Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-15
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE p1srArcH.i

NEW YORK, February 14.-The funeral
of Colonel Ruth Goshen, Barnum's biggest
giant, who died last Tuesday on his farm
took place this morning. There was talk Of
big display, but the Rev. James LeFevre,
into whose church Colonel Goshen had been
received since mis- illness, declared that he
wouldn't oficiate unless the preparations
were of a simple nature. Besides, Colonel
Goshen himself had wished the ceremony to
| be quiet. His only other wish was to be
buried deep. So it was arranged to hold a
| quiet service in the farm house.
Undertaken A. V. Van Doren, of Middle
bush, and dozen neighbors came early to
the house. Colonel Goshen weighed 5S8
pounds. as attested by merchant who had
weighed him recently, and it was found no
easy task to clothe the body. After half an
hours unavailing efforts the undertaken
finally succeeded in bringing the clothing
together in front of him by splitting it down
the back. The dress selected was one FAM
iliar to museum goers-a long bl1e coat
with imitation astrachan collar and cuffs,
black satin waistcoat with brass buttons,
and black broadcloth trousers with red
striped seams.
THE CROWD Is ON TIME.
By the time the clothing had been ar
ranged crowd had gathered and an under
taker from New Brunswick had come to
offer advice. The cloth-covered chestnut
coffin, made by Bowery firm, was placed
outside, on the brick wall leading to the
gate. Its top measurement was 3x8 feet,
and it wouldn't go through the door. The
body lay indoors on a stage OF pfanks nine
feet long. -Four men, after much labor,
raised the body little and slipped broad
ell he ict fod of
ends with stout poles. The arms were tied
down and the legs were firmly strapped to
gether with a horses girth in such way as
to offer handles to two men, one on each
side. The nine-foot stage, with the body on
it, was then carried outside and placed on
the porch, at right angles with the coffin.
Here an interesting discussion arose. The
New Brunswick undertaken wanted to place
the stage over the coffin, lift up the body,
withdraw the planking, and let the body
down into the coffin. Mr.. Van Doren had
arranged for eight men to carry the body by
the straps and iron rods to the coffin and
lower it. Each presented his argument, and
the pallbearers and guests who had arrived
gathered round and took part in the dis
cussion.
NO MIsHAP OCCURS.
Mr.. Van Doren finally had his way, and
the body was carried to the coffin and laid in
it without mishap. The ColonePs chestnut
wig was then carefully adjusted over his
kinky hair. An attempt to remove the sling
from under him failed, so the rods were cut
off and the carpet was left the coffin. Then
the coffin was hoisted upon boxes and left
exposed until after the services.
The people who attended the funeral
seemed to have been prompted by curiosity.
There were no tears, and there was some
that Undertaken Van Doren found himself
in at every turn. The Rev. James LeFevre
read the burial service in the house, while |
an idle crowd gazed on the remains outside. |
Colonel Goshen had told him, the minister
said, that in early life he had been a ship
carpenter, and that he had wished many
time he had never abandoned it for the
show business. Mr.. LeFevre added that
Colonel Goshen was born a Hebrew and |
died a Christian. Colonel Goshen had told |
him he was born in the Isle of Man, and |
that almost all the members of his family |
were in New Zealand. The only relative |
Goshen's adopted daughter.
THE HEARsE TOO SMALL.
The great coffin was put in the undertak- |
er's wagon, as the hearse was too small. 1t |
was pushed up to the front, and the driver |
sat at one end of it. The other end extend |
ed about foot out of the back of the |
wagon. 1t was bitterly cold morning, but |
a good many people went in carriages and |
on foot to Cedar Grove Cemetery, and |
watched with expectant interest the lower |
ing OF the coffin into the biggest grave any |
of them had ever seen, but no accident hap |
pened.
Colonel Goshen made a will in favor of |
his stepdaughter, Mrs. Henry Sylvester.
William II. Wyckoff tended him during |
his sickness, and Mr.. Wyckoff said that |
Colonel Goshen gave him deed for part of |
his property, forgave him a debt of $500 |
and presented him with jewelry. Neigh
bors spent this afternoon searching the Colo
nel's papers to find proof of the statements. |
1t is said that Mrs. Sylvester may try to re-
cover any property Colonel Goshen may
NJ