Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1860-01-16
COpplc's Funeral.

As tho Gazette is the organ Of the
Abolition party in this section of Iowa,
and % the friends of CoPPIc since his
death have made that sheet the medium
Of communicating to the public every
thing of interest connected with this
Harper's Ferry martyr, we have been
looking for some official notice Of his
funeral obsequiss. None having ap
peared, we clip the annexed correspond
ence from the N. Y. Tribune, which
gives graphic description Of the funer-
al ceremonies, in true Abolition style :
SALEM, Ohio, Dec. 81, 1859.
knowing the anxiety prevailing in al
most every section of our country to
hear all that relates to the gallant band
af martyrs who have fallen in Virginia,
and feeling my spirit burn within me for
some utterance, | propose to give a
hasty sketch of the two burials of our
young hero, Edwin Coppock. You have
heard of his uncle, from near this place,
being with him before bis execution, and
that his remains were delivered to him
out of the clutches Of Winchester stu
dents. BY adding fifteen dollars to the
ten Virginia provided for her victims, a
black. walnut coffin of the rudest and
plainest description was furnished, such
as our undertakers would ask five for.
and paying by sceightfor the carriage Of
the body from Harper's Ferry to Wheel
ing, the old man reached his home with
his sad freight on Sunday morning, the
18th inst. The relatives, being all
Quakers, desired the funeral should be
conducted in the most quiet manner
possible. General notice was not given,
and the rites were hurried through on
the afternoon of the same day. Still,
thousands gathered to the old home
stead, five miles from Salem, and followed
to an humble grave, in an out-of-the-
way burying ground, one Of Ohio's
noblest young men. 1t was no fit place
for hero to lie I; SO the free people of
our place thought, and constituted a
Committee to walt upon the friends and
obtain his remains for a more imposing
burial. We felt he belonged to us-his
.tame acas our legacy. On last Monday
the body was disinterred aud brought
here, where it was placed in the hands
of efficient persons to prepare for the
solemn rights that were to take place
the Friday following. The miserable
coffin from Virginia was replaced by
handsome metallic one, the body robed
in white flannel, and taken to the Town
Hall, where it was exposed to view for
four hours. The hall only accommo.
dates six hundred. Those who came
frst we're seated, and then for four
hours one continuous stream of earnest
looking men and women, with . sprink-
ling-thank Heaven only sprinking-
OF heart-hearted men, poured in At one
door and out at the other; thus it is
thong ut at least four thousand persons
passed through the room, while the most
perfect and solemn order was observed
throughout. Some women, in pausinp
to look on the fine manly form and black
ened face, would burst into tears while
men would clench their hands and com.
press their lips, as if making some new
and earnest resolve. Pray God it mar
prove 90.
The Rev. James Thome, of Ohio Civ
offered up prayer genuine prayer,
that am sure reached the ear of his
Divine Master and found an answer
there. This, with few thrilling remarks
and an announcement that the funeral
sermon would be preached at 7 in the
evening, ended the ceremonies in the
hall. The pail bearers, eight in number,
with reverent hands bore their murder
ed brother to the hearse, where thous-
ands were waiting to form in procession.
The relatives followed first, then the COL
ored people, for whose race he died !;
while the vast assemblage who brought
up the rear made altogether the most
striking display We have ever had here.
Inc cemetery where he was laid il a
beautiful spot in sight of town, and VIC
intend having . suitable monument cree.