Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-06
THE RED AND BLACK
Cover the Coffin Of Joseph Fricke, Al
legheny's Late Anarchist.
CEREMONIES AT THE CREMATORY.
Herr John Most Delivers an Address Over
His Comrades Remains.
MEMORIALS FROM MANY COMMUNISTS

A crowd of over 700 people filled the
avenue, yesterday afternoon, to witness the
funeral services over the body of Joseph
Fricke. the anarchist. The greater number
were friends of the dead man, while others
were attracted by curiosity to see the
crematory and listen to the oration of Herr
John Most. The body lay in PLAIN casket,
encireled by a broad strip of bright
red chinlz. Beside it were nu-
merous beautiful floral tributes.
Among them was large wreath,
bearing the inscription: "From
the members of the International Working
mems Association of Philadelphia" An
other read: Honor to the cosmopolitan
and battler for freedom" Itwas presented by
the members of the International Working
mems Association of Pittsburg and Allie
gheny Another one from Die Freiheit bore
the words: "A true friend of the people,"
In addition to these there were numerous
memorials from socialistic societies in BaIti-
more, Chicago, Cincinnati, st. Louis and
New Haven.
Herr Most's Funeral Address.
At 2:30 o'clock Herr Most, accompanied
by the local funeral committee, entered the
chapel. He at once began his address, saying:
"Friends: Death has robbed us of an oak
which stood firmly for many years in spite OF
severe storms. Fricko once said to a friend,
The old die and the young scarcely know what
they lose for it is hard to think as an old man
when one has not had experience This old
man never faltered. no matter what fate had in
store for him. Fricke was not one of those to
pfaI IN Ia a hero n
episode. He died not as 4 martyr-he was not
crucifled. 1t Is by.no accident that you are
here. but it is proof that you have
come to honor the memory of this man. You
all know that he was good, righteous man;
man who loved the truth; a man who feared no
consequences: man who recognized what was
right, always wished 1t and always did it. Of
him no one can say: He grew wise as he grew
DID, One can almost compare Joseph Fricke
with such men Carl Marx, who discovered
new truths and never hesitated TO step out OF
the beaten path. II is very painful to see how
they fall; how the ightest breath sufices to watt
them away. Frcke never wayered. never trem-
bled or recanted, and. in spite oil the fact that
he became prominent, he retained his modesty
and was reticent when il was for the best in
terests of his cause"
Life of the Late Anarchist.
Herr Most then went on to describe the life
of Mr.. Fricke. He said his parents must have
been good, honest people, for they gave him
good education, and aroused in him healthy
understanding of mankind. Fricke was work
ingman; one of those men who are called upon
to amass wealth, not for themselves. but for
those who hoard their gold. The speaker then
dwelt upon Fricke'S experience as business
man, and how it was impossible for him to be-
come rich on the money made by The sweat of
the brows of poor employees. He then told of
the deeds of the dead man in the revolution of
1913; how he stood among the ranks of those
who fought for liberty and how he was
captured. He said:
II, bis i'm rtr ErirE rEe r,1a AZ i'm
portant role. He sued for no Pardon and re-
gained his liberty when peace was declared
Fricke then dreamed of that beloved land
across the ocean-Amerlca. With hope ana
confidence came he here and found trouble
pain and danger. He saw the rich on top and
The poor trampled upon almost to starvation
lie was intelligent enough not to tread in the
footsteps of Carl Schurz. His ambition was
to be true to the old flag, although with the un-
derstandinC that he must live in poverty. As
an advocate of freedom for Southern slaves
Fricke one of the foremost, but with the
close OF that war tie chains of the slaves were
forged anew for black and white"
Activity in Anarchist, Circles.
Mr. Most then told of the activity of Fricke
in various labor agitations. and of his prorGi-
nence in th,r socialistic congress- held in 1882.
in Pittsburg. He then told how Fricke went
from house to house, teaching the lessons of
truth to mothers, fathers and children, when
he would return home to the small room which
was to him an excuse for q home. where he sat
and wrote; wrote words of hate and love:
hatred for AL those who sought to oppreSs tho
poor, and love for all that was beautiful and
honorable. He told of his work as an agent
for the poor and for liberty. and painted in
glowing terms how FTicke felt himself called as
apostle to spread the truth IN The coal
regions
'.Fricke,'' said the speaker, "knew that an
archy must come, and that it could only be ac-
compIshed through a social revolution.
Frickes evening of life was dark one. for he
felt that the people OF America were vet far re.
moved from the acme of progress. and Fricke
heard on his deathbed that the death verdict
had gone forth ior three poor workingmen in
Pttsburg. He also heard how a Doycotter in
San Francisco was cruelty shot down, and had
he waited but few days he would have heard
of the horrible murder of ten strikers in Penn.
sylvania."
The Cremation to Be To-Day.
Herr Most closed with the words: LET
US become Communists like this one. Let us
espouse the cause of truth, do right and fear no
one. Let US live without religion as did Jo-
seph Fricke. Farewell, dear old man; thou pion:
eer. prophet and shining light for hundreds OF
thousands. l have partly written his will; bury
his memory deep in your hearts; live as he
lived: strive as he strove."
The body will be cremated at 4 o'clock this
afternoon IN the presence of Messrs. Kupfer-
berg, Bauer and Metzkow.
TRGUBIE WITH cHEAp nPUNRs