The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1881-06-09
4 Day OF Funerals.
LONDON, Ont, May q.

LONDON, Ont, May ~
THIS has been . day of funerals. Over one
hundred and fifty have been buried already,
the process Of interment being kept up till
after dark. The cemetery authorities and the
clergy have been busy all day. Every availa-
BILE vehicle in the city was in use. and the hack
drivers and ivery-keepers put the figures up
to most extortionate rate. All Of the city
hack-drivers will be fined for exceeding the
charges laid down in the city ordinances; but,
as the fine is limited, they can pay it hum
dred times over and still be largely ahead on
the days trade. Instances are known
where ten dollars was charged for two
hours use of Q common dray, that
can be hired ordinarily for twenty-five
cents an hour All sorts Of vehicles were used
a nesrses, and never-ending procession of
fun erals was kept up. They met and mingled
at every street corner, and 1t was impossible
after they got started to tell where one party
ended and the other began, save by the pres
ence of coffin in some OF the conveyances.
Milk carts, grocery delivery wagons, demo-
crat wagons, lumber wagons-in short, every
thing on wheels was pressed into service. At
one street corner seven funerals merged
and proceeded in one procession. One
of the most melancholy sights was =
procession of six vehicles. The first
one contained a coffin, the second two
coffins, the third three cotfins and the
other three vehicles the friends Of the family,
or at least, such of the friends as were not at
tending funerals in other quarters of thu city.
As the melancholy professions passed. people
lined the sidewalks and sobs were audible in
many streets. Strong men turned aside to
conceal their emotion, and many wept out
right. Prayers were heard all along the line.
Business was entirely suspended, and the
saloons closed their doors and refused to do
business in the face of the solemn ceremonies
Of the day. People from the surrounding
district focked in by train and convey
ance to express their sympathy with the
bereaved city and take part in the funerals.
Several who lived at a distance and had
friends in the vicinity of the city, a. soon 40
the news was received, came to see If theirs
were among the lost. From early in the morn
ing the roads leading to the city were crowded
with vehicles driving in to hear the news of
the disaster. Wherever any one could be
found who had been on the Victor ia there was
q crowd gathered around to hear the details
of the accident. There were but few who had
not lost some relative or friend, and about
whom some fond remembrances were told
Of "the last time I saw poor Tom.'
or how such mother and father had lost
children or how such children were left
the world. Cases were mentioned where
whole families had been blotted out, and the
houses remained locked up and the keys in
the dead mems pockets until they were
recognized ut the deadhouse. There was
nothing but wailing and lamentations and
unltterahle woe. Tho Odd-Fellows, Masons
and other societies turned out and paid the
last mark of respect to such as were MEM
bers of their orders. Owing to the scarcity
of children's collins, in many instances IL
was found necessary to bury small child in
an adults coffin. A carload of collins ar.
rived per Great Western Railway on yester-
day, but they were not equal to the demand.
Miss Fannie Cooper and MIR. William Glass
died in each others arms. They were to have
been married In two weeks, aud the trosseau
had been prepared. They were buried to-
gether, she wearing the dress in which she
was to have been married.
A number of persons in the city have be-
come insane, and it is feared that the lunatic
asylum in this city will have to be utilized to
contine some. Most of them, however, can be
cared for by their friesds. They have fallen
into state of melancholy. much more in
cumblc form of insanity than the acute mania
which grief generally produces.
All the bodies have now been identified.