The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-04-30
Burial of Gannis Jefsrs.
QUEEN OF THE GYpsIEs OF THE UNITED
STATES

/
A special dispatch to the Cleveland
Leader from Dayton, o., April 15, says
Gannie Jefers, Queen of the Gypsies oi
the United States who died at Greenfield
Tenn, March 10, was buried here to-day.
Gypsies are encamped all about the city
to the number of about 1900, having
travelled by wagon from all parts of the
country. The Queen was embalmed and
laid outin Nashville, Tenn, Immediately
upon her death, and then brought to
this city, where her tribe own cOnsidera-
Bile property, and large lot in Woodland
Cemetery, where lie buried the former
Queen and King of the gypsy tribes of
this nation. The remains looked beau
tiful indeed She was laid in hand
some casket made of the finest wood and
lined with the finest silks and satins,
and mounted with gold and jewels. In
the cemetery where she was to-day
buried, the ceremony was touching and
imposing. The lot belonging to the
gypsies is marked by beautiful and ex-
quisitely carved monument of granite,
shipped here from Greece. The funeral
procession, which was composed entirely
of gypsies, formed n the northern section
of the city and marched to the southern
extremity of the city, where the cemetery
is located. The procession and eere!
mony were witnessed by a great crowd.
A rope was stretched around the grave,
leaving an inclosure large enough for
the mourners to stand in. The crowd
surged up against the rope. bending it
almost to breaking. Mounds in the
viainifty Vvora 4rndJor ~ Rove ord mar,
sat on tombstones and filled the trees
and every place that would afford an op-
portuRity for seeing what was going on.
The funeral services were very Christian,
being conducted by one of the leading pas
tors of this city, with the choir of his
church and the wife of the reverend gem
tleman accompanying the mourning hus-
band. The grave was square pit about |
10 by s feet in dimensions. At the bottom |
was box made of stone slabs, and in |
this box the coffin was laid, by the side |
of another, that of the daughter of the |
deceased. The daughter was only ten |
years old and died in 1866, but the body |
had been exhumed to be placed beside |
that of her mother. There were stihed |
cries and sobs as the mourners gathered I
about the grave, and several broke out
in loud cries as the coffin was lowered. /
The preacher referred to the deceased. |
whom ne had known personally in life. |
She had been a Christian he said, and |
the Bible she had worn with reading
was placed at her feet now that she was
dead. At the conclusion of his remarks !
The choir sang. "The Sweet Rye-and-
Bye" and the services closed. The most
scene was when the great stone
was about to be lifted by means of
derrick close at hand, and the stone box
the collins closed. The sons
md daughters climbed down 10 the
soffins to take their last farewell, the
after being lifted into the grave. Their
,obs and cries filed the air, and were
schoed by the mourners who stood on
,he brink of the grave. They threw
PROSTATE on the collins, kiss
ng the hard wood, and it was only with
he greatest difficulty they were per-
,uaded to come out of the grave. By
means OF the derrick the stone lid was
hen put into position and the dirt
,hrown upon it. A large monnment
will be erected over the grave. on which
viii be placed q Iife-size statue of the
lead gypsy queen in white marble.