New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1929-01-17
BRIEF SERVICES
AT ruth funeral
Crowds Jam Street to Glimpse
the Babe

crowds of curious stood outside
with % policemen maintaining or
der, simple funeral services were
held today for Mrs. Babe" Ruth
whose tragic death in a fire In Wa
tertown last Friday night created q
sensation.
The funeral had been authorized
following the report of a second au-
topsy. which proved conclusively
that death had been accidental-the
result of suffocation and incinera-
tion-and that there had been NO
foul play.
A light snow was falling when
Ruth. who had collapsed earlier in
the morning when he first glimpsed
the remains of his wife. returned to
the Woodford home for the funeral
about 20 minutes before the services
were scheduled to commence.
Ruth Present
Ruth, clad in blue serge suit and
blue overcoat, and wearing black
felt hat, white shirt and black era
vat. stepped from the sea green col
ored limousine of Attorney John p.
Feeney, his counsel and preceded
Feeney. Police Superintendent Mich
ael H. Crowley and the latter's son.
Arthur, up the steps to the (front
door.
The Woodford home, where the
services were held, is an old fash
Toned two and a half story wooden
dwelling. located in the congested
residential district OF West Fourth
street, South Boston. Its curtains
were drawn and at one side of the
front door a grey-ribbed crepe con-
tributed further to the funeral at
mosphere.
Door Barred
A guard at the door barred the
path of all except the relatives and
close friends who had been invited
to the funeral. and reporters and
cameramen were obliged to remain
in front Of the house.
At 9 a. M, just before the services
began, a crowd of about 400 packed
the street in front of the Woodford
home.
% Police There
Despite the efforts of rs police
men, the spectators had edged their
way closer to the scene Of the
funeral, and many of them were
now sitting on the steps Of houses
on the opposite side Of the street,
giving the effect of miniature sta
dunn.
Half an hour after Ruth and his
party had been admitted by the
door guard, a priest walked down
West Fourth street and entered the
Woodford home.
This was the Rev. FIR. Richard A.
Burke. pastor of st. Augustine's
church. which Mrs. Ruth attended
in her girlhood. It was he who Of
ficiated at the services today and
who tomorrow will celebrate SOL
emn high mass Of requiem at st.
church for the repose of
Mrs. Ruth's soul.
10 Automobiles
Shortly after the priest had enter
ed the house, 10 automobiles stop
ped along West Fourth street pre-
pared to form the procession which
was to accompany Mrs. Ruth's body
to Old Calvary cemetery, Mattapan,
where the babe" had purchased
lot.
The crowd that waited outside
faced the curtaincd windows OF the
little parlor In which lay the body
IF Mrs. Ruth in the $4,000 bronze
,asket provided by the baseball
player.
A huge blanket Of roses and
lilies, on which was inscribed. For
ever Rest in Peace" was the floral
ribute from Babe, and this COW
cred large portion of the ROOM
Flowers from Higgins
There were also flowers from Mil
or Higgins, manager of the New
Y ork Yankees; Jacob Ruppert'chle1
owner of the team; Herb Pennock,
pitcher: and Lou Gehrig, RUINS
thief home run rival.
As the crowd gaZed fascinatedly
It the house in which last rites were
,eins held for the wife Of basebalfs
,reatest hero, a German police dog
up the steps and Equeez-
d through the partly-open front
loor, The dog was elected as soon
IS its presence was discovered. and
ome OF the spectators Uttered.
Father Burke read simple burial
ervices and then said prayer for
he repose Of the soul. prayer 10
which all present responded.