Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-08-29
OCEAN BURIAL BY MOONLIGHT.
Mr.. Bettelheim's Body Consigned to
Wstery Grave at Midnight.

The readers OF the Dispatch were told
YESTERDAY Of the death at sea and burial at
mid.Ocean Of Rev. DR.. A. s. Bethlehem,
rabbi OF the Baltimore Hebrew conerega:
ton. who WAS for nine years the beloved
and honored pastor OF the Synagogue
Beth Ahaba. Of this city.
The deceased was ffty-six years old and
a son of Samuel Bettelheim, a merchant OF
Hungary. in which country the rabbi was
born. In his youth he studied under
learned Hebrew divipes in Vienna and
Pesth. and about the close of the civil war
came TO Richmond anil assumed charge OF
Beth Ahaba. Nine years later he went to
San Francisco, where he remained for
twelve years and won the affection of the
entire Hebrew community. Since then he
has had charge of the First Hebrew con-
gregation of Baltimore, where he iabored
arduously and successfully.
HIS FAMILY.
DR.. Bethlehem leaves wife and SIX chill
dren. Mrs. Bethlehem was Miss Iavinia
Iseman, daughter Of Isaac lseman, Of
Fredericksburg. va. The children are:
Mrs Aaron Adler Miss Cecilia Bethlehem.
of San Frapcisco Mrs. Alex. Kohus. wife
Of the Rev. Dr. Kohut. rabbi OF the Lex
ington-Avenue Temple in New York. and
one of the most eminent rabbis IN Amer
ica: Mrs. Jacob Thalhmer. of Richmond.
Miss Eva and Paul Bethlehem.
Last spring DR.. Felix A. Bethlehem, a
favorite son OF the rabbits, died III early
manhood He had received an excellent
education. had travelled extensively, and
was in a fair way of occupying high
place in the medical profession HIS
death was q severe blow o. his father, who
then formed plans for q European trip,
thinking that a change of scene would help
him to forget his bereavement; =,
it was on June lIth that the Doctor sail
ed on the German Lloyd steamer America,
and after q pleasant voyage landed at bre-
men, where by appointment he met his
brother, Max Bethlehem, who had jour
neved from his home in Buda-Pesth, in
Hungary. to meet him. While IN Europe
the Doctor visited the graves OF his pa
rents in the Hebrew cemetery at Frey
stadt, Hungary. They had died since he
came to America. twentv-three years ago,
and for the first time he had the opportu-
nifty Of gazing at their last restlng-piace.
HIS FATAL ILLNESS.
The Baltimore Sun Of yesterday pub
lisbed full account OF the illness, death,
and burial Of DR.. Bethlehem. After tell
ing about the grief OF the family ana
friends who went TO the wharf to meet
him when told by his nephew, Hugo Bet
telheim, who took passage with hlm on the
and solemn burial 1t SAYS:
On the day he sailed from Bremen on the
Munchen DR. Bettelheim sent a cablegram
home stating that he had taken passage ON
the steamer. He had been feeling sick
several weeks and was at the point OF de-
LAYING the time of his departure, but
a change for the better induced him
TO 90 aboard. On the second day
out he was attacked with Inflammation
of the bladder and placed himself under
the care of DIR. Kratz, the physician OF the
Munchen He became worse daily, and
finally peritonitis ensued. Although aware
that he was very sick man, DR.. Bethlehem
had no idea that his illness was OF an ex-
tremely dangerous character. Reys. John
Gloyd and James +. Mackin, two Catholic
priests of Washington, were among the
1lssengers and were frequently at the rab-
bis bedside. He had made their acquaint-
ance on the voyage to Europe. Shortly
before he became unconscious, which was
Wednesday the goth, he asked them 70
pray for him. They knelt with Or. r.. II.
X. Stein, q Hebrew passenger, by his ped,
and each offered up prayer. Soon a1ter-
ward he became unconscious, ana AZ S;io
o'clock on the morning of the 2lst died IN
the presence of his nephew and q Few other
passengers.
THE BURIAL AT MIDNIGHT.
CAPTAIN Jaeger ordered tne DOuy 10 Dc
prepared for burial Two sailors and a
ships officer were assigned to the task.
The rabbits head was placed on q pillow
and the body enclosed in a shroud. The
feet were then weighted with pieces OF
iron. The whole was then sewed up IN
canvas and covered with the Stars and
Stripes until near midnight, when the Off
GERS and crew, in full uniform, with
swaving lanterns, assembled on the
port side Of the main deck, and, with
the passengers, formeda circle. Among the
Baltimoreans were Henry Fonge, Henry
Parr, Miss Schubart, Michael Sommer' and
Nicholas Wirsching. The two priests and
Mr.. and Mrs. Robert Portner, of Alexan,,
dria. Va, were there, too. DR.. Stem read
the Hebrew burial service, and 1t was a
solemn, impressive scene, for the sky was
cloudless and the moon was shining
brightly. When DIR. Stein uttered the last
word of the service the Captain gave the
signal to lower the body down the steamers
side. There was slight splash. and the
body sank out of sight into the fathomless
deep.
The Sun speaks in the highest terms of
the deceased. who had hundreds OF friends
i'm both Baltimore and Rich -nond outside
of the large congregations which he serRd
so faithfully and who were so devoted 10
him. He was ever ready to take part IN
any movement looking toward the mental
and moral improvement OF his feilow-men.