Louisiana capitolian., 1880-02-07
A Miners Funeral.
IN THE EARLY DAYS OF CALIFORNIA.


ago was popular in Virginia City. He
went to Napa for his health, and died q
few weeks afterward.
Two warm friends Of the deceased
went down to assist at the funeral.
Seeking the consolation granted by a
flask of old rye, they became trife tu-
mnltuous Oh the way, and reached the
house recently occupied by the deceased
Just as the coffin was about to be closed
up.
''Hold on" they shouted, as they trot-
ted up the yard breathless; give us a
look at the corpse"
The accommodating undertaken, who
was about to screw down the lid, allow
ed the new comers to inspect the re-
mains.
otis Andy, sure enough" remarked
"Don't look as if he died hard" said
the other.
"He was the boss" murmured the
first speaker.
Then the two men looked on the face
of the dead for several minutes with
glistening eyes.
The undertaken suggested that the
procession was forming and the pail
bearers we're waiting.
"We'll take him out ourselves" sug
gested one of the COmstOckers, with the
air of q man who wanted to save trOu-
BILE.
ayes, that's what we came down for"
said the second man. "We knew him
up on the ledge"
The undertaken called attention to the
fact that eight leading citizens had been
selected as pall-bearers.
"Where are they 7" asked one of the
visiting mourners excitedly.
The undertaken waved his hand tow
ard group of men in white gloves and
black broadcloth who were grouped in
one corner of the room enveloped with
the air of dignified melancholy.
'What those fellows in the corner !!
those spindie-shanked affairs over
there packing Andy's remains' Hardly.
Wn3y oil fho
City to plant Andy in the right shape.
If we'd been here early, there'd been
a funeral that was funeral. What
kind Of half-horse town is this any,
how 7" asked the biggest of the two.
"Where's your brass bandV chimed
in the other in tones of lowest disgust.
''Glad you mentioned band, Bill.
But these crows don't look like men that
would put up much for funeral. They're
running it Oh the cheap lay. Go up to
town and get band right away; tell
EN- to bring down couple Of dead
marches, and I'll pay for both. I've got
enough coin with me to bury this whole
town"
One started for the band and was only
induced to come back when he was told
there was 10 band in town.
"Now, don't lie to us fer any econom-
ical motives. The expense amt any
thing. We've got enough togive him a
regular benefit if You just say the word.
Well pile the flowers on his grave as
high as a haystack."
The man was finally induced to 60
back to the house. On entering the
room he called out to his partner:
'Here, Bill, take the other end and
we'll take him out"
The two men seized the coffin, when
the other pall-bearers stepped up to
assist
''Keep your hands off. We are able
to take care. of this business"
The undertaken explained that the
coffin was q very heavy one, and two men
could not lift 1t. ~
"You - crane-faced, yalley-bred
son of a gun, what do you know about
mountain muscle ~ shouted one of the
Comstockers, waving number sixteen
fist under his nose. 81 can lift it myself"
and, rushing ta.tho head of the coffin,
he raised it, pl tee times by the han
dies and SLAM down vigorously on
its supports. '-"When it comes to lifting
Pm there. The two men then proceeded
to shoulder the coffin, and staggered
under their load to the hearse, in which
they thrust their burden with little
ceremony, and closed the doors with a
slam.
The next strobe back to the gentle
men who had been selected as pall-bcar-
ers and the biggest
Gentlemen, those who wish to take
exceptions to the part we've taken in
this funeral will find us at the hotel just
across the street. Here's my card"
No one seemed anxious to take excep-
tions and the speaker, laying his card
down on top of the gate post, turned to
the driver of the hearse and remarked:
"Start up the horses"
( The funeral then proceeded without
further interruption, and the fact that
the two ''intruders' left check for one
Thousand dollars with the widow of the
deceased miner, would seem to Indicate
that their sympathy for the living was
at least on par with their regrets tor
the dead.
"We'd give you more, but we shorted
some Savage last week and it d near
pinchcd us in two. | never wcnt ashore
before, and blast me if eyer will again.
never met man | liked so we'll as