The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1912-05-06
ARCHIE BUTTS
HERO BY INSTINCT
Presidents Aide Who Went Down
With the Titanic is Subject
OF Eulosy.

Washington, May 5. = The life of
Major Archibald W. Butt as soldier,
newspaper man, lodge member and
| aide to presidents and his heroic death
on thei Titanic, were commemorated
.Eby his commander-in-chief, a president,
secretary of war. senator of his
native state, contemporary in the
newspaper field. and the. fraternity of
masonry at an impressive memorial
service heie today. The tribute Presi-
dent Taft ID to his late aide optomiz-
ed all that was said.
Everybody knew him as Archie. /
cannot go into box at a theater;
cannot turn around in my room, can
not go anywhere without expecting to
see his smiling face or to hear his
cheerful voice in greeting. The life of
the president is rather isolated and
those appointed to live with him come
much sloser to him than anyone else.
The bond is very close and 1t is diff
cult to speak ON such an occasion as
this.
Archie Butts character was single,
simple, Straightforward, and incapable
of intrigue. A clear sense of humanity
lightened his life and those about him.
Life was not for him a troubled prob
lem. He was a soldier and when he
was appointed to serve under another.
to that other he rendered implicit
loyalty. l never knew man who had
SO much self abnegation, SO much self
socrifce as Archie Butt.
Heroism Natural Trait.
Occasions like the sinking of the Ii
tanic frequently develop unforeseen
traits in men, 1t makes them heroes
when you do not expect it, But with
7lAf%1nie it was just as natural for him
to help those about him as it was for
him to ask me to permit him to do
Something for someone for me.
eHe. was on the deck Of the Titanic
exactly what he was everywhere. He
aeaves a void with those who loved
him, but the circumstances Of his 60
ing are all what we would have had,
and while the tears fill the eyes and
the voice is cholSed, We are felicitated
by the memory of what he was"
President TAFT spoke with difficulty
and he was forced to an abrupt ending
by failure of voice and steady flow
of tears Beside Mrs. Taft sat Mr.. and
Mrs. Lewis Butt of Augusta, Ga OPP
posite them sat Secretary Wilson. Sec
retary Meyer and other prominent Off
ciaIs. Senator Bacon sat with the
members of the Georgia delegation in
congress and throughout the meeting
place were statesmen, soldiers and
friends of the dead officer. Temple
lodge No. 32 of the Masonic fraternity
was seated with the speakers
FulfIlment Of Faith.
iotClFtdly 0tituSOil lCSOuhtCu HidIOi
Butts military career and described
his heroic conduct on the Titanic.
I'VE like to think of him there as
fit representative Of the American
army quietly doing his duty. Such an
end is far from a tragedy 1t is the
fulfillment of soldiers faith" said
Mr.. Stimson.
Senator Hoke Smith of Georgia. who
once employed Major Butt as Wash
.fngton correspondent and knew him as
man and boy, spoke feelingly of his
associations He said he could not fail
to mention the splendid courage of
another Georgian, Jacques Futrelle,
who lost his life on the Titanic, a
sfellowworker with Major Butt Edgar
10. Snyder, Washington newspaper
man, spoke of Major Butts activity In
the newspaper field and quoted tri-
butte written by Henry Watterson, a
former employer of the presidents
aide
Carter B. Keene, master of Major
Butts lodge, also spoke. Philander G.
Johnsolf read poem dedicated TO