Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1883-08-29
JUDGE BLACKS FUNERAL.
A Great Gathering of Friends and
Acquaintance Paying the
Last Tribute of Respect.
At the Cemetery.
YORK, PA, August 21.

of the dead jurlst and statesman, Jere-
miah Sullivan Black The splendid
home which he had built is situated on
a height, about mile and half from
this place, and commands an enchant-
ing view of hill and dale. Away
down at the foot Of the slope the
pretty home of Chauncey F. Black, the
statesman's son, nestles in a green
bower. 1t was impossible, after nine
O'Clock to-day, to hire any sort of a
vehicle to carry one to Brockie, so
great was the demand. The weather
was perfect, the hills smiled in their
bright green, the winds were cool and
low, the morning sun, shining down
the peaceful valley, smiled on waving
corn, on ripening grain heavy on the
stalks, on swept and garnered fields,
In a darkened chamber of his own
stately mansion the statesman, the
fruits of bis busy life gathered in, lay
at rest. Around about him and passing
in and out were friends of his youth,
wrinkled and silver-haired, men of the
new generation, buoyaut and strong,
their works growing against the
harvest-day.
YORK IN MOURNING.
1t was like a sad Sunday in the
little town. All the public buildings,
the schools and many Of the private
houses were draped with Grape, and
flags flew at half-mast. Old farmers
who had known the distinguished dead
for long years came in their wagons
with their children from miles around
to bid farewell to the remains and min
gled around the bier with distinguished
men from distant cities. Many little
boys and girls, pupils of the Sunday
school in which the jurist's wife takes
a lively interest and in which the
Judges face also was well known, came
with the rest to say timid goodbye.
The body lay in a casket of red cedar,
covered with black cloth, in the north
drawing room. The dress was frock
suit of black broadcloth that the dead
iurist was accustomed to wear. The
head was slightly raised and rested on
pillow. The countenance showed the
effect Of long suffering, but retained, as
it seemed, in a wonderful degree, the
old expression. The strong nose, the
firm under-lip, the splendid and rugged
brow, were all as in life. The hands
were crossed upon the breast, the left
little below the right, and seemed to
hold black velvet pail that covered
the lower part of his body. The casket
was furnished with six handles OF
oxydized silver and gold. Upon a
silver plate edged with gold on the lid
appeared the inscription:
Jeremiah S. Black. Born January
10, 1910. Died August 19, 1888,
aged 73 years, 7 months and 9 days"
A vase of field flowers rested upon
an ebony table Hear the foot of the
coffin. No other flowers were to be
seen anywhere about the body or in
the room. Gazing down upon the
dead face from pedestal near the head
of the casket was plaster bust of the
statesman that was cast several years
ago by one of his nieces. A branch of
laurel lay at the base of the image.
THE SERVICES.
At last, little after 5 o'clock, when
hundreds had taken their farewell, the
Rev. Mr.. Powers, pastor of the Camp
beIlite Church at Washington that Ex-
Judge Black used to attend, came down
from an upper room and standing in
the hallway said softly: Let US
pray" It was the beginning Of the
end, and the halfrepressed sobs from
some of the black yelled mourners
showed that they were conscious Of tha
fact. The prayer was brief and was a
eulogy almost pure and simple. The
clergyman had known the statesman
we'll, he said, and he praised his life,
his character and his broad composing
charity. After him the Revs j. C.
Miller and Arthur Powell, of York,
prayed and spoke. They, too, had
words of warmest praise for their de-
parted nefghbOr At the end those
who had not yet taken leaye filed past
the bier. Then all but the immGdiatD
family left the room and the widow
and the bereaved children bade fare
well to their beloved dead in sacred
privacy and the light of day was shut
out forever from the rugged old face.
AS the casket was placed in the hearse
by its distinguished bearers it was i'm
possible to avoid observing how plain
the vehicle was and how complete was
the absence Of pomp. Not even
plume waved over the sombre hearse.
AS the line of carriages wound down
the slope the tolliDg of the bells in
York came solemnly oyer the bills.
The line of carriages reached farther
than the eye could see and, it is said,
extended for more than mile. AS the
procession passed through the city the
sidewalks were thronged with men and
women and little children, to most of
whom the old jurist had been o familiar
figure. Many wept as the hearse
went by.
AT THE CEMETERY
The cemetery, in which son and
daughter of the statesman are buried
and which he had chosen for his own
last resting place, lies on Prospect
Hill, on the pretty, Codorqa river, just
beyond the town. The lot is no5 d
large one and is marked only by
modest granite cenotaph. AS the
casket with its burden was taken out
and placed beside the open grave,
General Hancock, solemn and erect,
stood at the foot OF the excavation and
Chief Justice Mercur at the head, the
pall-bearers ranging them
selves on each side. The widow, sup
ported by two of her sons, was led to q
seat near Justice Mercur. Two brief
prayers were said-prayers of faith and
appeals for strength-and then amidst
the hum Of Insects and just as the round
red sun sank behind the hills tie coffin
was lowered into the grave. The