The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-01-05
evening Stats 9nmrnal.
An Ovation to Heroism.

In ancient Rome they rewarded with q
civic crown the citizen who saved the life
Of fellow-being. Yesterday Richmond
paid civic honors worthy of the occasion
to the remains of one who did more than
this, for he lost his own life in daring
and devoted but vain effort to rescue a
friend from death when every chance was
against him. The story Of Capt SAMUEL
HOLDER HINES deserves to be written in
letters of gold, and perpetuated in monu-
| ment of time-enduring brass.
1t is brief, but all the more brilliant on
that account. Young Ross was in the
same apartment with him in the Spots
wood. Captain Hines did not awake till
the smoke had almost filled and choked up
the narrow passages and stairways of the
hotel. OF course, bis first thought was to
save himself and he had forced his way
through the suffocating smoke, and reached
the open air of the street, and safety; when
he suddenly bethought himselfof his friend |
who was in the same room with him in a |
helpless condition.
He endeavored to get assistance to go |
back for him, but failing, despite the en-
treaties of those outside, who felt il to be
certain death, he rushed back into the
burning building to save young Ross or
die with him; and thus heroically and
nobly he fell.
The Rev. Mr.. Edwards, in his grafton
over the dead body of this brave young
man ct the church yesterday evening,
and eloquently said
Pocsy has woven the garlands of immortal
ity around less heroic deeds than that per-
formed by our brave and noble brother. Fic-
tion and dramatic literature perpetuate names,
sven, If they were real, less entitled to dstinc.
lion on the honored scroll of fame, than that
Of Samuel Holder Hines. Eloquonce, in high |
wrought eulogy, has sought, in fervid aud
glowing strains, to render imperishable the {
leeds of statesmen and military chieftains and
and even of martyrs, not more !
untitled to live in the annals of liter ature, and
loquence, and song, than the deed of calm,
Iuiet and courageous friendship in which the
object of this solemnity sacrificed his life. |
The great heart of Richmond beat with 7
'ut one throb at the recital of this deed
nd yesterday, such honors were paid to J
lis remains as admiration for great and no. S
lie actions ever prompts chivalrous peo- /
lie to accord to those who have won them r
rorthily. The church on Broad street was :,
rowded, while the streets without were =
lied with the people, and the funeral pro- O
ession was one of the largest and most Il
nposing of the kind that we have wit G.
essed in this city. 1t was composed in u
ne main of his brothers OF that noble
rder, the knights of Pythias, in carrying Il
ut one Of the cardinal principles of which I'll
'orthy order, their heroic brother had sc
,llep o.
The funeral cortege passed down Main tt
rect, to the solemn music of the Dead h'
larch, as the shades of the evening gath
ed over the city, on its way to the depot; ~
i'd the people were gathered on either in
de of the street, and attested their grief or
= their respectful silence and the SORROW CO
lness of their demeanor. ~
His remains were taken by the Danvills ~
RS to the little town of Milton, in Cas- by
ell county, North Carolina, where he
st saw the light, and whose history he
rs so brilliantly illustrated by his death. u
here, 10 its simple cemetery, will he rest, r. Il,
ID his people will be proud to know that hr
ere is at least one hero buried in their tn
llage churchyard. M