Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1893-03-31
FUNERALS IN THE CITY OF
ME\ICO.
UndertakerS' Bills Lcssenel 10y The Use
of Street Car HcarSes.

OF street Car HcarSeS
Ten or fifteen years ago, before Pres
ident DElz had succeeded in slIppressinc
Drlgandage which had flOuriShel in
Mexico since the Spanish conquest,
1t was a comOn occurance for street.
cars running from the capital to the
numerous villages surrounding il to be
stopped by robbers the paSsenyers de
spoiled of their property, and perhaps
killed if they offered resistance. Con
sequenly the Strcct-car companies adj
opted the plan of running their cars in
trains each drawn by it's own mules.
but sticking close to the one in front
SO vigorous was the crusade Of the
government, however against the ban
dts that travel in the environs of the
capital has been for years as safe as
it j. III the streets of New York Never
the-lcSS the companies adhere to their
old rule, says the New York Times.
and Tie cars still run in trains although
the press and the public have clamored
for change. A man may wait for Il.
car an hour or more and then four or
five will bear down on him at once.
Owing to the great expense attaching
to frrt"als in Mexico the street ears
have come into general use as Il means
Of reducing the size Of the undertaker's
bill. Each company has Il number Of
'hearse cars in its stables. which ar.
nothing more or less than hcaTSes con
St1ucted upon the trucks of ears.
A post at each corner supports IL
black canopy, which is sllrmountcd by
4 cross, and under the canopy is Il
catafalque upon which the coffin rests.
Behind the hearSc car comes q passenger
car, with ground-glass windows and
cushioned seats, for the use of the
friends of the deceased
When healSe car is wanted the fa1nr
lily notifies the company whose track
runs nearest to the house of death to
be ready at certain point and ut a
certain time. Accordingly hcarse and
as many street cars following as will
be needed to accommodate the morrncrs
are sent to the locality indicated and
the coffin is borne by hand to the
spot and placed i'm the funeral car
BY connections with different systems
any cemetary in the city or outskirts
can be reached. The journey ismade n
a little less than the ordinary speed.
the mule being driven at a gentle trot.
The cost of this car depends entirely
upon the amount Of style ofwhich the
vehicle can boast 1t may be hired
at almost any price, from $50 up. One
particularly gorgeous hearse requires
six capariSoned hoses to pull it, each
animal being provided with q groom.
who walks at it's head. This affair costs
$500 for ii single turnout, and is as tall
as most two story houses.
A funeral is treated with much res,
pect in Mexico. None so proud who
will not lift his hat to do it reverence.
The burial is on the day of death II
possible, and the priest repairs to the
house and celebrates divine service
for the repose Of the departed soul up
on an imprOvised alter of flowers and
candles This is in full view of passers
by on the treet, who respectfully
kneel on the pavement. Others in the
distance see them and also kneel, so
that two or three blocks up and down
may be seen men, women, and child
rem on the open street in attitudes OF
prayer. This, however, more correctly
describes the practice of the poorer
people. The upper stratum Of society
is more reserved in it's devotions
One street in Mexico, near the Nat
ional palace, called the Gale Tabaq-
ueros, is filled from end to end with
coffin makers, whose wares, in differ
ent stages of completion, are piled on
the curb in grewsome confusion. The
wayfarer who pauses a moment to
look at the unusual scene is immcdiat-
ely surrounded by the tradesmen, who
inquire in voluble Spanish if he wants
coffin. OF course he doesn't, but
that makes no difference, and he has
to run the gauntlet until he gets out of
the street, just as people here have to
do who pass the clothing dealers on
Baxter street.