The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1877-10-09 00:00:00

THE FUNERAL oF THE DROWNED
SAILORS.
T., the Krl4.r.

Dein Sot,-1 rerret to have to ask the favour of a t
small space in your valuable and widely read paper: nor
would I dare ask such a favour were I not compelled to
do or. in justice to myself. In your last issue there s
appeared a letter from the rector of Portland, in reference I
to the indecent burial of the poor unfortunate sailors who
met their fate through the late sad
Af•er exciping him-elf, his clerk, and the officials of the '
church, the opiestion arises, to whom then does the blame
belong! Aiol this is answered by imputing at least a
monsiderable share to " the over zeal and ignorance of the
person in charge."
Now, Sir, being that individual and seeing this may
'treadle interfere with ray obtaining my daily bread, as
brine charged in this way friends of departed ones are not
likely to nine me the conduct of their funerals, I feel in '
gluty bound to wake the statement of the following facto.
On the afternoon of the 14th ult., I received an order from
the assistant overseer to make coffins for six bodies, and '
such coffins were to he similar to those made for the
paupers of the parish ; before, however, proceeding to
esumte the order, I felt bound by the love of decency hi
wall on the assistant overseer, which I did, and asked if
the coffins should not be lined or trimmed. My answer
was no, in-Me them exactly as you snake parish coffins. 1
seas not expected to find any covering for the bodies, this
being the duty of the parish officials, but Mrs. Way very
kaully supplied some linen with which they were
covered. 1 also offered the use of Mr. Thresher's van in
which to convey them to church at a very reasonable rate:
lout this was refused for the disgraceful turn-out in which
they were carried. Having done may duty in making the
necessary preparations on the day of the funeral, I
proceeded below Hill to take charge, and in passing the
church on toy way I asked the clerk bow I was to proceed,
and whether I should bring the bodies in church. He
mid no. I then proceeded to the loft where the bodies
14y, and had to pay for as4istance to remove them to the
in. not a single individual having been appointed by
the parish officials to assist me in the fun, ral ; and none
of the officials superintended, nor it.. they know to this
day whether we buried the bodies or whether we buried
empty coffins. On my way to church I thought the
Issites should i.e rarriel into the church, and stormed the
waggon and went again to the clerk and asked him if I
should bring them in the church. Ile again said no ; take
them to the grave.
Now. Sir, I could excuse tire remark of the rector as to
my over zeal, hail it been imputed to me in the way in
which it was expended. as I think the above facts plainly
testify that neither by my real nor ignorance am I in the
least entitled to the blame.
I beg in conclusion to say that it was undoubtedly the
intention of the clerk, if not the church officials, to burl
the poor fellows as they at first proceeded, for it was not
until after the rector arrived and the coffins brought
around again to the front gate that Mere were provided.
In every respect 1 did my duty, and if! exceeded it, it
was in every instance to secure for the pour fellows •
decent and Christian burial.
I am, your obedient Servant,
EDWARD LOWMAN,
Undertaker.