The Springdale news., 1888-11-02
< CHlNESS FUNERAL.


 Distinguished Black Flag General who Fought Against the French in Tonquin, Performed in Improvised Iortuary Chapel in New York.
 NEw YORK. Ost. 9 The preliminary ceremonies connected with the funeral os Lee Yu Doc. the distinguished Chinese Black Flag General who fought against the French i'll Tonquin, were held at ten o'clock this morning in an improvised mortuary chapel ia the stable attachs | to an undertaking esta ablishment on Mott street. The 8hltewashed 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 a St. Andrews cross. At the southern end Of the stable reposed the corpse in hand soma black cloth cov- cred casket. with heavy silver handles. The plate read:
 Lee Yu Doc.
 Died October 19th, lSss
 Aged s6 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 10 the celestial kingdom. A long narrow strip Of yellow eambric. emblazoned with white figures with black spots at tue top. stood at the side Of the casket. The white figures represent the sins Of the deceased over which lie must climb to reach the black spots, typical of Heaven. The body. which was embalmel by Prof. Rennard. Of tle United States College Of Embalmins. looks remarkably lifelike. At the foot Of the casket was table spread for a meal. On 1t were chop sticks and plates, on which rested stick O. mandarin oranges. a pile Of dys- peptie- looking dough biscuits and con- ical-shaped mass Of paste. Several plates of preserves are also here. Next two large beds of white flowers fanking an enormous roasted pig. 4 third table represented a sort of altar. on which burned Joss-sticks and candles About this latter table stood five or six Chinamen in light blue suits of eambric, strongly suggestive of domiuoes. The remaining guards are in white, with black sashes. These acted as priests, who min- istered oil and rice 10 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 os the funeral eortege, when at 10:3) a large number Of Chinamen. preceded by band playing a 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 peeu- liar colors and designs were carried by the Chinamen. As they entered the sta- ble they ranged themselves on both sides Of the corpse and tables When they tt1. and comparative quiet reigned. For time there was a great busthng about. The edibles were repeatedly changed from table to table, and in addition to these already there a skinned aud dressed goat was brought forward on tray. together with a dressed pig. These were finally placed on the table near the essket and surrounded with pies. Some paper flowers were theP placed at the foot Of the caSket. \ new set Of officials then took charge Of the ceremonies. These were dressed in gray with red caps and wore Mos0nie aprons. Every body jabbered at this point The native band played on instruments that sounded like discordaut bagpipes, and were followed by a 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 a penetrating falsetto voice. 4 number O. papers were then burned in tin pan, the officiating priests making low obeisaneas before the flames. All present kept their hats on, and the majority either smoked cigars or cigarettes. Al the conclusion Of the ssry- ices. at two o'clock, a proces sion was formed, the casket was sealed and placed in a hearse and the funeral cortege start ed for Evergreen Cemetery, where the informant takas place