Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-26
NATCHER'S FUNERAL.
A Large Crowd of People Attend
the Murdered Mans 0bsequieS.
ELOQUENT SERMONS PREACHED.
DR.. Holland and Rev. Mr.. Prugh Strongly
Condemn the Shooting.
FAIR FLOWERS ADORNED THE COFFIN

An immense throng of sympathizing
friends gathered yesterday afternoon to
participate in the funeral obsequies of John
T. hatcher, who was assassinated by W.
Lee, on Second avenue, last Friday. The
coffin was made of black ebony, and it was
placed in the front parlor. AS the afternoon
sun shed its brilliant light through the
heavily draped window of green, it lit the
face of the murdered man into the resem-
blance of life again; his countenance did
not bear evidence that life had ebbed away
In acute physical pain, but rather that "he
passed into that bourne whence no traveller
returns" calmly, and thoroughly resigned
to the inscrutable design of fate.
At the head of the coffin a magnificent
wreath and pillar Of white immortelles and
roses was placed by the loving hands that
have been made fatherless by the bullet of
desperate man, and inscribed to Papa"
There were also two broken pillars. AT the
summit of one of them was placed beauti-
full bed of blue violets. On the coffin there
rested a sheaf of wheat.
Mrs. hatcher, whose mind has been
wandering since the death of her husband,
calmed down about an hour before the
funeral. She was frequently heard to call
pathetically for her husband. During the
service she quietly cried, deeply realizing
the position she was left in. II was stated
yesterday that Mr.. hatcher had an insur-
ance on his life for Sc, 900, which he has
left absolutely to his widow.
AT o'clock, Mr.. Prugh, of Grace Re
formed Church, called upon the people to
join him in prayer, 'that Gods mercy would
rest sbundantly on the stricken house."
After the prayer the united choirs of Bell
field and Shadyside Presbyterian Churches
sang Cowper's popular hymn, "God Moves
in a Mysterious Way" Then the psalm
80 teach us to number our days that we
may apply our hearts to wisdom" was read.
Mr.. Prugh addressed the family and
friends. He said:
HIS NOBLE TRAITS.
"The man that has been laid low by the
murderer's hand had some noble traits of
character. His death profoundly moved
me. 1t is we'll said that all flesh is grass.
We are but the flowers Of the field; in the
morning we flourish, as we bask in the sun
light but night comes like a thief and
smites us down unaware. Two weeks ago
was officiating at the funeral of a young
girl who was my friend, and 1 thought then /
who would be the next Had had spoken
to our brother and asked him the question,
who would be the next, do you think he
would have thought of himself? No. We
recognize that all flesh is grass in other
people, but we are infdels concerning our
own mortality. How Indifferent the human
family is to its own death. The history of
nations demonstrates this fact, the history
of Individual lives indisputably proves it.
Let us then turn our hearts to God, rest
more upon His word.
81 would say to the desolated wife, to the
fatherless children, that God looks down
with infinite compassion upon you at this
time. All may be dark and the future look
,arren and unpropitious, but behind the
lack dark cloud God, infinite, wise, loving |
nd tender, hides a smiling face. We look |
Upon face cald in death, eyes lusterless, a |
rame pulseless, but he is not dead; he lives
orevermorel Instead of fighting the tumul-
.uous storms of life, he exists by the crystal
stream. The venom of his enemy can now
no more reach him, for he dweIls in a sphere
OF concord and peace. His sigh is changed
TO a song, and his wounded body dwells now
amid the shinmering glories Of heaven.
His eye is afame with celestial fire; his feet
march in the great. army of redeemed. In
his hand he waves the victor's palm, and
his brow is wreathed with the conqueror's
crown"
AN ELOQUENT SERMON.
DR.. Holland next addressed the people. He
said, 1--WE are here with conflicting
emotions of mingled horror, and indigna-
tion, as well as pity. This death was sud-
den, and terrible. Here we see the power
and vileness of sin; that hateful thing which
has cursed humanity from its earliest
hiafOrv IF has fha
victims of its rage. Death is the result of
sin; tears stream down the eyes of 10000 in |
awful agony because sin lives with us.
This act proves what an iron grip it has |
upon the human heart, how it can control |
every act and prompt bad emotions. This |
latent wickedness was like a consuming fire |
in this man. until his moral nature was |
burnt out 1t urged him to commit an act |
which engraves into his forehead 'mur- |
erer.' Woe to its possessers. God grant |
that the world may be rid of it. We SYM
pathze with this home. God knows our |
heart is with the mother and children.
LET me say this is not an act of God. |
Satan lives in the world; he moves, and /
prompts human action, and this act is the |
DEVILS doing. God is loving Father; the |
government Of the world is in His hand. |
We cannot pry into His government; we can
not ask Him to unravel His mysterious work. |
ings, but we will ask Him to tenderly look |
down on this family and bless them He |
will bring light out of darkness He has |
not forsaken you; 1 say to ali, trust Him |
and hate sin"
DR.. Holland here prayed for Gods mercy |
to rest upon the home. The choir then sang |
NEARER NY God to Thee"
After the sermons had been preached the |
body was privately inferred in the .Home-
wood Cemetery. The pail bearers were |
William NJ. Brown, John McIlroy, William |
Price, Mr.. Roseberg, L. G. Mccormack and |
Mr. Stockdale