The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-11-16

seen in the state, except at tie funeral of
Charles Sumner, and his was not nearly so
grand as this. When it was hauled out
from Cambridge Saturday the boys fol-
lowed it for miles as if 1t had been a circus.
In the front parlor, lying among fully
ten bushels of roses, was the bo{y of the
dead doctor. The heavy coffin lid, costing
$500, stood against the wall cleaning in
rich carvings, like the shield OF a warrior
The coffin which held him weighed 700
pounds 1t was lined with hammered
brass. The outside was carved with all the
emb!ems of heather and Hydrologic art
Beasts and dragons, and snakes and butter
flies. aud fishes and birds, and skulls and
torches absolutely crowded one another in
their zeal to find a resting place IL looked
as the ark may be presumed to have APP
peared when Noah began his memorable
voyage.
A calm, dead face locked out from a
black beard and hair. The eyelashes were
dark aud long. The face was pallid olive,
with pink clot on either cheek the result
OF the embalmer's art A full dress suit
with patent leather boots and diamond shirt
pin completed the picture. 1t was that of
quiet well dressed gentleman lying in a
bed of roses and walled in by polished
brass and mahogany Under the body was
satin quilt, under the quilt perforated
brass wire mating, and under this mating
a space or secret till, to hold the waste mat
ter OF the decaying body. In this space
were 200 pounds of gum camphor. The
odor of this aud the roses could be smelt
the body, and applying chemicals when
needed, stool Fred Briggs, the greatest en-
balmer of Boston.
sit is a good job, said he to the Press
man, land I feel proud Of it. Look at that
face Isn't it just beautiful Three men
had been at work on the body before they
sent for me, but none of them could bring
out the hopeful look which Mrs. Hillen
wanted. l came Wednesday and have been
here ever since. Ii that isn't beautif l.
job would like to see you find one" Mr.
Briggs is Jere PinkhamS best man. and is
an artist in his way, as Boston people
know.
Lawyer Lathe, who drew up DR.. Hillen's
will, called and had long talk with the
widow. She wanted the will read at the
funeral, and the lawyer had to give the
reader few evolutionary hints. He said
the property of Dr. aud Mrs. Hillen
amounted to nearly $1,000, 600 The doctor
had made his will week before he died,
giving all of his property TO his wife, and
she had signed a similar document be-
queathing all hers to her husband. Both
documents must be read to the mourHers.
At $3.50 o'clock the services began by sing
more prayer, singing, remarks by one
clergyman on the life Of the deceased
another on his religious character, singing,
prayer, singing and benediction. 1t was
past o'clock when the ceremony was over
Then the people filed in, looked at the body,
felt of the expensive coffin, made remarks
and went out. Lamps were lighted, when
the big black juggernaut-like car was pulled
uD to the window, and ten strong men
began to lift at the coffin. No door in the
house would allow its egress, so a window,
frame and all, was taken out. The grooms
who stood oy the horses attached to the car
lent their haring torches to add weirdness
to the scene.
In an hour the coffin was on the car and
held in place by shining pins. Then the
chief undertaken who looks like Hoa.
Chauncey M. Depew, led the way and the
cortege followed, Mrs. Hillen riding alone
in gorgeous hack behind the car. Down
Main street the 200 carriages went for
twenty rods and then turned up Church
street and away over the hills for mile to
where the new temporary tomb, begun last
Tuesday, stood waiting for its prize. In
this tomb was a big red cedar box, 10 feet
long, which will hold the coffin until the
$4,000 case is completed. This box cost
$3.50 and has twenty-five pounds of brass
screws in its makeup.
After more lifting and a few impreca-
lions the coffin was dep sited in the box
and the procession moved away. But Mrs.
Hillen's hack did not CO. After all had
gone and the moon had nearly touched the
horison Ms. Hillsn dismounted from her
hack and was led into the tomb by the
liveried driver. She knelt a monet by
the side of the box. Then she arose,
slammed to the iron doors of the tomb, put
on the big clasp, inserted the lock, turned
the key, put the key in her pocket and rode
home. A solitary torch was left burning
in front of the tomb all night.