, 1874-02-28
"Wake" Of Christopher Rafcrty's Corpse
by the Bridgeport Brick
makers.
Miserable Condition OF the Famfly and
Dreadful Physical Atllfcti0n
Of ALI the Members
Thereof.
Tho Dead Felon to Be Buried
Tomorrow.

Tie remains of Christopher Ratferty reached
this city from Waukesan On the evening train,
md we're received at the Milwaukee depot BY an
immense crowd Of evident sympathizors, chiefly
from the Bridgeport brick-yards. There we're,
however, no unseemly demonstrations. but there
wss some emotion displayed when the old father
descended from the cars end bent above
the casket which contained tho body
Of his unfortunate son. The coffin was
taken from the express-car by six or eight stall
saloon-keeper who lives near the residence of
the Rafferty, family. The Rev. Father Dunno,
one Of the attending priests, arrived in town on
tho Same train.
The caskot was Immediately placed in hand
some hearse, and the friends OF the corpse
formed in regular procession around and aftor
it. 4 couple Of carringes conveyed
THE POOR OLD FATHER,
and those most noArlv connected with the de-
ceased. Tho funeral corteGo proceeded to Hal
ated street, via Kinzio, and marched south IN
the latter street to Ulmann, wheeling westward,
or, more nearly, no1thwcstward. until The shanty
which Was once tue home of the executed felon
-situased near Walkers brick-yard, just
south OF the intersection Of what 1s
called Douglas place aud Laurel street rect -
at every step, and it was fully o'clock before
tho corpse Of Christopher Rafferty, was deposited
in tho miserable home OF his surviving rola-
tlves. The shanty is Of the ordinary kind seen
in the remote regions OF the clty,-an unPalnted'
frame structure, with few windows, a medium
sized apartment, which answers the joint pur-
poses Of kitchen, parlor, and sitting-room with
two or three small rooms, used as sleeping
places.
Tho caskct was placed on deal table, which
was covered with white cloth. Several candles
wero placed around the head. and. when the up
nar norton of the lid was removed.
THE DEAD FACE OF RAfFEnTY
was exposed to view, looking white as marble,
without tho Femotest approach to discoioration,
and wearing al aspect OF the most perfect tran
guilty. The mouth and eyes were closed natur-
ally, and except around tho neck, the skin show
ed no discolo1ation whatever. Death must have
been painless, or nearly 50.
It WIS pitiab1e sight to look upon that aged
father almost III second childhood. gazing
stupetied on the features Of the dead. The blind
mother Was there, too-her sghtloss eyes con-
yeying an idea OF inoxpressible woe Worst
sight OF all WAS the semi-lemeuted sister, driven
to madness by the dreadful fate Of her favorlte
brother and by the unfortunate circumstances
surrounding the family.
An A1R OF UTTER MISERY
and uncomfortable poverty seemed to porVade tho
surroundings OF this house of death. Raforty 8
older brother, John, or "Jack,'' as he
is called, appeared among the crowd Of mourn
ers for br1ef period, but, as it unable to Gu
o44o WV oFo~*e~Aei N~~- ~-~
gazing at his dead relative for an aeonlz1ng
minute. The people, as il ooeylng some natural
instinct OF dellcacy forenoIe TO ptess afouha ar n
tho colin until the lmmeatate feIanves a: ol 1ne
unfortunate oecenseo .h haa 1 gi1tmca frad ne.i
natural 1ecllngs' 1hen Tue c1o"a WAS io'meo 1T
in line by Con Tracey and others, so that
they passed by the casket and viewed tue 1ea-
lures Of the corpse IN regular ordef'-passlne IN
by the front and leaving by tho rear entrance.
There must have been from
Y1TyNT1
TWO TO THREE THOUSAND fEofLE
assembled IN and around the house at ~ O'CLOCK
last night. Gradually, however, the num-
beIa fell on, ano tnose Mnose curl
osity WAS satisfied vent to their homes
The comparatively lev TINT remained dopofteo
themselves very fairly, and there was up 20
midnight, "hen 1HE Tribune 1epos'ee 4o!I, ~
signs Of disturbance or violence Of any klnd:
Tho Rafferty, house, although nomlnauy piaced
at the intersection OF "piaco" and street,
is in reality upon tho Pralr1e. ana - ieue'ema -
from utter loneliness by ie" pullomss {, OF
somewhat similar character located very near It.