Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-11-07
v|CE-PRES|DENT'S
FUNERAL SIMPLE
President Taft a Mourner Silent
Throngs Fill Streets As
Cortege Passes.

Hill cemetery.
Under a canvas covering that served
as shield against q chill November
wind were gathered tho sherman FAM
lily. President Taft, members Of his
cabinet, justices of the United STATES
Supreme Court, senators and members
of the House OF Representatives and a
few of the intimate friends and business
associates of the v1ce-presdent while
without a throng who had assembled TO
pay a final tribute stood revcrcntly I'm
III the strains of Asleep in Jesus" nv
the Haydn Male chorus, With marked
the conclusion OF the services had died
away.
President Taft listened with bowed
head and tear-dimmed eyes as the Rev.
DR.. NJ. ". Stryker, president of UamiI-
ton College, read the brief committal
service and the Rev. Louis H. Holden,
pastor Of Christ Church, of which MIR.
Sherman was member. offered prayer.
A mixed quartette sang Good Night,
and when the selection by the male
chorus had been concluded the Presi-
dent gazed a moment at the flower-cov-
cred caskct Of his friend and slowly
made his way to a waiting automobile
accompanied by ex-Nice-Prcsident
Charles ". Fairbanks. Attorney-G cneral
Wiokersham and Major Rhoades, mill
tary aide.
TAFT AT SHERMAN HOME.
Earlier in the afternoon there had been
private services at the Sherman home on
Genessee street and public obsequies at
the First Presbyterian Church. both of
which were attended by the President.
The special train bearing the nations
chief executive and party arrived in
Utica ut 1880 o'clock and the President at
| once went to the v1ce-president's home to
offer his sympathy in person to Mrs.
sherman and the others of the bereaved
family. He remained for the services
there, which were conducted by Or Iol-
den. and then went to the church. where
the funeral hour had been scheduled for
two o'clock, but the services did not begin
until half an hour later
Crowds began to gather In the vicinity
of the church before noon, and when the
doors were finally opened the large audi
| forum with its spacious galleries was
quickly filled, except those seats which
had been set apart for the members of
the family. President Taft and the con-
Rressional party. government officials and
| Intimate friends of the vice-president.
Details Of police and flremen who were
on hand to keep the crowds in check had
! difficulty in clearing the streets for the
expected cortege which had formed at
tho Sherman home.
The delay IN the arrival Of the funeral
party Mt the church was due largely to
the visit Of President Taft to the Sher-
man household. The presidential train
was late in arriving and this had the
effect of setting back the entire schedule.
The interval was occupied with organ
music, including selections from Mendels-
sohn and Handel.
DlGNATARIES AMONG MOURNERS
| The members of the congressional
party were among the earliest arrivals
and they were followed by the Presl-
dent and those who had called on Mrs.
| Sherman with him. The President
| occupied n seat in the center aisle OF
the church and with him sat Attorney
General Wickersham, Secretary Nagel
OF the department of commerce and
labor, former Vice President Fairbanks
and Chairman Hiles of Che republican
national committee.
Immediately IN their rear We're seated
Justices Hughes and Pitney Of the Uni
ted States Supreme Court. Senators
Crane. Curtis. Lppett, Penrose. Oliver.
Bacon, Works and O'Gorman. Secretary
Bennett of the Senate and Representa-
tives Dalzcll Calder. Jones. Wright.
Fairchld and other members of the ma
tional house. Senator Root was one of
the honorary bearers and sat somewhat
apart from the other national officials.
Others In the assemblage included for
mer Governors Frank S. Black and Ben
jamin b. Odeil, Jr.. and a few members
Of the New York Legislature. Governor
Dix was unable to be present but sent
Lieut.. Commander Eckford c. DeKay
his military secretary. as his represen-
tatlve.
The casket, covered with v.olets and
, lilies OF the valley, was borne into tn,
; church at 2:SO o'clock and following i,
came Mrs Sherman In heavy mourning
leaning on the arm of her son. Richard
She was accompanied by me other mem
: bers of the Sherman family. All were
given seats In close proximity to tn,
: casket The Mendelssohn funeral march
was played on the organ as the bod,
was carried in and deposited immediate
ly in front of the altar The entire aud
fence rose in silence as the bearers foun,
their way to the front.
The floral offerings formed an impress
siye feature. These consisted largely o
, beautifully and appropriately desisne,
! wreaths and with them the altar wa
covered The Senate sent an immens
2 piece composed largely OF orchids. Will
the House Offering was OF white roses
There were wreaths from the Nationa
. Republican League. the employees of tn
Utica Trust d Deposit company. of whc
. Mr.. Sherman was president. the Bet
Sigma Phi, the local republican commit
tees. the German ambassador the Span
n ,sh. Saliva dorian. Haitian. Dominican an
4 C;uatemalan legations, from the norther
= New York Trust company. Secretar
n Knox, the employees of the Utica postofiic
n and many others.
: The altar. the galleries and the walls c
o tho church were draped In black broad
a cloth and rich purple The American fla
n vas festooned about the front of tn
t. altar. but It WAS almost hidden by tn
n mass Of flowers.
d The religious services were under tn
10 direction of President Stryker and wer
n as limited in extent as 1t was possible t
make them. They consisted of scripture
readings by DR. Holden and few word
of appreciation and a prayer by DIR. StrS
~ ker. all closing with benediction by III
m Rev. II. W. Brokaw. pastor OF the Fir.
v Presbyterian Church.
a. The music was directed by Prof Charl,