The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-03-20
CAPT. DAWSON LAID TO REST IN ST.
LAURENCE CEMETERY.

DESPITE the Dreadful Inclcmency Of
the Weather the People ThronS TO
the Funeral and Seek in Every
Way to Show their Regard for the
Deceased -. Bishop NOrthrop's
Glowing Tribute 10 his Friend and
ParishiOner.
NeDs and Courier.
The death of Capt. r. w. Dawson. soldier
scholar and patriot, was one OF the events
plane of the history OF Charleston and South
Carolina, his beloved city, his belovea Slase
Born Of glorious nation, q seli.made exile
from his native soil, he, through that Indom
liable energy and spirit and evident affectlon
for the land of his new love. became son ol
its sons O CarolinIan, yielding 10 none In rev,
erence for the mother OF his adoption, and
brooking no rivalry In the Intensity anu
beauty in which that love was so oiten eN'
pressed.
ALI. CHARLESTON AT HIS GRAVE.
So II came that the painful thrill which nc
companled the news OF his death was OF the
same impulse, the same spirit, tnat nave
marked the announcements OF the deaths OF
the most illustrious names In the annals Oh
South Carolina. And so 1t came. TOO, mat the
observance of his death was in the nature ol
these things civic care. Least OF oil was
there need to inquire from one emu OF this
1t that you mourn for truly II was the touch
of tender and reciprocal nature that MADE
Charlestonans his kinsmen, and him akin
to his brotherhood Of Charlestonians.
But 1t Is in vain to moraliZe on the beauty
the suggestlveness Of such universal afiection
and regard and esteem. For beautiful anu
exqulsitely suggestive, MS It was, the e%hlDl
tion of homage was only the natural evidence
Of the admiration and respect lngratned In
the fibre alike Of friend and foe d1 foe there
still remain.) Recalling at this moment the
scenes and Incidents Of the funeral OF the IL
lnstrious man OF whom these few inadequate
the spirit of the great master Of human mo
tive and feeling: The great heart of his
great State lies with him in his coffin.
A LAST LOOK AT HIS FACE.
All day yesterday, up TO thirty minutes af
ter o'clock, the body OF Capt. Dawson lay ID
Its coffin in the drawing room OF his beauti'
full home in Bull street. AS 1t lay there, the
story of how he came to be a sacrifice was re
peatcd over and over again, from end TO enc
Of Charleston.
THE OFFERINGS OF FLOWERS.
With such sincere overflow of homage
and its manifestations by flowers, 1t may well
be conceived that the room In which the
coffin was disposed was redolent with the
breath Of the spring time. Pale Gala lilies
blue and white flowers from the conservatory
and the field, In clrclets and wreaths anc
crosses, and In all the emblematic forms, were
massed on the coffin lid. Conspicuous among
the typical forms were a conspicuous crown
OF immorteles and shcaf OF wheat, the OF
ferings to the dead from the living soldiers ol
these these beautiful and elegant tributes that the
coffin lid could not give place to them all
and many were disposed around the walls o
the room.
MOST PATHETIC SCENE.
Even with all the touching circumstances
noted, there was supreme moment In the
s,y,f rco1c
few moments before the face of Capt. Dawson
was 10 be concealed from the view. the wild
owed wife and mother came In and sat down
by the coffin and eazed lntently at her dead
husbands face. 1t was then that the flow o.
tears from the eyes of men and women was
unrepressed and irresistible. The face of the
sleeper was not one that would have told O
death by wrong and IN fGnyuIslye is We tnrEe nri
OF life on the upturned countenance. AS In
life, indomitable and full OF dignity, the
yielding to the inexorable was slow and fin
and the dead martyr to truth and honor were
face to face, and 1t Is there that the vel
should be lowered on the touching scene.
THE JOURNEY TO THE GRAVE.
After the last sad farewells the casket, load
ed with It's wealth of adornment, was borne
down the marble steps in binding rain. Or
the North and South sides of the street thu
citizens had gathered in numbers. undaun tee
by the fearful weather. And not there alone
but when the funeral cortege filed into Rut
ledge street there were other assemblages II
waiting on that street, and among the whole
way to the Pro-Cathedral, where the obse
quies were performed.
AT THE CATHEDRAL.
The approach to the church indicated tha
the assembly there would be consp cuousll
large, So, In fact 1t was. Long before
o'clock, the time appointed for the services
the church had been filled.
BISHOP NORTnKops EULoGY
1t was not unexpected that the Right Rev
H. p. Northrop, the Bishop OF South Carolina
and of that church and cdlfice in which Capt
eulogy. Bishop Northrop spoke with the
emotion OF one to whom It falls to speak wha
others could only feel. He paused long before
beginning to speak. He said:
"My dear brethren and Christian friends
In the presence Of the illustrious dcad, and
In the awful shadow of the tragedy that has
been enacted amongst us, In the presence q
feel the truth Of n remark made to me by one
OF the gentlemen in the sanctuary: "Bettel
to say nothing or you will have TO say very
much, IL you attempt to speak OF Capt Daw
son."
Better, think. It would be toleave him with
the prayers Of the Church, and the beautiful
thoughts Of the multitude of his friends, who
are gathered here today to witness his obse
the character or fame of him who has been
taken from the midst OF u.s..
My friends, do not Intend to say much
but | cannot allow this bier to be borne from
this church, in which he knelt SO often, to the
cold charities of the ccmetary, Without add
Ing my voice as pastor and his friend and as
representing the priests OF this city and every
Catholic heart, to that magnificent chorus ol
praise and eulogy which has gone out from
the lips and hearts of the people he loved sc
dearly and the city he served so we'll and SO
proudly.
"He was gallant gentleman, and when,
l. % fl,AF l,tn
life into cause he thought was Just and holy,
he was brave man on the field of battle, q
quality which he shared with many others
and when afterwards he laid his sword aside
peace he proved that he was not only a true
soldier, but n devoted son and citizen. 1t is
not necessary for me to speak or him. lie
was before the eyes Of the world O true, gal
liant and knightly gentleman, and more than
that, he was n true Christian man and gentle
man.
'''The evil that mon do lives after them the
good Is oft inferred with their bones.' 1t
may not, perhaps, be in taste, but l wish TO
say in Justification of what / have just re-
marked that he was true Christian gentle
man and a loyal son Of Mother Church.
would say In answer to thought, no doubt in
the mind OF many, that he believed in God,
that he was loyal to Gods Church ; but he
shared with you and me In the frailties Of a
not only In physical strength, not only in in
tellectual strength, but he was strong enough
to lift himself above the weakness of our sad
Inheritance.
"Some months ago al meeting OF an excit.
ing campaign, read in that paper of which
he was the creator and the brains and soul,
words uttered by political opponent in the
forum and on the street which stupg noe to
the heart, took the liberty as bis pastor of
writing him a note, and begged him for Gods
sake and for the sake of his personal honor
never to permit anyone, however hostile to
be able to hint at such thing again. 1 have
the note In reply thanking me for mine, and
written in words of deep humility, coming
from such man, telling me that he had
promised himself with Gods grace that he
newer would. and be has not; and that I