The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1880-05-20
ObseQuies of the Powder Explo-
sion Victims.

The funeral of eight of the white EN-
ployes of tine Giant Powder Works.
Berkeley. Cal, who were killed by the
explosion that occurred at that estab-
lishment, took place from the Coroner's
office shortly after 10 o'clock, on the
day after the catastrophe. AS early as
9 o'clock the friends and relatives Of the
victims began to gather in the undertal:-
er's ware room, where the services were
held, and an eager ard curious crowd
assembled on the sidewalk, filed with a
morbid curiosity to look upon the sad
scene. The doors of the undertaker's
room We're kept closed to all but the
relatives and friends of the deceased and
representatives of the press, who gath
eved in sufficient numbers to crowd the
apartments before the services began.
AT the back end of the room were
placed on supports the remains Of the
eight unfortunate victims, in eight sep
arate cofiins, their silent presence speak
ing more audibly, perhaps, of the great
sorrow wrought, than any language
could depict. On either side OF the
room, in the vicinity of the collins, sat
the immediate relatives of the dead,
dressed IN deep mourning and weeping
silently. The spectacle was sclemnly
impressive, and touched to the quick
the hearts of the most dispassionate
present. A little delay was occasioned
by the non-arrival Of some relstives
from San Francisco. About 10 o'clock
Mrs. Shaughnessy, the mother of the
Boy who was killed, and whose two
brothers were also employed at the
works, came in supported by her two
remaining sons and weeping loudly.
Superintendent Roller, of the powder
works, assisted Coroner Hamilton in
taking charge OF the funeral. After
several of the hearses had arrived from
San Francisco, and the requisite nun
Der, eight, were drawn up in line, the
Rev. DIR. Hamilton, pastor of the indie
pendent Church, conducted the religious
services.
The cofins, one by one, wer' placed
in their respective hcarses, which were
drawn up at the curbstone to receive
them. From the interior of the room
from whence they were taken to the
hearses, the pail bearers passed between
a double row of spectators, in which
were mingled the mourning relatives,
whose unsurpassed and giief-stricken
anguish sounded down the human aisle,
between which the victims were bcrne,
more impressive than any funeral dirge
imaginable. The cortoge was headed by
two carriages containing the pail bear
ers and minister, after which there filed
eight hearses each containing coffin IN
which were placed the gathered remains
of the deac victims. The unusual spec
tacle attracted general attention, and
from every avail able point OF view on
Broadway people were seen to gaze
on what they would never see again in
their lifetime The funeral proceeded
to Mountain View Cemetery, where the
eight collins were deposited in one large
grave. The remains of the Cinnamon
we're conveyed to the cemetery this af-
ternoon at 3 o'clock, and were buried
without ceremony in one grave. The
Chinese Companies of San Francisco
were duly notified, but they, as we'll as
the Chinese in this city, were Indifferent
as to the interment Of their countrymen.