Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1883-08-10
Tom Thumbs Burial.
THE LITTLE WIDOW OF THE GENERA AL
FAINTs AT SIDE OF THE GRAVE.

SeSAA OAOSv OO"CuCiy az DAio6SPoASS 49,
necticut, yesterday afternoon. It was es.
timated that more than 10000 people at
tended the. ceremonies. OF this throng
fully 5000 were women and girls. The
6ady lay exposed to view in ST. John :
Episcopal church, on Fairfield avenue,
during the forenoon. It reposed ia an
oaken coffin 8 feet 10 inches in length and
covered with black cfeth: Silver bars ran
along the sides. and Masonic emoiems en-
graved in silver were fastened above SIS
bars. The silver plate on the lid was en-
grayed with the Masonic pillar, allseeing
eye, and altar. the inscription in the CEN
tire being: "Charles s. Stratton, aged As
years, 6 months and IL days." a9
h The face of The dead dwarf looked per-
fectIy natural. The body was dressedin a
broadoloth suit. Blood stone studs orna-
mented the shirt front. On the left coat
lapel glittered gold badge engraved with
the thirty second Masonic degree. A
white lace veil was spread over the face.
On the lid rested the Knight Templa1
chapeau and silver sword of the General
The scabbard was inlaid with chased sill.
yer and the hilt was of silver and ebony.
The weapon was only twenty inches long
Beside the hat and sword rested a floral
anchor and cross ihterwined, sent by Mr..
and Mrs. Phineas T. Barnum. At the
foot lay square and compass OF white
roses presented by Mr.. William B. Highly
and cross of flowers, the gift of the
Hamilton Commandery of Knights Temp.
lars.
By 81 O'Clock Fairfield avenue was COM
pletely blocked by the crowd of women
and children and at 10 o. CLOCK, when the
church doors were opened. the throng
swarmed in with crush. Two knights
in full uniform, with drawn swords, stood
at the head and the foot of the casket
and the spectators passed through double
file of Knights. who formed guard OF
honor. From 10 O'Clock until noon PEG.
pie kept pouring into the church and pass
ing the cof1in. Hundreds of the women
brought children with them and lifted
them up to see.
The funeral services were at Fl O'Clock.
Every seat was filed, and LOCO people
were crowded on the grass plot in front OF
the church. The services were conducted
by the Rev. Eaton W. Maxcy, the success
sor of the Rev. Mr.. Wiley who married
Tom Thumb and Miss Lavinia Warren in
Grace church. Mrs. Stratton, the tiny
widow. was dressed in deep black, and a
long black veil entirely concealed her face.
She was supported to the front pew by
her mother, Mrs. James M. Bump, and
Mr.. William H. Southworth. AS soon as
she was lifted into her seat her head fell
against her mother s shoulder, and she lay
in that way motionless throughout the
service.
In another pew sat Mrs. Stratton, moth
er of the General; his sister, Mrs. James
Osgood; his brother, William Stratton and
his family, and Mrs. Southworth, Miss
Southworth, and Mr.. Charles Summer6eld
of Philadelphia. The funeral procession
into the church was led by DR.. Maxcy
followed by the Rev. L. W. Pine of New
Canaan. The pail bearers were in uni
form. Behind, in double file, marched
the Templars of Hamilton Commandery
and the members of st. John Lodge, No.
8, of Free Masons. AS the coffin was de.
posted upon the catafalque in front of the
chancel the choir chanted the selection
Lord. let me know my end" The Rev.
Mr.. Booth read st. Paul's Epistle to the
Corinthians. and the entire congregation
sang the hymn:
Fain would we leave the weary road,
And sleep in DEATH to rest with God,
The knights rose IL body as the strains
ceased, and DR.. Maxcy dropped some earth
upon the coffin, repeating the words of the
ritual. A PRAYER closed the service, and
then the knights and Masons marched
from the church three abreast, with drawn
swords, escorting the coffin to the hearse
A full band of musicians, uniformed in
red and blue, and wearing black helmets
with waving plumes Of white, played the
dead March," and the procession started
for the cemetery, two miles distant
Twenty carriages occupied by relatives
and Intimate friends followed the hearse.
Numerous hacks an omnbuses laden with
men, women and Children, who paid toll
to the drivers, drove ahead o. the process
sion to the grave. Nearly 1000 people sur
sounded the burial plot when the cortege
arrived. A chestnut box, resting on a
bod of Lo,,
the open grave. Beneath was vault of
solid masonry tive feet thick. It will be
covered by slab Of blue stone weighing
two tons, and bearing a simple inscrip-
ton.
Mr.. Southworth lifted Mrs Strattoa
from the carriage when it reached the
grave at o'clock. She was toe weak to
stand, and cushion was brought from
the carriage and laid on the ground at the
edge of the grave. The little widow sat
upon it, supported by her mother and
mother-in- law. The other relatives gath
cred near by. The ceremonies lasted more
than half an hour. Mrs. Stratton became
more and more agitated as they proceeded
and just as Prelate Dutton dropped the
floral Masonic emblem into the grave, and
the Knights crossed their swords and be-
gan to chant the closing hymn, her little
figure shook for moment with strong
emotion, and she fell back senseless into
the arms of her mother. There were cries
of pity from the crowd that looked on, and
hundreds of women watched with anxiety
the efforts to revive the little woman.
Mr.. Southworth finally lifted her in his
arms and carried her to the carnage.
She revived as the carriage was rolling
homeward.-N. Y. San.
San Francisco's Rich Men.