Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1889-12-20
Strange Funeral Rites.

I
Two years ago Captain Henry Smith,
aged seventy-one years, came to this
city from Hagerstown, Md, where he
had within the previous year buried
his wife, son and daughter, leaving
him in his old age without relative
in the world He was very wealthy,
and highly cultured in every way.
Last summer he had cancer taken
from his face. Incorporation being per
formed at All Saints Hospital. Three
weeks ago he went there again and
had another cancer taken from his
neck. This led TO lockjaw and his
death. He often spoke to the nurse
at the hospital with deep affection of
his dead wife and children who were
buried at Hagerstown. He, however,
frequently declared that he did not
wish TO be buried there, and his will
distinctly stated that, although he
was not TO be buried there, he wanted
his name, age and place OF burial
carved on the family monument. He
said before his death that the grave
of his wife and children were marked
with q 5000 monument.
All his money was invested in Kan
sas City real estate except $3.50 in cash,
which he had with him at the time of
his death. The real estate consists OF
twenty lots on Euclid, Kansas and
Agnes avenues, in the eastern part OF
the city, valued at 5000 The will
in due legal form was found in his
coat pocket, and it directed that il he
died during the day, he should be bu-
ried one hour before sunset, and II he
died at night, he should be buried
an hour after sunrise. Ii further pro-
vided that his funeral must be with
out ceremony of any kind. The en-
tire funeral expenses must not exceed
$50. A plain wooden box would be
good enough; there were to be no re-
ligious exercises, and his body was to
be taken to the grave in one-horse
spring wagon.
These provisions OF the will were
carefully carried out as directed. AT
sunrise DIR. Edwin Middlebrook was
aroused to grant permit for burial
at Elmwood Cemetery. Armed with
this, the odd-looking funeral cortege,
consisting OF the undertaken and an
attendant and onehorse vehicle,
which bore the corpse, proceeded to
the cemetery to deposit the dead.
The cheap box containing the body
OF the dead man was filed with un-
Stacked lime in accordance TO the di-
rections Of the will, and when lower
ed to the grave the sexton OF Elmwood
was still further directed topour water
continually for twelve hours into ths
open grave, so that the body might
be completely cremated by the slack
ing lime. So all day the sexton at
Elnwood pouredswater over the body
Of the dead man, and for this service
he will receive 50.
The old mans will gives the nurse
at the hospital, Miss Mabel Browning,
$500. He also left $500 to be invested
SO that the interest therefrom may be
used in taking care Of the family lot
in Hagerstown. An old colored ser
want, living in Baltimore, will get $3.50,
and lady Of the same city, who once
did him kindness, will receive, dur
ing her life, the interest on $4,000.
Mrs. Betty Eakle, also OF Baltimore
was given $500, while Mr.. and Mrs.
Rathrouth and daughter, Of Baltimore,
receive 500 each.
A number OF years ago his son,
Lewis c. Smith. then prominent law
yer in Hagerstown, negotiated loan,
a poor woman Of that city advancing
the money. 1t turned Quito be bad
and by 1t the woman lost
several hundred dollars. The old gen.
tleman did not forget this case, and
willed enough to her to straighten the
deficiency.
The Lalance of the property Is left
to his wife's brothers wife, Mrs. Hen
ry w. Lyday, OF ofSmitbsburg, Md, and
not a cent 10 her husband. But the
will names him as the executor.
Mr.. Smith lived an obcure life here,
and his place OF residence was known
to but few persons. He spent much
of the time away from the city. Last
winter he spent in Texas.
Thanksgiving night he sent for Mil
ton Welsh. He said he was going to
die that he did not want to get well.
He showed the will to Mr. Welsh,
who strongly advised the dying man
to change the peculiar document, but
be declined to alter single provision.