Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-12
|CROWDS HONOR ERb| FIGHT ON LOFTY PERCH|
Fnera of Slain Man Attended Policemen Subdue Madman on
by Thousands. PerIoIs Bridge Tower.
spectators ON HOUSETOP FOLLOW HIM UP CABLE
Military Man Who Proposed to Kill Himself
ing Place Cemetery. Battles With Razor
MAYOR REYBURN VIEWS BODY BIG CROWD ON LOOKS ON
of His Murder Food Several
AreA ABSENT.
Funeral of Slain Man Attended
by Thousands.
SPECTATORS ON HOUSETOP
Large Military Escort to Last Rest
ing Place in Cemetery.
MAYOR REYBURN VIEWS BODY
Widow and Sister, Mrs. Beisel, Ac-
cused of His Murder.
Are Absent.

PHILADELPHIA. October 1.-Two
companies Of soldiers. hundreds Of poll
ticians and thousands of people attended
the funeral of Capt. j. Clayton Erb held
yesterday afternoon from his home at
i36 South 18th street.
Two persons only who had been close to
him during his life were not present.
They were his widow. Mrs Florence Erb,
and her sister. Mrs Catherine Beisel,
who are now in the Media JAIL accused
of shooting and killing him last Tuesday
night at his country home. Red Gables,
near Glen Riddle, Pa.
But every one else who had known
Capt. E:rb during his life Was there, and
many more besides. All the members of
common and select councils. members of
the state house of representatives, espe-
cially those who had known him In 1901
as the lieutenant Of Israel w. Durham,
together with the staff of the Sd Regi-
ment, came today to render him last
honors.
Crowds Fill Streets.
The crowds filled up the entire block
from Spruce street to Pine street Even
the roofs of the houses on both sides Of
18th street were filled. and every window
had its group of onlookers. 1t was the
largest funeral Philadelphia has seen for
many q day.
Long before noon people began to col
was past noon before the body was open
to view. Then long line OF persons
formed reaching around the corner or
18th and Spruce streets, entered the
house. gazed at the body as it lay dressed
in the regimentals of a captain, the cap
and sword at the foot of the coffin, and
the whole surrounded with a bower of
flowers. and then passed through the
back of the house to talk it over with
their friends.
For more than an hour the body was
exposed to view. A little after O'Clock
Mayor Reyburn, accompanied only by his
bodyguard. Detective McFadden. took his
place in the line and waited his turn to
enter the house. Then the members OF
companies E and F of the Sd Regiment,
together with the officers of the regi-
mental staff. marched up to the house
and halted before it.
At 1870 the funeral services were be-
gun. being conducted by the Rev. L.
Chantry Hoffman. pastor of the Lutheran
Church of the Nativity. short talk
and a prayer were made. and then the
body was again placed on view.
Cortege to Grave.
= At 2:3O the procession started for West
Laurel Hill cemetery. Ten sergeants
from the Sd Regiment bore the coffin
upon their shoulders and placed it in the
hearse. 1t was draped in an American
flag. and on it was the captains sword.
Then the regimental band began a fu-
neral march.
With Capt. Olsen at its head. the men
of Company F shouldered their muskets
and stepped slowly forward. Following
them came the hearse. the honorary pail
bearers walking on each side of it.
I'D 18th street to Walnut street and
thence to Broad street the procession
slowly moved to the funeral dirge. Crowds
swarmed into the Founders week stands
and watched it go by. At the Broad
street station of the Pennsylvania rail-
road the members of the regiment and
a great crowd of spectators boarded a
train for West Laurel Hill, while the car
riages drove out unattended.
At the cemetery tremendous crowd
assembled, perching on graves and grave
stones to get a better view. The clergy
man repeated the service for the dead.
The soldiers fired three vOlleys over the
grave, taps was sounded. and the
crowd dispersed.
Brig. Gen. Windell P. Bowen. together
with many officers Of the National Guard
of Pennsylvania were present. Three Of
the servants who figured prominently in
the tragedy at Red Gables. Eugene Poul-
son. the COachman, and Susie MckeOwn
and Mary Paine, were present.