The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-08-26
4 rRorIyCETOWN FUNERAL
II was that or = "Portueee" who Greats
Commanded Himself Before He Died.

PRov1ScETowS. Cape Cod. Aug. o. - The
brazen bell OF the Catholic Church In this gray
old seashore town sounded ont hnrshly. but
that was not remarkable. for in Provincetown
the bells seem to be ringing almost contlnu.
ally. In this Instance. however. the clapRor OF
the boil was freighted with message which
made tho people halt. and a hush fell on the
single three. mile-long street along the water
front. The boil was toling the age OF some one
dead in the village. Presently. from a hilly
side street emerged n slowly moving hearss,
its sable curtains parted from the wlndowa
and draped about the sides. and then
was heard the thud OF many feet moving on
the planks OF the board walk that reaches from
end to end OF the village. Behind the hearss
came long procession OF mon and women.
who strobe on silently. First there were flfty
men. walking In twos and then came flfty
women. and, as tho procession filed on here
and there q vlager Joined 1t, tho men walking
together In twos. and tho women likewise.
1t is the custom In Provincetown. whom .
neghbor dies. for the reople to follow his re-
mains atoot to the distant burial yard that.
thickiy dotted with white shafts. is ON the side
OF great sand dune and they go thither In
couples. II It is a woman that is dead. the
man. the men march, next to The hesrse: All
the procession moves throuG h fits sandy streets.
" Is moro than half hours walk from one
strange I rroeesson it Was MAN Many gay summer
visitors stopped In tho street and gazed 10:
9u,r,ngly At the train and finally one seeostsd
gate.
PIE, you know the man in the hearse 2"
was s The ro ,qns arc ons
Quarter Of the peonls OF Provincstowyn.
tho vilinse street. wheslod about The bass q
the sand hill mantled with dark creeping
Wase Mnes clad RAGS seG
Erhss. squat mines and oaks. that is almost IN.
broken r , Tor dozen miles to the courtyard
unpaved truck through ,he 0litterine white
sand that winds in and out amonR the ridges
"nssr TO- 0s shs INA ics .$s
eengulnng sand muil'ed The tread. Dresrily
The cemetery, passed among a Thousand tiny
BLACK and white painted Iosts that mark the
togo halted at tho brink OF n Oh alow pit dlgged
n the sand Lear the gray wall OF the cemetery.
ns is enS, npa o% G' af .W .s
under all the lower cad Of the Cape the same
IS !: doe, =, sen. s; that in way all the town
Tho monrners ali ilockoa about the pit In
tn ernmbinc sand ths5 was irInged With
one sl,ad tie women in another h? I'll" bsarers
drew the plain coffin from the hearse: then It
staggering in the Slipping SAM. to the grave.
md placed on wooden sticks that bridaed i.
me priest hel1 alott Sh ming crucitix. and In
measured tones. which tho wandering winds
seemed to carry hither and thi her among the
wild hil!orks and out to sea. said the funeral
services for the dsad. low moments lAter
the funeral train was poddinG back.
He was only n Portuguese Z"
No" said n WrinElel-'aced sea Captain Ia
Irovncetown. didn't know his name: but
I do know this: he knew he was going to do
and Just before his death he went all around.
paid every debt he owed square up every.
thing W tn the world. then went homo and
died. And. In my Judgment that's about a. q. Od
IN obituary IA yon can write for any nan.
whether in Pruvincctown or anywhere else"