Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1889-05-09
A DEEP SEA BURIAL.

tor the EAsrE
On our homsward bound pas
sage on board the U. d. Steam
or - from Singapore. Indis.
to Nauritous, Nov. 18th, Edward
Blrdsey departed this life. He
was 4 pious young man of noble
character. and much beloved by
all on board.
His body was prepared as
usual for a deep sea burial. by
being enveloped in a canvass
hammock, with about thirty
pounds OF grape shot attached
to his feet-the body was then
placed on a bread plank near
the rail with his feet toward the
sea.
At three bells, $50 D IN, the
officer of the deck stopped the
engines by a pull at the bell. and
at the same time advancing TO
the front OF the Hurricane deck.
he sung out to the Boatswaiu.
Heave back the main yard there
and call all hands 10 bury the
dead.
In a few moments the ships
crew, numbering about Jour
hundred. mustered about the
waist Of the ship, where the re
mains Of peor BIrdsey lag, ready
to be passed over the rail. Tue
Bands men took their positions
around the muslc stand and ar
ranged their sheets Of music TO
be used for the occasion. The
Captain and his oficer. walked
slowly forward followed BY the
Chaplain with book ia hand.
stopped near the remains, took
OF his hat and vaved his hand
to the leader of the Band. at
the same time the officers aud
men stood around with uneov-
cred heads.
There was nc fathers prayer,
no mothers tears, no Sorroving
relatives, nor vas there a requi.
um sung over the fate of the
poor boy, but a most beautiful
aad touching dirge from the
band came with rapturous meio
dy, surging and echOing oyeI
the waves of the broad ocean.
solemnly engaging the attention
of the whole crew. The voice
ike tones of the cOrnet, the
soft brea.hings of the bass, the
screams of the clarinet, the
trill of the octave, together will
the exquisite harmony of the &C
companyiDg instruments rem,
dered the occasion divinely i'm,
presSive.
The chaplain opened his boob
and read IA prayer beginning
20! Eternal God, who alon,
spreadest out the Heavens an6
ruieth the raging of the sea."s'
I'VE therefore commit his bod,
to the deep, to be turned into
corruption, looking for the res
direction of the body, when the
sea shall give up her dead ant
the life of the world 10 com.
through our Lord Jesus Christ
Beautiful service
The kind. picus and solemn
manner with which he conduct
ed the obsequies. together will
the responses and tears of MANY
of the old sailors caused the
burial to be one of unusual so
lemnity.
By a motion from the officer
the plank was raised, and tn,
body passed over the raii ant
disappeared beneath the oeea.
waves, which closed above hi,
head, flashing and lisping, anC
bidding him as il were, a Ions
farewell.
A quick and liTely movement
was rendered by cur excellent
band, the men move rapidly and
the steamer was put under way
and the crew returned to their
usual yOcations. leaving the re
mains of poor Birdsey to go
down, down, down through the
depths of the mighty ocean. I'm.
til he reaches the coral landing.
The body being lighter than
water and held down by the
weight of the shot, he assumes
a standing position on the bot.
tom, where he will remain ST.
lently and alone, in his canvass
casket, for all time or until the
resurrection, when the sea shall
give up her dead, and we ear.
nestly desire that he shall re-
turn with the Great Redeemer
TO the new Heaven which shall
then appear according TO the
design of the Almighty Creator
4