Eureka weekly sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1887-1902, 1888-06-16

Ehe Funeral - Masonic and ReIte.
fous. Rites Peculiar Ceremonies
-Dis"ppointmet Of Hungry I'm.
diana

Ane FUNERAL Masonic and ReIfe
fous. Rites Peculiar Ceremou,e
-Dis"Ppointmet Of Hungry In
dians.
Last Friday Dol Chung, a promin
ent Chinaman Of Eureka, died of con
sumption. He was a merchant an,
partner in the Chinese store Of Tan,
fuen & Co, a Chinese Free Mason
and said by his countrymen TO hav,
been " belly %lilegee" (very religious)
The funeral took place on Sunday, ant
as 90 or 20 out Of u possible 1OC
Chinese residents OF Eureka are Free
Masons, the Celestials turned out in
full force to give the dead Mongolian a
good send-oG on entering upon his
flight TO the celestial" heaven.
Shortly after midday the clang of Gym.
balls drew quite a crowd to Chinatown.
The corpse in a fine casket, had been
brought into the street, and sat on
stools surmounted with a large China
red and white flag bearing an in
scription in Chinese cymbals. Tables
were set with a large roast pig,
chickens, fancy viands prepared in
lard and sugar, and a variety ofnuts and
preserves that were eagerly watched
by a number Of Juvenile whites.
Candles were lighted and punk was
burnt in abundance, the vile strench
from which was we'll calculated to
drive away his stanic majesty as was
intended. Mats were laid along the
street from the foot OF the coffin, and
the mourners and pail bearers, the
latter wearing long white "dilos "
(%tunics) and mourning streamers flow
ing from their hats, kneeled on them
bowling, marched in out and around
them, and performed peculiar religious
ceremonies. A priest kneefed at the
foot Of the casket, having in front Of
him three diminutive cups into which
be poured tea from time to time DUR
ing two hours Of prayer to the celes-
tial god for the entrance Of the spirit
Of the departed into heaven. Mean
while another Chinaman chanted a
dismal, lay constantly gesticulating
and going through peculiar nov
ments specially deputed to him. The
services concluded, the remains were
taken to the grave near the old
cemetery proceeded by Chinese
musicians changing cymbals, beating
gongs and timbrels, cts, the din Of
which reminded one of the combined
noises from q doekyard boiler makers
shop, and tumbling about Of a num-
Der Of old tin ans Small flags and
banners in red, white, blue, yellow
and black were carried by Cinnamon
in the procession, in which were also
three or four carriages with male and
female mourners. There was a short
ceremony at the grave, where the
bedding, clothing. papers and account
books of the dead Chinaman were set
fire to and burnt up. The dead mans
mouth had been filled with silver
and as the remains were
into the grave, several dimes,
and a lot of candies and trinkets were
on the coffin. The roast pig,
is usually taken to the grave
for the benefit Of the departed, or as it
IS said TO feed the dead, was much to
the chagrin of a number Of hungry
Indians who usually follow the
Chinese remains to the graves and
steal the delicious morsel after the
have dispersed, was left in
Chinatown. A lot of punk was
burned oven the grave, several hands
ful of inscribed red and brown paper
were then strewed over the coffin, and
the cold mold was thrown in on it, and
ended the formalities of the funeral.
A 1.-THE OF the viands were left at the
grave, and the mourners then dispered
to Chinatown where the pig was divided
among the sorrowing friends Of the
dead man, and so terminated what to
the white heather, appeared TO he
more Of a gala day than the
rites performed owe the re-
mains Of a dead brother.