The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1883-02-15
A NOVEL CEREMONY.
Tho First Complete Chinese Funeral in
San francisco.


The first genuine and complete Chinese
funeral i'll San Francisco took place in
that city about week ago. 1t was that
OF Ow Shing, late manager of the Wing
Wo Sang Company, who was snlTocated
oy fumes OF an open charcoal fire. The
funeral Is thus described by the San t'ran.
cisco Chronicle
The procession moved in the following
order Along Sacramento street to
hrarny,, To Jackson, to Dupont and then
along that street To Market and to the
burrying ground. First came u Chnanlan
attlred in long flowing robe of light
blue material, which was girded at the
waist With nstrip of white cotton cloth,
the Chinese emblem of monrning. 10
WAS followed by two coolies, each carry
ing large white lantern in which was n
lighted taper. On each Of these
lanterns were Chinese characters
in blue, setting forth the name
Of the deceased and his office. These
lanterns were carried to light the patb
the spirit of the deceased had TO walk in
order or to reach the gates Of Heaven.
linen came two more coolies, each carry
ing brass gong, which they beat loudly
ana continuously to drive off an evil
spirit which might wish TO cross The na,h.
IN addition 10 The gomgs these coniee
each carried square flag of yellow mn.
terial, on which were characters in black
These told OF the unfortunate circum.
stance by which the deceased met his
death. Next came four more coolies.
each carrying deep red paper banner.
on which were written in characters of
gold the virtues of the deceased, aud the
good acts he performed in life. Then
followed a carriage containing four musi.
clans playing upon a wind Instrument.
which emitted discordant. ear.piercinp
noises, which were intended 10 assist the
gong beaters in frightening away ell
great white devils and small black devils.
Next III order came two Chinamen, each
carrying pole across ono of his shoul.
ders, at each end .! which was censor rest.
inE III natural flowers, some Of which were
twined around the chains by which the
censor were suspended to the poles. In
each censor was quantity of pcrfumed
punk and sandalwood, which was ignited
and sent forth perfumcd fumes along the
line of march. After these followed
another long. robed Chinamnn, wearing
the emblem of mourning and carrying a
very long, narrow red cloth banner
affixed to pole, ut tho head of which
was q branch of laurel. This was what
is known AS the ancestral banner, and
was the pedigree Of tho deceased. Then
came the hearse, drawn by four horses.
each dressed with black mourning cl ,,hcs.
In The hcarsc was the coffin Containing
the mortal remains Of Ow Shing. This
was covered with large red cloth AZ &
symbol that the death of the deceased
was a violent one. On the top 0f the
hearsc sat n Chinaman in full mourning.
who distributed parallogranls of Chinese
paper five or six inches long, each pertu.
rated several times. These sheets of
paper are what the Chinese call mock
money, and each pcrforation represented
one cash-a Chinese coin. This was do.
signed to propitintc the spirits along the
road which might bo disposed to make
disturbances, affecting the collin or its
contents. by the distribution of mock
none: the Chi"esc believe that they pur.
chase the right Of way for the dead.
Behind the hcarse, on each side of which
marched pail bearers in mourning, we're
four professional mourncrs attired from
head to foot in white. One of these had
his face covered with white cloth and
was led along by two coolies, who carried
before them small tray filled with food
and tea. After these followed number
Of merchants on foot and carriages con-
tanning friends of the deceased.