The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-12-11

in command, relatives and near friends
OF the victims sll in carriages, officers OF
the city, government and others in su
! thority.
On the way down Flstbush avenue
! one Of the most conspicuous and often
occurring sights was an old large poster
with the omnibus announcement:
"BrookIyn Theatre-Last Night Of
The Two Orphans-Doors open at
7:3OO'ciOck."
Compared with other funeral process
sons the great procession OF 70. day had
many characteristics of its own-the num-
Der and appearance of the many crisped
and dIsmembe forms, the occupants OF
the carriages, all of them nearest friends
of the dead, some of them distant rela-
tions and mere acquaintances with tear
less eyes were distinct and terrible fes-
lures. But the one feature which per-
| vaded the scene and lent TO
it a distinctive and deeply touch
ing significance was the manifestation
of popular sympathy and sorrow. A
community had been afflicted, and sadness
was common. Many private and almost
all of the public buildings were drapee,
and all the flags were ut alt-mast and
were torn by the gale almost IL TO shreds,
rs if the great occasion had right to all
the service they could ever render. An
immense crowd had assembled in Flat
bush Avenue just beyond its junction
with ScherD"rhorn street, and as the
cortege filed - the avenue the great
mass OF humanity moved with 1t. The
| intensely cold weather seemed now to
have little or no effect on the people,
They were there men, women and
children completely blocking up the sv-
enue, and surging out into the carriage
way. The police keep vide space open
for the procession which moved slow up
avenue, the people pressing on and en-
sfavoring apparently to approach as
near as possible the hearses and wagons
bearing the trsgmentary remains of the
victims of the playhouse tragedy. The
windows of the houses were flied with
spectators, and far ahead the avenue
was black with human beings.
Arriving at the Sixth avenue
the column proceeded down that avenue
and past the private residences with the
| peopled windows of the courtyard, and
stoops. Il vast crowd accompanied the
procession which then turned into Third
! street and moved down towards Fourth
avenue. There Was perfect gale blowing
and when the procession reached Fourth
avenue, immense clouds of dust were
driven across the avenue of great width
and progress WAS made with consldera-
bly, difficulty; thence the line of march
WAS continued to Twenty. fifth street and
up Twsnty-tiith street TO Greenwood, the
beautiful City OF the Dead.
| There was Il tremendous crowd at the
| cemetery and rs the cortege passed
/ through the gate the tower bell tOlied
mourEfullv. On either side along the
pathways, on the hill sides and invading
the private plots were people. Turning
to the left the funeral party proceeded
directly to Battle avenue where, about
about l50 yards from the entrance OF the
cemetery, trench mad been prepared
for the reception of the dead victims,
and the grea, crowds which were met
near and just within the cemetery formed
about the vast grave. The site
being on the slope OF the hill and
completely exposed. the cold was almost
insuhersble, but still the people Leld their
places. There was no delay in removing
the remains from the hearses and wagons
and depositing them in the circular
trench. Then the services were begun.
Rev. DR.. Noah Ii. Schenck read the
beautiful burial service of the Episcopal
church, which was listened to attentlyely
by those who We're within reach OF his
voice. There was an ineXpressible sad
ness mingled with the soemnity of the
scene. Hundreds of people wePt,
the tears freezing on their cheeks
rs they issued from the eyes.
After the reading Of tho services,
Rev. A. p Putnam of the Unitarian
Church of Our Saviour addressed the as
sembly Rev. A. Stewart, a Washington
Baptist clergyman, offered fervent
PRAYER At the conclusion OF Mr.. Putnam 6
remarks. and the services were then
brought to a close with benedlctlon by
Rev. James Odcll.
Previous to the dismissal of the as
semblage the choral societies sang, "Say
What Troubles Thee" and above the
Tree Tops is Rest The people then
dispersed, and all was ended except the
enduring agony o. widows and orphans.
The Committee Of Bankers and Mer-
chants of New York. me. at DeImonicOs
and appointed Mr.. Benjamin B. Sher'
man, president OF the Mechanics Bank,
treasurer of the relief fund. 1t was re-
ported that majority OF those lost were
poor, leaving relatives depending on
them. There were seventy-fve cases Of
absolute dest!tution, and from one hun
dred to two hundred cases requiring par
tlal help.