The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1884-08-02
The Chinese Have . Big Wake.

Day before yesterday Q Chinaman died II
Butte. This would not have attracted any
| attention from the American part of the popu
lation but for the fact that this particula,
| hinaman had made money here and was N
! officer of high rank In the Chinese secre,
society. which the Cinnamon all say Is "alle
same Mellican mans Masons." His surviving
friends determined that the soul Of This China
man should have good time as long a. his
MONEY should last. 1t does not seem that he
mad any r lattves In America-at any rate there
was no appearance at the funeral of any one
Who cared whether the man was living or not
1t seemed to the Americans who had gathered
around that the Chinese were rather pleased
that they had an opportunity to attend q big
funeral. 1t was warm day and the sun was
shining with considerable vehemence, but the
corpse was taken all the same and set out in the
sun with the lid turned so that the spectators
who wished could SEE the face OF the deceased.
The head of the coffin was decorated with strips
OF differently colored tissue paper, gilt figures OH
paper and pea 0ck feathers About ten feet
from the foot Of the coffin stood two tables
loaded with the richest and best Of Chinese
viands, according to the Chinaman's idea OF
good eating. On the table nearest the corpse
were set confectionaries, their breads
and cakes; back of this different
kinds of meat. On the second table
were two barbacued pigs. Around the edges of
the two tables were arranged Chinese tspes
and candles in great abundance. Under the
table farthest Gom the coffin was q cup full Of
lighted candles, and back of this a piece Of
mating on which the Cinnamon came one ut .
time and kneeling bowed their foreheads three
times to the ground before this cup.
They poured out on the ground few
drops Of liquor which was placed there in Q
bottle for that purpose. Back Of this mating
was another piece upon which stood the three
officers Of the lodge. They stood under um-
brellas with heads uncovered except q little
streamer of white and blue ribbon tied around
their fo,eheads and hanging down their backs.
They had on linen coats. the fashion of which
1t is very hard to describe. kind of cross be-
tween lady's duster and a gentlemans cloak.
About twenty feet off to one side sat q Chinese
band. 1t consisted Of three piect s-a pair of
cymba's. gong and copper kettle. The music
was long aii / loud and consisted more of time
than melody. Near the tables fire was kept
burning. the fuel Of which wss paper and old
clothes. Afer this fun had been going on long
enough preparations were made to go to the
cemetery. A cornet band had been employed
to furnish American music, an American hearse
was also engaged and several livery teams. This
departure from their usual style shows that the
Chinese had gotten reckless. When the band
hooe rrsx II <oH,lo
the provisions put in boxes to be carried to the
grave. The pro ,ession was formed and started
in this order: Two marshals on horseback:
Chinaman wearing white, red and black sash,
and scattering little slips OF paper on the road;
the band: the hearse, on which sat another
Chinaman scattering papers; the Chinese secret
society on foot and walking two and two; the
carriages and wagons, and bringing up the rear
was the Chinese band. Chinaman was asked
what that noise meant. He replied it was Ito
keep away the devil" The latter part Of the
procession was safe. At the grave the coffin
was taken ou; of the hearse and set to. one side.
Some of the society built big bonfire out to one
side using as material the deceased Chinaman's
bed, chairs, tables, clothes, etc. At the foot of
the grave and at the head were built other fires
of paper Some hired mourners sat on the
ground about twenty or thirty feet from the
grave and set up most unear'hly yelling. AZ
ter mourning for respectable time two Of the
monrners quit. But the third one tried to go
on to Mysteries and very nearly succeeded. She
kept on making big noise after she was told
10 STOP At last q Chinawoman came up and
told her to stop, and not being Immediately
obeyed she put one hand on the mourner's
mouth and the other on her throat and choked
her off. The coffin was then lowered into the
grave and covere1 up. Some of the provision
was left at the grave, but the most Of it will
be taken down at another time, the friends be
ing afraid that some hungry tramps may come
along and take it before the departed Chinaman
can dispose of it. 1t was an unusual display for
the Chinese in this place.