotion.
The services at the church were
conducted by the Rev. Joseph p.
McComas, rector, who had a few short
months ago performed the same duty
at the burial of the wife and infant of
the deceased. The beautiful ritual
service for the dead was never more
solemn and impressive than on this
occasion, and there were tears in many
eyes, for Mr.. Cooney was honored and
beloved by all who knew him. The
only relatives present were the sisters
of his dead wife, Mrs. Landrum, wife
of Judge James I.andrum, of Pensa-
cola, Fla, and Miss May Wheat, and
brother-in-law, Mr.. George B. Hen
dry, Chief Boatswain, u. ). Navy,
attached To duty at the Boston navy
yard, all of whom had come a long
distance TO pay their last tribute of
respect TO a bIother-in-law, To whom
they were devotsdly attached. When
told it was rather an unusual thing
for family connections TO come up
the coast from Florida To Maryland
to the obsequies of brother-in-law
Mrs. Landrum said: I'VE wanted TO
come; he was such a noble man, and
was so good to our sister.
The choir of ST. Cecilia Guild sang
LEAD Kindly Light, - ''Son of My
Soul Thou Saviour Dear, and abide
With Me-, the three hymns sung at
the funeral of Mr.. Cooney's wife. The
pallbearers were brother officers of the
same rank as the deceased. and
were Chief Gunner Robert Somers,
United States Navy, retired,
of Annapolis ;Gunner David B. Vassie,
Chief Boatswain l.. NJ. Melcher, Car
penter Thomas j. Logan, Gunner
James p. Dempsey and Carpenter Al
bert Tucker, all of the navy.
The bodybearers were eight seamen
from the Naval Academy. There
were numerous handsome floral tri-
butes from friends, many of them be.
ing of exquisite designs in rarest flow
ers. The local lodge of Elks sent
handsome wreath of lilies, white car
nations, roses and laurel. A beautiful
design was sent by friends attached TO
the Pensacola navy-yard, and also
friends at the Naval Academy.
Mr.. and Mrs. Mason and Miss Au-
gusta Mason sent n vacant chair made
of beautiful flowers. A design that
was buried in the casket with the de-
ceased was an anchor of exquisite
white flowers and maiden hair fern.
This was sent at the request of the
little ix-and-a-half-year old daughter
of Mr.. Cooney, and bore a card with
ITO Daddy Cooney from Baby Edith
A pathetic incident is connected with
this floral design. The little girl is
the only child of the deceased and be-
cause of a weak throat and for reason
that the dead father.d did not believe it
the right thing for little child to
look upon dead face, she was pre-
vented from coming 10 the funeral.
The little girl requested her auntie to
have the anchor made and, 10 write
the inscription also, on the card,
to bring her home a few of the
flowers from the anchor that must
be laid across her father breast and
buried with him, for, she said,
Daddy Cooney's gone to heaven, TO
be with Mama Pearl, and / know
he's so happy now"
The remains were inferred in the
Naval Academy Cemetery, beside
those of his wife. The funeral cor
tege was preceded by the Naval Acad
emy band, Professor Zimmerman,
bandmaster. The usual services at the
grave were followed by those con-
Quoted on such occasions hy the Elks,
which were very impressive. A squad
of marines fired three vOlleys over the
grave and musician sounded TAPS.
The death of the deceased was quite
sudden.- Seemingly in robust health,
he was stricken with paralysis last
Monday, n week ago today. He re-
covered from the first stroke, and asked
to go on duty, when attacked with a
second stroke, from which he died on
Wednesday. During the Spanish
American War the deceased was ma
chinist on the torpedoboat Winslow.
In the engagement at Cardeuas when a
torpedo of the Spanish exploded
on the Winslow and killed Ensign
WORTH Bagley, Mr.. Cooney, at the
risk of his own life, went to the as
sistance of the young ensign, whose
last words were II thank you and
by his bravery the ship and others on
BOARD were saved from. destruction.
For his act of heroism the Govern
ment subsequently, rewarded him with
promotion. and also presented him
With medal. This and several other
medals, won for deeds Of heroism.
were treasured by the deceased.
Mr.. Cooney was modest, unob-
trusive man. lie never referred to
the incident on the Winslow, and if
it were mentioned TO him he would
say: .'Oh, that's nothing: / only
did my duty All who knew the
man respected, honored and admired
him for his uprightness, honesty and
moral courage. No higher tribute
could have bsen paid him than the
uroeanaa of his u yffa'S sisters nj the