The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1870-01-13
FUNERAL CEREMONIES
[From the San FRANCISCO Bulletin.l

Three days since, in this city, at his
house on Jackson street, died Ah Poy,
a Chinese merchant. The disease
which baffled the skill of Chinese doc
tors and carried him off was linger-
ing consumption. Little could be
learned of the deceased save that he
was born at canton, and at an early
age entered upon mercantile pursuits.
He came TO this country and continu-
ed his native ayocation. He died at
the age of SO years. At first the exhi-
billions of sorrow were in private, by
his nearest relatives and friends, and
the remains were placed in metallic
case for shipment to Canton--the only
city in the world from which China
man can properly or, safely ascend, to
the realm of spirits. It was determin-
ed that as the malignant deities had
manifested peculiar activity in pro-
tracting All Poy's sufferings, particu-
lar and extraordinary means be taken
to appease them or frighten them
away, and at the same time to propi-
tiate the good gods. The rooms in
which the private exercises were had
were too small, and the leaders of the
ceremonies obtained permission from
Chief Crowley to occupy portion of
the sidewalk on Jackson for a public
exhibition. Accordingly, at an early
hour yesterday, man dressed in
priestly robes came out Of the house,
holding in one hand a large OK horn.
He applied it to his lips, and, elevat-
ing the instrument, blew shrill and
sharp into all quarters of the heavens.
This is supposed to have startled all
the evil ones into comprehension of
the fact that some demonstration was
about to be made against them. After
blowing the horn for several minutes.
the priest was succeeded by other
men with bells, and these were jim
gled and beaten till the din was hide
GUS. 1t was more than the Intervals
could stand, and they retreated pell-
nell in every direction. Some flew
down Jackson street, some up the
street, others into the adjacent alleys,
and still others to the headquarters of
the Anti Coolie Society. While the
bells were ringing and only good gods
were around inzthe air, the mourners
.aH r n : e 3. -
came out in the street. Then the cof-
fin was crought out and placed on the
side walk, draped with red, white and
green cloths. The mourners, of whom
there were about o dozen-all women
but one-were dressed in while robes,
with white cowls on their heads. The
hair on the women's heads was dish
eveiled. Several of them wept in a
genuine manner, but the rest howled
in such way as-to justify. the state-
ment made by some in attendance that
they were hired mourners. When
the coffin was put down the mourners
filed around it several times, weeping,
wailing and throwing up their hands,
and then all bowed themselves with
their faces to the ground, and remain
ed in that position several hours.
| On the sidewalk, below the coffin,
were ranged three orfour white tables,
and on these were deposited the sac
| rifcial offerings. There were five
toated hogs-full size-with tips of
| tinsel on their ears and wreathed about
their snouts, Three sheep, skinned
and laid on large pans, occupied prom
inent places. Then there were chick
ems roasted whole, with many colored
candies melted and run over them in
imitation of robes. They were set
upright in edible, chairs, with their
necks Strengthened, and fantastic COW
ers placed ON top of their, heads. Their
claws were bent up and made to grasp
i spears, darts and exercising wands,
fSeveral roosters had been baked till
they were brown, and yet the feath-
ers on their wings, the wattles on
their .necks, and the crests on their
heads were not even wilted. These,
too, were ornamented with tinsel and
paper. Several large crabs from
Meiggs' wharf lay in the center of the
table, and were set off with ornaments
like all the rest of the offerings
There were numerous pyramid OF
| fruits, also-apples, pears, grapes and
nuts; pyramids of high colored greasy
Hooking cakes; loaf limitations oi
lambs, goats, ducks, SC. covered with
confectionery; piles of Josh sticks
and sacred tapers, with rows of them
burning, smoking and spluttering on
the borders of the table; strips of red,
white and yellow paper, bearing mys-
terious characters, doll looking imag-
| es at several points; and everywhere
| tinsel paper, smoke fumes, and insult
ferable stencil. The streets were block
ed by. the throng of Cinnamon, me-
groes, and superiors," but in the
crowd next the coffin and free lunch
table Of the gods, women predominat-
ed. They were degraded and dis
eased looking set for the most part
and seemed to be riveted in their
tracks byidle curiosity. e
: A line of hacks and rank of badg-
ering hackmen occupied one side OF
the street, waiting for their "loads."
At IL NJ. northumberland wo.
man came out of the house, bearing in
her skinny arms a huge load Of tinsel
!, paper. She threw it on the pavement
and taking lighted Josh stick, set The
mass on fire. Then another brought
out some curious-looking images, a.
, bout two feet high, and supposed to
be representations of several promi-