Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-06-12
WASTED SORROW.
A Funny Funeral incident at
Chicago.
DAvY oRooKETTs MOTTO Is GOOD.

Even When You Attend Wake, BE
Sure You're Right - Michael Ford's
Friends Sit Up All Night with His Sup
posed Corpse Only to Find That 1t
Is Quite Different Person Entirely.
CHICAGO, June IA wake over live
man is rare occurrence, but the Hibern-
ian friends of Michael Ford devoted an en-
tire night to his memory and Michael
went to work at 6 O'clock the next morn
ing. 1t took Deputy Coroner McSwain
and an old German, Albert Kroening, the
best part of Tuesday afternoon to prove to
MichaePs friends that he was not dead,
notwithstanding the fact that they said
the dead body before them was his. But
Mr.. Kroening carried the day and proved
that it was Joseph Berg, German en-
ploye of his. and Mr. Fords frisads gave
up.
Monday night the police went to 557 Gar
field boulevard for man whs had died
suddenly. They took him to an under
taking establishment at $500 Wentworth
avenue, that an inquest might be held.
Shortly afterward, attracted by small
crowd, a young Irishman entered and
took look at the body.
AN when did poor Mike die?" he asked
"Poor bye. Sure, an its Michael Ford
I've known this many year"
As no one knew the dead man, no one
could tell him, and he left to notify
Michael's friends of his sudden demise.
And They Came to the Wake.
Later in the evening he returned with
| the more immediate of Mikes friends to
/ take look at the body Sadly they all
viewed the remains-Mike Hughes, JOIN
| McKernan, J. Gallagher, Frank Blake
| William Smith, Frank Scott and Charles
| LantZ Then they exchanged recollec
| tions about the dead man, his virtues and
| the sadness of his sudden death In this
| way they passed several hours. Sorrow
| getting the better of them it was decided
| that their deceased friend should be
walked. All night long they sat about tn,
corpse in little back room of the under
| takers shop.
Had Known Him Ten Years.
| 1t was necessary for some of the party Il
| withdraw, but John McKernan, Franz
| Blake, and William Smith did not care Il
leave their friend So they waited fol
the deputy coroner and the inquest. Delay
| postponed this until O'Clock Tuesda,
| afternoon, but they were still there, anC
4 they testified with sorrow, increased dur
ing the long vigil, that Michael was Irish
| their long known friend, and dead from
causes unknown TO them.
| Don't | know him this ten year," saiC
one of the three
| Wasn't Mike After All.
But the police had notified other wit
nesses, and after the inquest began floriC
little German, Albert Kroening, cam
bustling into the shop. Did he know tn,
| deceased? He did, and in five minutes IN
| swore that Michael Ford was not Michael
but Joseph Berg, a German who hal
worked for him over two years, and VIII,
had died of heart disease in his house the
day before
Its not Mike Ford, you say" inter
jected one of the walkers.
dot is Joseph Berg
by the powers an we had him SHAVED
ourselves this mornin'. It's Mike or
niver saw him"
PrePondersnce of Evidence.
The German rose in anger. Il swear il
is Joseph Berg, und l see him die by m!
| own house.
1t was question of three to one, anC
the deputy coroner was in quandary.
The preponderance of evidence was in IA
vor of the Irish witnesses, but neithe
they nor kroening could think of an,
| identifying marks
Zone of you fellows go over to Ford:
house" suggested the coroner finally, "anC
see about this" No one had thought o
this before. One of Mr.. Ford's friend
left, and the investigation rested. In a hal
| hour he returned
mike went TO work at six O'Clock thi
morning. he said