Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-10-19
FUNERAL OF
WRECK VICTIMS.
Thomas Jefferson Lofts and
Engineer M'AIeer Laid to
Rest at Mt. 0livet.
TRIBUTES BY THE SPEAKERS
Both Men Stuck to Their Engines TO
The Last-Alute Testimony of
The Seat Box.

The funerals yesterday of Thomas
jefferson Lofts and George McAleer,
the two Rio Grande engineers who were
killed in the freight wreck at divers
siding Wednesday morning, We're the
last sad chapter of the accident as far
as the public is concerned.
Although rain and sleet We're falling
all through the afternoon, scores of
friends and relatives attended the boz
dies to their last resting place in Mt.
Olivet cemetery.
Both funerals took place in the aft
ernoon, the Lofts services being held
in the Masonic temple under the aus
pieces of Argenta lodge No. g. The Nc
Aleer services were held in the chapel
of the undertaking parlors of O'Donnell
under the direction of the Brotherhood
OF Locomotive Engineers.
ENGINEER LOFTS FUNERAL.
Rev. Daniel NJ. Helmick, pastor of
Iliff NJ. e. church, assisted the mem
bers of the Masonic order in the scrv-
ice The address was delivered over
the casket in the chapel and fitting aul-
ogy was given the departed friend and
brother. OF all those who knew the
deceased, perhaps those OF the brother
hood of engineers who daily shared the
same danger and hardship appreciated
the nature of the man best.
In Mt. Olivct cemetery an impress
sive burial ritual was delivered by w.
L. Howard. the lodge members assist
ing. A pathetic scene at the funeral
was the wild grief of the sons of the
engineer.
McALEER's SERVICES.
j. G. Bywater, chief of the Brother
hood of Engineers at tho request of
Mrs. McAleer. told of the life of the
dead comratLe as known TO his fellow
workmen, and addressed words of con-
dolence to the relatives and friends.
Rev. P. A. Simpkln, pastor of the Phil
lips Congregational church, was the off,
fetal Clergyman. He, also, pronounced
q short eulogy and offered sympathy
for those left behind.
The musical offerings We're by the
quartet from st. Mary's cathedral and
the musicians union turned out an
orchestra which assisted materially in
the musical program.
The funeral cars and many carriages
carried the relatives and friends to
Mt. Olivet, where burial took place.
Floral tributes We're many and beau
tiful.
LOFTS STUCK TO HIS POST.
The fact became apparent at the
time of the discovery Of Engineer Loft
It's body that he had not jumped from
his engine, as was at first supposed.
When the body was finally found by
members OF the Brotherhood of Loco
motive engineers, after the first party
of searchers had given up the quest. it
was discovered that the engineers seat
box was near the body, also the engi-
neer's cap was under the coal. It would
appear from this discovery that Mr..
Lofts had been thrown forward from
his engine. his cap md seat box being
thrown with him. and was buried I'M
der the coal of the train with which his
engine to1lded.
Considerable feeling has been mani
Tested by some of the fellow employees
of Engineer Lofts at what they term
the inhuman treatment of the remains
after their discovery. 1t is said that
after the body had lain under tho coal
for SO hours, 1t was placed on stretch
Ell and taken to a baggage car and
started out for Salt Lake on freight
train. On the way, however. the train
carrying the body stopped at Bingham
Junction to switch. and the body was
allowed to remain in the baggage car
for the greater part of an hour before
the switching was completed and the
journey to Salt Lake was resumed