The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1920-11-29
SPENCER FUNERAL
BRINGS OUT
MONSTER CROWD

Il is only once in great While that
| the passing OF citizen stirs a COM
nlunity as deeply as did the sudden
death Of Clyde \. Spencer, chief of the
| East Chicago IRE department. Added
| TO his official position and personal
popularity, the fact that his death was
caused by circumstances relating 10 the
| performance OF his official duty. served
/ but 20 increase the numbers OF those
who gathered at the Spencer residence
! TO pay tribute to his memory yester-
| day afternoon.
/ over two thousand people throng-
| I'd the house and surrounding lawns
and walks. Automobiles lined all the
| adjacent blocks. Upon the arrival OF
| fremen, policemen. aldermen and Ma
sons at the hour Of two o'clock the
! service commenced II was conducted
/ by the Rev Frank Naples. pastor Of
| the Congre gational church and Attor-
ney willis Z. Roe. Worthy Master, OF
| the local Masonic lodge
Following the opening sentences OF
| the church burial services and proceed
ing the reading OF the Masonic rites.
| The Congregational quartet Mrs JOS
/ eph Fisher, Miss Mary Davis and the
Messrs Otto Seifcrt and James Thorn
son rendered very beautifully I'm The
Garden"
In the course OF his address. the Rev
Naples. Of whose church the whole
Spencer family are members, paid tri-
butte TO Mr.. Spencer. not only as a pub
lie official with whom duty had always
come first, but also to that side of his
character revealed TO him as pastor
and friend OF the family. in the home
There he had seen him as friend coun-
sellor and comrade of his children
The untimeiy death OF the FIRE cnleI
in the performance or duty brought
into existence by the wrong DONG Of
others. comes as challenge to each
ono OF US 10 ask ourselves how far
arc We responsible for these wrong
conditions which led up 10 the loss
OF our friend" declared the pastor
Continuing he said: Il hope the
civic conscience viii awaken before
more valuable lives have paid the price
of decent citizenship unconcerned OF
existing social conditions Let eacn
one, Mason, city official. policemen
and citizen here resolve that this life
shall not have been given in vain. but
that East Chicago shall De so rid 81
vicious elements that it may become a
Mt city in which to raise the coming
generation" After the benediction had
been pronounced the large concourse
passed through the house before the
| casket containing the deceased.
Representatives not only OF the Twin
| City fire, police. judicial and admin
istrative departments were present,
but delegations from Gary. Hammond.
Whiting and Chicago. The Chamber OF
Commerce and the Civic Club of In
diana Harbor we're fully represented.
The services ended. a procession al
most two miles In length. was formed
to escort the family with their deceas-
ed 10 the Canal bridge on Chicago ave
Two hundred policemen and firemen,
the deputy mayor. chief Of police. AZ.
ing fire chief. aldermen and many city
and county officials. besides over two
hundred members OF the Masonic order
| composed the escort
The casket was carried upon one
Of the city's fire trucks with a guard
OF four fremen and the palIbearers.
walking on either side, and as the
pallbearers. E. r. Canine. Capt. New
ton, Herman Kerr. Edward Cadman.
@. r. Rain and G. X wallace came
from the house 10 waiting fire truck.
especially arranged. hats were remov-
( ed. while sobs from many spectators
| were to be heard
by the time the head OF the process
sion. the escort had opened ranks at
the bridge to permit the casket laden
fire truck and the family TO pass
through. the rear end had not yet turn
ed the four corners crossing.
Waiting autos took Up the members
! OF the escort and the route through
Indiana Harbor was taken AS the
| fire station at that end OF town was
| passed. tho scene was most touching
The men OF the station had drawn one
OF their largest trucks 10 the door,
and themselves stood at attention as
IL awaiting orders from that voice
which shall speak 10 them no more.
! This was a beautiful tribute as last
loving farewell
| From Indiana Harbor some one hun
dred automobiles continued the journey
/ 20 Gary and their occupants awaited
/ the train which was to bear the fam
| ily on their sad mission to Pennsyl-
vania.
Clyde AinsIey Spencer was born q.
| Curnwensville. Pa. on February 18th.
/ 81, and came TO East Chicago in Oct
/ ODER. 1907, He was a member Of the
Presbyterian church, but upon his ar
rival in East Chicago. transferred to
| the Congregational church. He was
made Master Mason at CurnwensvilIe
! IN 1892. and was one OF its most act
i've members
The following members Of his fam
ily and relatives survive: wife. Mrs
G. A. Spencer; two sons. Kirk and
Franz: one daughter. : Francis: his
mother. Fanny Spencer: four sisters.
Mrs Ralph Wrigley; Mrs. Lawrence
Dale; Mrs. Jess Richards Miss Emma
! Spencer. ard brother Edward g.. ali
residing in Pennsylvania