The Portland daily press., 1880-05-01
A Chinese Funeral.
How All Foo Was Buried.
philadelphia Press

philadelphia Press.
At Belleville, suburb of Newark, there is a
large Chinese population, immigrated there
some eight or ten years ago by Captain Her
vey, to work in a laundry. AT that time it was
a rarity to see a Chinaman on the streets of
Newark, and they were not numerous even in
New York or outside of California or China.
The Belleville colony of course attracted atten-
ton, and it was not long before some of the
religious denominations took them in hand and
established a Sunday School in their midst,
with the avowed purpose of speedily and per-
manently converting the heathen. The Sum
day school seemingly prospered for while, and
the young ladies conducting it were delighted
with their almond-eyed pupils advance into
the ways and walks of Christianity and civil
lized life. Unfortunately, one pleasant Sab
bath afternoon, a slight misunderstanding oc-
Cured between two of the heather as to the
Interpretation of the Catechism, which the
young lady teacher was trying to explain and
Impress. One of the Mongolians plunged a
knife into the other, and about that time the
Sunday school abruptly closed, and has not
been reopened so far as we can recollect. But
the heathen had SO far progressed as to be
brought into the police conrt on charge of at
tempted murder, with some thirty or forty of
his fellow-workmen as witnesses who were on
ly persuaded to tell the truth after being sworn
on the body of fowl which have to be brought
into court and there decapitated. A similar
scene was repeated few years after when one
of the heathens was accused of stealing some
$400 from a fellow-workman. Since then the
Belleville Celestals have been very severely
left alone in a legal sense, but that they are
still progressing in the ways of civilization is to
be inferred from the burial of All Foo, 5G years
old, which occurred on Monday afternoon with
a strange admixture of Christian and heather
ceremonies His friends called upon Newark
undertaken, the spokesman making known
their wants as follows: "Me wantee one hearsee
and lotee chicken feathers (referring to the
plumes) on the tOpee hearSee, and nice cloffin,
and lotee flowee. How muchee you askee me?"
After some time bargain was struck for S34
The funeral was attended by about $50 China
men. The body of All Foo was laid out in a
little room In the laundry, the walls of which
were decorated with heather designs. Nine
pieces Of silver were placed in the coffin under
meath the body, three at the head, three at the
feet and the others in the centre. The dead
Chinaman's S head was wrapped in a large tow
el to keep him warm, and then the remains
were placed on the hearse. The Chinese ''high
priest" mounted the hearse, taking a seat with
the driver, and as the procession moved along
to the place of interment, a short distance from
the laundry he scattered pieces of buff tissue
paper about two inches wide by five inches in
length all along the route. AT the grave all
the dead mans effects, consisting of old shoes,
boots, old hats, coats, pants, etc., and the mat
tress upon which he had slept were piled up
and made bonfire of. One of the Mongolians
finding that the grave had been dug too deep
had it filed in one foot and the bottom fiat
tened out, after which the coffin was placed
therein. One of the Protestant ministers-the
Dutch Reformed, it is said-now read the
Christian burial service, recited the Lords
Prayer, and pronounced the blessing. Near by
were numerous Chinese candles lighted, and
pieces of substance resembling punk about
six pounds of boiled corned pork. two, boiled
eggs, two large bowls Of boiled rice and a tea
pot full of tea, and three teacups. After the
Christian prayers had been recited the heathen
rites were begun. At the foot of the coffin were
buried the pork, eggs and boiled rice, and two
Cinnamon filled the teacups from the teapot,
and then spilled the tea upon the side of the
grave until only three cups were left, and these
were afterward placed upon the grave. After
the grave was covered in the crockery and Chi
navarro, belonging to All Foo were smashed into
smithereens. Flowers were placed around the
grave, and upon it were left the burning punk
and lighted candles. Each of the Mongolians
made genufections, and then the procession
slowly retired. On their way back to the laun'
dry two Cinnamon stood short distance apart
one having a large platter containing rock can
dy broken into small bits the size of a hickory
nut; the other held plate containing pennies.
AS the Mongolians passed them each helped
himself to rock candy and penny, and this
closed the ceremonies.