The record-union., 1892-06-06
BURIED With POMP.
Lee Gong's Friends Give Him an I'm
posing Funeral.
A "Send-off'' That Quite Eclipsed That
of Buck FanShaw, the Virginia
City Fireman. ..%-

The funeral of Lee Gong, the muir
dered Chinese merchant, which took
place yesterday, was great show of
pomp and an extraordinary display of
the odd rites and customs of the Mon
golians.
Lee Gong was one of the most proml-
nent Chinese. and was held in the high
est esteem by his countrymen. Hence no
pains were spared to make the occasion
one of especial impressiveneSs and man
Hesitation. The funeral was probably the
most important in point of attendance
and observation that has ever taken place
on the coast outside Of San Francisco.
At an early hour yesterday morning
cataialque had been constructed in front
of the deceased merchants store on Third
street. This was an inclosed space of
about twenty feet square, with sides and
top covered with white drapery, and
hung on the inside with various signs
and symbols, and from the top OF which
a red and white banner was displayed.
The coffin containing the remains was
placed at one end of the inclosure, while
tables extended across, leaving space at
the sides. The tables were loaded with q
number of pigs, roasted whole, and
kid prepared in like manner, while
great variety of Chinese candies, pastry
and many kinds Of delicacies were ar
ranged about to complete the great spread
for the dead, or the gods, as the case
might be.
The spaces on each side Of the tables and
casket were soon occupied by the friends
and hired mourners Chiefly women, and
the widow seemed to preside over the
feast, from which none OF the living were
to partake.
At one end of the catafaigue, which
was left open, a number OF priests or dig
nitaries stood, dressed in white for the
most part, and punk and incense was
lavishly burned. At the end of the tables
was Chinese orchestra which kept up
its UNMARRIED and monotonous noise until
the procession was formed, at O'Clock,
and then carriages were provided tor the
musicians, and they kept up their efforts
at music until the last.
About l:30 the remains were removed
to the hearse, while the 'tuneral-bai<ed
meats and the many delIcacIeS prepared
for the occasion were loaded in wagon.
to be taken out and left at the grave.
Two Chinese on horseback, who sew
eral times came near starting Oft upon
John Gilpin'' career, officiated as mar
shals of the cortege. Hi Greer, in an eX-
press wagon loaded with mourning
! females, headed the procession, which
| formed at Third and j streets ana pro-
! ceeded down j to Second, thence to |,
and out l to the cemetery near East
| Park. The procession consisted of about
| 800 Chinese on foot, some forty carriages
and a number of wagons.
During the forming of the procession
an immense crowd of Chinese lined
! Third street in the vicinity, densely
thronging the sidewalks and most of the
| street itself, while the balconies In front
| of the houses were also filled with Chi
neSe of both sexes. A large number of
! white people were spectators of the
scene, and much interest was manifested
| in the curiously conducted funeral.
Although trouble was anticipated and
! another murderOuS outbreak feared, the
| highbinders were doubtless too cunning
to undertake an attack by daylight, in
| the presence of so many officers and white
spectators. Some OF the Chinese feared
! the highbinders might hide in tue brush
! in the vicinity Of the cemetery and fire
| upon the funeral attendants, but no such
assault was made
| Lee Gong's remains were safely lodged
! in the Chinese plot at Helvetia Cemetery,
! from whence, after an interval, his bones
! will be returned to the Flowery King
| dom.
! No expense was spared by the Chinese
! in paying their last respects to their dead
countryman. His remains We're inclosed
| in a costly casket, and the hearse and car
| riages provided were the finest to be OBJ
! tained. Delegations of Cinnamon were in
attendance from San Francisco and all
around the country. The occasion was
| one of great pomp, and some evident sor-
row.