The Washington herald., 1912-04-20
Public Men Join in HON.
age to Maj. Archie
Butt.
PRESIDENT IN GRIEF
In Second Statement, Ghisf Execu.
tive Pays Glowing Personal
Tribute to Heroic Aid.

! Not until yesterdays dispatches telling
the stories OF those who saw a steely
blue iceberg loom up out OF the night
and wreck the giant Titanic were read
and reread could the Washington friends
and relatives Of those aboard believe
that hope for them was dead.
But when the last ray Of that hope
had fiickered out. the realization was
borne in upon washington that Maj.
Butt. Clarence Moore. and Francis d.
Millet were dead.
The dashing. gallant ofiOer: the much
admired. affable turfman; the gifted,
sympathetic artist. who were the foun-
tain of interest aboard the Titanic. have
gone down with those other merry voy-
ayers to the dark caverns Of the ocean
1000 fathoms deep, and Washington is
welded together in the bonds of sorrow.
Since the Carpathia returned to New
York. bearing neither the person nor
the body Of Maj Butt, and survivors of
the tragedy have told OF the heroism Of
the gallant oficer in actually forcing
many women TO leave the ship, the
President and the military authorities
we're fairly overcome yesterday. The
jovial smile with which the President
has always greeted his callers was alb
sent He received as few callers as pos
sible, and was deeply impressed with the
many messages Of sympathy which had
come to him from various noted per-
sonages.
President Pays Tribute.
Late Thursday afternoon the President |
had given up all hope that Archie Butt |
had managed to escape the fate Of the |
ship and hundreds of his fellow-passen-
gers. He sent for the Newspaper cor
respondents stationed at the White /
House and spoke feelinEly OF the fate OF l
his aid. This he amplified yesterday In
q glowing personal tribute-a tribute of
the President of the United States to the
heroism OF an army ofiicer who was a
soldier to the last; q tribute Of man
speaking Of q dear personal friend. He
said:
MAI. Archie Butt was my military aid.
He was like a member OF my family,
younger brother. The chief trait of |
his character was loyalty to his ideals.
his cloth. and his friends. His charac-
ter was a simple one in the sense that
he was Incapable of intrigue or insin-
certty. He was gentle and considerate
TO every one, high and low. He never
lost. under any conditions, his sense
the respect due to constituted authority.
He was an earnest member OF the Epls-
copal Church, and loved that communion.
He was a soldier, every inch of him;
a most competent ana successful quar-
termaster, and a devotee OF his profess
sion.
After 1 heard that part OF the ships
company had gone down, 1 gave up
hope OF the rescue OF Mai. Butt, unless
hXy haf -
tainIy remain on the ships deck until
every duty had been performed and
every sacrifice made that properly fell Il
on one charged. as he would feel him
self charged. with responsibility for the
rescue OF others.
HE leaves the widest circle OF friends.
whose memory OF him is sweet in every
particular" Ii
Public Men in Sorrow.
Secretary Of the Navy George Won L
Meyer paid this tribute:
There is a universal feeling Of sor-
row in Washington on account Of the
death Of Maj. Butt, due to his
oyal devotion to the President and the
sterling qualities demonstrated in the
of his duties, which have en-
ieared him to those who came in con-
act with him."
Secretary OF War Stimson's tribute was
Is follows:
IT have felt a very warm personal
attachment for Maj Butt. and have
,een greatly distressed by the news of
IFS death. Every one who knew him has
eit confident from the beginning that
he would be shown to have acted with
courageous self-devotion that the dis
patches this morning have now re-
'ealed."
Senator Bacon of Georgia said:
I've known Mai. Butt from his early ,
and he was one OF the sweetest
4 characters and the most loyal Of ,
riends. / doubt II there was a man in
he United States who had more friends
han he-friends who will most sincerely :
MOURN his loss. To me. personally, he
vas one of the best friends I have had
nd his loss is almost that OF a brother.
ie was a very rare and unique character.
nd We shall hardly see his like again"
Senator Tillman OF South Carolina,
uoting Dryden, said:
He was one Of God AlmIEhty's men"
Senator Bailey OF Texas said:
mo man grieves for Maj Butt and his
ereaved relatives more than l."
VIII Hold Services.
Memorial services for Maj. Butt viii
E held in this city on May 5, under the
uspices OF Temple Lodge, F. A. A. NJ,
I which he was a member.
Elaborate plans are being made for the
vent, and not only the President. but
1e most prominent oficials Of the Cap
al and the Masonic order will attend.
The services will be open and among |
le notables who have been invited to |
'eak are Col. Henry Wattersou and |
snator Bacon Of Georgia.
Memorial services for Maj Butt will |
lso be held in Augusta, Ga, Mai. |
utt's home. The President viii try to |
ttend this service also. |
Flags were flown at half-mast on the Z
Thite House, State, War, and Navy :
uildfng. and other public buildings yes q
'rday. 4
Monday viii be the wedding anniver- =
ary OF Col and Mrs. Archibald Oracle. =
Irs. Oracle had sent Invitations to a y
ost OF friends to attend a celebration. y
nd Col. Oracle was hurrying home on =
le Titanic in order to be present. AS Z
at the Oracle home, 1851 4
lxteenth Street Northwest, are IN prog y
sss, 1t is believed that the function \
Ill not be cancelled. Col Oracle, his !
ife ana Miss Edith Oracle, their dauRh- =
r, are expected home to-day. &
Mrs. Moore Better. :