Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1911-08-26
CLERGYMEN PRAISE
GATES SERVICES
Host Of Friends and Admirers pay
Last Respects to His Memory
Leaves s3o,ooo,ooo Estate.

LEAVES %0o,oOOsOVV Estate,
New York, Aug 24.--.with prayer.
music and eulogy the funeral services
over the body OF John ". Gates, the
financier who recently died in Paris,
were held in the large assembly room
of the Hotel Plaza
The lofty chamber was draped in
black streamers, but brilliant banks OF
flowers hid the walls. At the south
end of the room the coffin rested on
pedestals half concealed in bower
of lilies of the valley and orchids,
Looming up on black background
large white cross stood prominent.
The room was flled with men
prominent in the life of the country,
and here and there a woman was seen.
The balcony boxes on the mezzanine
floor, which were draped in black
cloth, were occupied by friends and
acquaintance of the dead capitalist.
At the religious rites two ministers
and a bishop officiated. An orchestra
rendered Mozart's Ave Verum Cor
pus," and Schumann's 'Traumerei," at
the close, was given by Frankie with
orchestral accompaniment. Three
hymns sung by quartet completed
the musical part of the service.
The body lay in an African mahog-
any coffin. When the last person had
viewed the body, the start for Wood
lawn cemetery was made. The hon
orary pallbearers formed an aisle.
down which the coffin was carried to
the automobile hearse waiting at the
curb The cortege moved up Fifth
avenue on its way to Woodlawn,
where interment took place.
The Rev. J. w. La Grone, of Port
Arthur, Tex, who had come up to
New York with Bishop Nicely to at
tend the funeral, stepped in front OF
the coffin and addressed the congre
cation. He spoke of the dead finan-
cier in an intimate way. and said that
he had had opportunities to see side
of Mr.. Gates life which was closed to
business associates -
IL had the privilege of being init
mately associated and acquainted with
Mr.. Gates because visited his mother
in her last Illness" said the preacher
He opened up his heart to me and
gave me place there, and so | OBJ
served that side of his life and spirit
which was possibly not disclosed to
the world
las | view the life of Mr.. Gates in
his business relations. | see that his
associates looked upon him as a great
battleship all ready for action He
was mighty man. / saw the beau
tiful side of his character and found
him sympathetic and loving man.
He often spoke to me of the plans he
had made for our city in far-away
Texas. We feel In Port Arthur that
we have lost our greatest friend"
The church. paid its tribute no less
feelingly than the former associates
OF Mr.. Gates. Men prominent in
finance, steel and other big indus ries
were there and took part In the sol
emn rites. Even the race track had
big representation.
The. honorary pallbearers were:
John s. Harris, j. S. Culinane, Alfred
Clifford. Arnold Schiaet, John A.
Drake, Charles NJ. Scwab, James Hop
kins, John j. Mitchell Edwin Haw-
ley f. W. OgIeby, Alvin w. Krech,
r. II. Woodwork. Sir Donald Mann,
Harry s. Black, Grant B. Schley. C.
G Smith, J.. H. Lapham. John A. Top
ping. W. C. Hogg, Walter b. Shart, l..
c. Hanna, Frank A. Vanderlip. John
Lambert. G. Watson French, James C.
Hutchns, the Hon. J. G.. Cannon and
J. A. Wolford
John W. Gates left an estate val
ued at s30,G00.00O to 100000 900, ac-
cording to former Justice Henry A. |
who drew Mr.. Gates
will. year ago last spring.
The bulk of his estate Is left to |
his widow and his son. Charles G. /
Gates, equally. according to Mr. Gil !
dersleeve. There is clause which |
provides that none of the property |
can be sold within ten years, 1t is |
said, unless one of the heirs dies. Mr. |
Gates idea was that all properties in |
which he had invested would be great
ly enhanced in that time.
The benefciares under the will |
also include relatives. friends and for
mer employees, the total amount OF
whose legacies will aggregate about
100000 in requests ranging from
800 to 100000.