Huntsville gazette., 1888-11-03
A CHINESS FUNERAL.

Obsequies of the Late Lee Yu Doc, the
Distinguished Black Flag General VINO
Fought Against the French in Tonquin,
Performed in an Improvised Mortuary
Chapel in New York.
New York, Oct 29.-The preliminary
ceremonies connected with the funeral Of
Lee Yu Doc. the distinguished Chinese
Black Flag General who fought against
the French in Tonquin, were held at ten
O'Clock this morning in an improvised
mortuary chapel IN the stable attached to
an undertaking establishment on Mott
street. The whitewashed walls were hung
with black and the windows covered
with cloth OF the same color.
The ceiling had two broad strips of
white and black cloth tackled there
on forming az. Andrews cross. At the
southern end Of the stable reposed the
| corpse in handsome black cloth GOV.
cred casket, with heavy silver handles.
The plate read:
Lee Yu Doc.
Died October 10Th, 1888.
Aged Sc Years.
The body was exposed to the waist, on
| the breast of which was a number of
slips of paper. These represent the good
will of his friends, and are passports to
the celestial kingdom. A long narrow
strip of yellow cambria, emblaZoned
with white figures with black spots at the
top, stood at the side of the casket
The white figures represent the sins
of the deceased over which he must
climb to reach the black spots, typical Of
Heaven. The body, which was embalmed
by Prof. Rennard, of the United States
College of Embalming, looks remarkably
lifelike. At the foot Of the casket was q
table spread for a meal. On it were
chop sticks and plates, on which rested
stick of mandarin oranges, pile of dys-
peptic- looking dough biscuits and a con-
ical-shaped mass of paste. Several plates
of preserves are also here. Next
to it was table on which were
two large beds of white flowers
fanking an enormous roasted pig.
A third table represented sort Of altar,
on which burned Joss-sticks and candles.
About this latter table stood five or six
Cinnamon in light blue suits of cambria,
strongly suggestive of dominoes. The
remaining guards are in white, with black
sashes. These acted as priests, who min
istered oil and rice to the Chinese COM
municants who came up in pairs. They
first knelt on the mating before the altar.
The streets were crowded with specta-
tors, awaiting the advent OF the funeral
cortege, when at 10: 80, large number of
! Cinnamon, preceded by a band playing q
| dirge, marched up to the mortuary chapel
| Some were dressed in uniforms indicative
! Of the different bands to which they be-
| longed. Banners and lanterns of pecu-
liar colors and designs were carried by
the Cinnamon. AS they entered the sta
BILE they ranged themselves on both sides
of the corpse and tables. When they
entered the Chinese cymbals were struck
and comparative quiet reigned. For a
time there was great bustling about.
The edibles were repeatedly changed from
table to table, and in addition to these
already there a skinned and dressed
goat was brought forward on tray,
| together with a dressed pig. These
were finally placed on the table
near the casket and surrounded with
pies. Some paper flowers were then
placed at the foot of the casket. A new
set of officials then took charge of the
ceremonies. These were dressed in gray
with red caps and wore Mosonic aprons.
Every body jabbered at this point The
native band played on instruments that
sounded like discordant bagpipes, and
were followed by short dirge rendered
by LowelPs Military Band. Cymbals
crashed again, the Chinese fddles
moaned and the chief priest began an in
tonation in which the presence
of Almighty was invoked. A
complicated ritual was then per-
formed before each Of the tables by
the high priest and two satellites, the
leader keeping up wall in penetrating
falsetto voice. A number Of papers were
then burned in a tin pan, the officiating
priests making low obeisances before the
flames. All present kept their hats on,
and the majority either smoked cigars or
cigarettes. At the conclusion Of the serv-
ices, at two O'Clock, a procession was
formed, the casket was sealed and placed
in hearse and the funeral cortege start
ed for Evergreen Cemetery, where the
interment takes place.