The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1882-07-13
II " Jack Har,i> Was Bu. l. d.

The burial Of lack Harris, which took place
Yesterday evening between 5 p. m. and snns"t,
was an interesting ceremony 'nasmuch as 1t
illustrated the advanced liberalism and tolera-
ton that marks our times. and our country.
Harris was. in the eyes of religious people,
wicked man; he died, apparently. an unr'-
pentant sinner. He was known to hold all
Christian faith in open deriSion; he was a be-
lever in mankind non believer in religious
dogmas. He might have been htly called the
"wickedest man" of the town.
But his death brought sorrow to many
hearts, and while the closest cirle Of his friend
ships embraced the outlaw portion of our COM
munity, yet his death brought his friends up 10
the level, or all the world down to theit level as
they stood at his pen grave to pay the last
sad office to his memory.
1t was a glorious summer evening, as the
long line of hacks with the hearse filed down
Soledad street from the residence of the de-
ceased to Commerce street and out to the
cemetery. Crowds of people stood at the
street corners, and as the silent procession
passed down our chief business street all labor
was suspended, land there was at least a momen-
tary tribute to the dead man from his fell W.
citizens who felt that the manner of his death
was an injury to the community.
THE PROCESSION.
Leading the procession was the carriage
with the Rev. w. Neal, of the Presbyterian
church, then members of the Harris house
mold, then the hearse, then carriages with pail
bearers end friends.
ATTHE CEMETERY.
On reaching the cemetery the hearse was
driven to the grave, where the coffin was re-
moved and placed in pine box, and all be-
ing in readiness, deep silence tell upon the
uncovered audience, as the parson opened his
book and read appropriate selections from the
scriptures touching death.
THE ADDRESS.
Mr.. Neal ceased reading and said; My
friends, you have invited me to perform SER
wee over the dead had you wished tribute
paid to his memory you would have chosen
some one better acquainted with his life and
CHARACTERIZED you wished prayers said, you
would have sent for a Homan Catholic priest,
but am a prot slant minister, and have
responded to your invitation out Of Difference
to that common feeling Of humanity we all en-
terrain; that in his time and day we think it
but decent and appropriate that we bury our
dead with that show OF respect tor the opln-
ion o. the living which Atheists our common
humanity.
Of the mans whose mortal remains we
come to bury know little, but am told that
lie possessed many characteristics that makes
man beloved by his fellow mamie was
generous, charitable, brave; and his death will
cause pang to many who hove known his
friendship; but come here not to speak of the
dead-our praise or blame does not concern
him-bu come to speak to the living. AS
minister of the gospel exhort you to accept
the message | bring 1t will not be long be.
re some one of this multitude will be called
to his or her last account, and another party
OF friends will gather at an open grave, as you
are to-day gathered, and will perform for yon
the last sad rites for the dead. Are you ready!
The parson alluded to the crucihxion, and
feelingly exhorted his hearers to seek the
Savior, in order that his hand might lead them
through the valley of death.
Then he delivered an appropriate prayer
and the services were over; the friends threw
in handful of dirt, and the grave diggers
were lett to shape up the mound that covers
the remains of man who was but yesterday
one of the most active figures in our COM
munity.