Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-06-20

LOCAL NEWS.
The Funeral of the Victims Of the Arsenal
..-...,. ,... .-. Explosion.
AFFECTING sCRNEs-INTEREsTIHG oBsBaUIRs,

The Funeral of the Victims Of the Arsenal
.-.....,... Explosion.
AFFECTING sCRHRs-INTKREsTING oBsBaU1Bs,
--.-.. r-l sc.
The funeral Of the unfortunate victims Of
the explosion at the Arsenal on Friday last
took place from that place yesterday afternoon,
as per announcement. The arrangements
were that the funeral should, leave at three
O'Clock, but long before noon crowds OF per-
sons wended their way towards the Arsenal,
but were disappointed in finding that they
could not at once enter the grounds, and by
two o'clock there were over thousand per-
sons about the gate aw waiting admission--the
sun in the meantime being very warm, and so
oppressive was the heat that many were un-
able TO stand 1t, and left the vicinity. About
2n o'clock, however, the upper gates were
opened, and the crowd pushed through--the
gathering by. this time numbering several,
thousand, and some were badly jammed in get
ting through. About this time several divisions
OF the Sons of Temperance. accompanied by
on the ground. ..-.0 ..., ...
In view Of the apprehension that there would
be an unwieldy crowd in attendance, and that
there were SO many places in the Arsenal pro-
per about which 1t would be dangerous to al
low a crowd, the obsequies took place immedi-
ately in the rear OF one OF the store-houses, on
the north side OF the old penitentary building,
and the immense assemblage Immediately
gathered around 1t. The remains of the fifteen
dead, not removed, were enclosed In handsome
coffins, silver mounted, with three handles on
each side, and a plate on the breast, bearing
the name of the inmate when known. The
cofens were lined with muslin, and were made
in The Arsenal carpenter shop, in which there
mains were placed on Saturday moraing when
they were removed to the platform. The plat
form was about fifteen feet by twenty feet
from the ground, covered with duck, and
trimmed with mourning. Over this was a
canopy, draped with the American flag and
mourning. .s..s.. =.
Under this canopy the cofins were placed
eight containing the remains Of those who could
not be Identified ranged along the north side Of
" nj KNOWN" and On the opposite side seven
other collins, with the names OF each as fol-
lows, commencing at the east end with Annie
Bache, Julia McCUin, Mrs. Collins, Elizabeth
Rranagan, Lizzie Brahler, Eliza Lacey and
Maggie YOnsOn. .-E
The cofins were tastefully decked with bo-
quets and wreaths composed of white hIIies
and roses and other appropriate flowers. These
flowers were the feeling tribute of the fellow
employees (female) Of the deceased at the Ar
senal.
Gen. Ramsay, formerly commandant at the
Arsenal, Major Benton, the epresent command
ant, Major Stebbins, paymaster, Surgeon Por-
ter, and Lieutenants Prince, Mckee and
Stockton, were present upon the platform
during the ceremonies.
Around this platform were stationed guard
of Veteran Reserves, who with the utmost diff
Guilty could keep back the pressing crowd; but
when the relatives arrived they were admitted
around the platform. and then came scene
indescrlbable. With tears and sobs the rela-
tives moved around the platform, anxiously
looking for the remains of their loved ones, and
when they were able to single out the coffin
containing the body searched for, the distress
was most painful. The family Of Miss Bache
whose remains were on the corner Of the plat
form, seized frantically on the coffin, and in
sisted that 1t should be opened; and this corpse
was the last placed in the hearse, in order that
the family might take possession OF it at the
NM 0nAh hOr s,ya "A
sister Of Miss Adams pressed herself through
the crowd and ascending to the platform, and
commenced to search for the conin containing
ner sister Melissa, and while occupied in the
Intellectual search swooned away, and was
carried away to the fresh air by friends
On the other side of the platform were the
eight c0fhns, each marked stunknown."
Here the affii relatives gathered, passing
excitedly along the line Of coffins, eagerly scan.
ming each, as If hoping in some possible way to
be able to designate the one con tanning the re.
mains OF their own dead.
After comparative order had been restored,
the obsequies took place
Rev: Father A. Bokel, Of ST. Dominick's
church, commenced them, saying that as sew
eral OF the unfortunate victims Of this catas-
trophe belonged to the Catholic church, he
would perform the usual funeral services of
the church in their behalf, and that others
would follow him in behalf of those connected
with other denominations. He then proceeded
to Tecite, in solemn manner, the Catholic bu.
rial service, and spriDkled holy water upon
the collins. He concluded the service by few
earnest and feeling remarks upon the nature Of
the lesson conveyed to his hearers by the scene
presented. Those before them, though dead,
speak to rs in words OF warning, that we too
must die, and we know not the hour or cir
cumstances in which the Almighty may sum.
mon us to appear before Him. He closed by
% an affecting invocation to the God Of mercy in
behalf OF the dead and the afflicted mourners
Rev. 3. V. Leech, of Gorsuch Chapel METH
odlst Episcopal), followed, reeiting in impress
slve manner the grand words from ReYela.
MI q Srrvhf ffa@
proceeded in eloquent terms to speak Of the
solemn occasion where death had taken away
30 many friends and neighbors, and those yet
nearer and dearer He asked his hearers to
withdraw their minds as much as possible
from the circumstan ces attending these deaths,
and to regard them as accidents not harming
the spirits OF the departed ones. 1t was mis-
take to regard as Of serious importance the
mere incidents connected with death. 1t would
have been consoliDg, indeed, II the father and
the mother could have stood by the side of the
daughter and bade her adieu; but we have this
consolation, that those who believed in Christ
were not harmed by death, and scarcely felt
the touch OF fire before they were fastened to
blissful Immortality. One word to the com.
mun1ty. God speaks to as by the death of in.
d1vlduals, but from its commonness it makes
but slight impression when coming singIy
For our good God causes these terrible vis-
itations to come upon as. Let us be instruct
ed by it, and avail ourselves of the time grant
ed us to make character for eternity Nav
God bless US, and lead us by his counsel to be
Aeday " oepdTI Win JOY auQ not Sr1e1!
Mr.. Leach concluded with fervent prayer,
following upon the Lords prayer, and COM
mencng: Oh God, thou hast appeared in our
midst The rumbling Of thy car hast been
heard. Have mercy on us, may onr sins be
taken from Bless the friends of those who
have been taken away. Bless their CO. laborers
and let all classes profit by this dispensation.
services at the stand, Mr.. John G.. Dudley,
Chief Marshal, called upon the friends of the
deceased to enter the carriages and fall in after
the hearses and ambulances. .r-l
A large squad Of police under Sergeant Hep.
burn, OF the 10th Precinct, detailed for duty on
the occasion, opened passage through the |
crowd, and the cofhns were taken from the |
platform in the following order - Julia
McCuin, Mrs. Collins, Elizabeth Branagan,
Lizzie Brahler, Eliza Lacey, Maggie Yonson, |
then the eight unknown and Annie Baehe, the |
following acting as pan bearers, the line hav-
ing previously been formed - oi..- - Stb.t. >
i. Champion, E. D0Olapp, J. II. Granger. l..
Dishards u. Anderson, T. Mansfield. G.. Dal.
ton, w, Zones. w. Whitmore, John CundY. w.