New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-06-09
A FUNERAL WITHOUT A CORPSE.

shouts of Laughter at the Nistake-Spir-
iIual Manifestations at Woodland
Cemetery, Newark, New JeEsey-An
Excellent Sermon Wasted.
from the Morning Register of Newark.
Yesterday three carriage loads of mourn
ing friends went to the Market street depot
! with hearse to receive the body of a col
ored man, named William White, who had
died in New York and was to be buried in
Woodland Cemetery. fThey inquired Of the
baggage master if he had received coffin
from New York, and he replied that he had,
and pointed to one which had been placed
in the baggage room, awaiting a claimant.
Mr. Durham, the undertaken, at once lifted
the coffin, which was inclOsed in a burial
case, and, with the assistance of his driver,
placed it in the hearse. The funeral train
then proceeded slowly and decOrOusly to
the cemetery, where it was ascertained that
the grave had not yet been dug While the
grave-digger was at work, the box was
brought reverently to the graveside, and
the circle of mourners stood around with
their heads bowed, while the minister Of
the gospel recited the burial service He
feelingly alluded to the beloved one whose
body lay stiff and cold in the box beside
them. He eXtOlled his virtues and tenderlY
smoothed over his faults. The weeping
relatives wiped their eyes, and felt that they
would gladly change places with the dead
to be so mOurned. At last the moment ar
rived when the box must be raised from the
ground, and lowered into the cold, dark
tomb. 1t was moment Of awful suspense.
The experienced hand of the grave digger,
however, felt that the box was unusually
light for so large body, and asked if it was
a child they were burying. ooh, no."
they said, che was a full grown man"
" There certainly is something wrong,
then" he replied, "this coffin is too light;
there is nothing in it, Immediately the
sOrrOwing circle closed around the grave,
and it was decided to open the box at all
hazards.
The tears were dried in eyes that now al
most popped out of their owners heads in
the anxiety to see what this awful mystery
meant. The lid was raised and behold the
box was empty. For moment not word
was said, each man looked at his neighbor
with blanched cheeks and quivering lips,
but when he attempted to speak his tongue
Glove 10 the roof of his mouth. At last
some one found voice to inquire what this
all meant-was it hoax or some magnif-
cent practical joke Had the body been
spirited away to some medical college
was this another students outrage Many
brawny fist was clenched at the thought.
But one with more practical sense
than the rest stopped down and
examined the lid, to which was
attached a small cord. "Why,' ex-
claimed he, ''uhis box is not addressed to
Mr.. Durham. 1t is marked For w. V. w.
VFeeland.'" Here, then, was a solution of
the mystery. They had taken the wrong
box. At this not even the solemnity of the
occasion nor the presence of an open grave
could prevent the burst of merriment that
followed the discovery, and the entire
group pastor, grave diggers and mourn
ers, joined in hearty laugh at the mistake
1t was subsequently ascertained that mis-
take had been made in ordering the remains
from New York, ana that they would not
arrive until to-day. The coffin they had
taken from the depot was for Coroner Yree-
lands establishment large portion of his
stock being manufactured in New York and
sent out to him.