The Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1893-1901, 1893-03-22
FUNERAL OF 4 DRUID
STRANGE DEATH RITES ON A LOFTY
HILLTOP IN WALES.

tyi-ifbsE.itb ai i4iF AFt'tN Va tAE tF-fI
Leader of .ac Druiis Of T'aies-I:athcr
Mixed Services.
Far away seem the times aaat the rites
Of the Druids: even uat.er. the mlstl,tne
at ~yuletide-the tine OF Sowling. Theirs
was one Of the most ancient and rrini-
tive Of religions. and its cult is greatly
shroudea in mystery. Yet it is not alto
gether dead. Among the hills of Wales
many strange relics of the past remain.
There may he no fragments of forgot
ten peoples" but there are legends and
customs and songs and social and reli-
gious rites preserved unchanged from the
days of Arthur and Merlin and Taliessin.
There are probably not a few seers who.
like Glendower. ''can ummon spirits
from the Vastly deep" though whether or
not they will come is yet a mooted ques-
ton. And as for the Druids. their line is
vet unbroken. and their weird rites are
still celebrated as of old.
The death occurred at Llantrissant of
DIR. William Price. who held the distin-
guished Office IF archdruid of Wales.
He was something more than % years
old and might have passed for one Of the
old time baras who persisted in King Ed
wards reign so rugged ana antique was
his appearance. Six or even years ago.
it may be remembered. an infant that
had been born to him in his old age died,
and its body Was publicly crtmatei 10y
him with nriidical rites. For this he
was arrested and brought to trial. But
after a hot contest III court he was ac-
quilted. and "A decree Vas pronounced
from the bench establishing the entire
legality of this form Of funeral. Ac-
coriingly when DR.. Price himself died
a similar csramony WAS enacted without
thought of Interference.
The ceremony took place on the sum
mt of a high hin at Caerlan. the very
spot where the body Of the infant had
been burned. Several hundred tickets
were issued to the friends and former
patients of DR.. Price. emitting them to
enter the il losure and witness the burn
ing. The he II first set was noon. But
public curiosity rose to SO high a pitch
that, to avoid being overwhelmed by a
mob of sightseers. it was at the last mo-
ment decided to change it to : o'clock in
the morning. Sc in the gray light Of
tIlib ttIiN IiouI III SlIdlSc pIpIcSSloll
made its way to the hilltop. No mourn
ing garb was to be seen. The closest
friends Of he deceased Druid were at
tired in the ancient costumes OF the
Welsh -c5ple.
The body 4 DR.. Price was clothed in
the Druidical roles he had worn in lie
and was tlirti placed i'll u coffin Of Pc"
forated sheet iron. On the hilltop Two
stone walls had been built, four feet
apart, each heinE about 10 feet long and
/ feet hiph. y number Of iron bars ex-
tending from one to the other formed a
rude grating between them, some lis
lance above the ground, and upon these
bars the COIN was placed, the head be-
ing toward the east and the feet toward
the west.
\ clergyman of the Established church
was present and read the ordinary sery-
ice for the dead III Welsh. The vest
ments of the church contrasted as
strangely with the Drnidical garb worn
by some Of the attendants as did the
words Of the prayer book with tie
strange rites. Some slight changes we
made in he service, such rs the body be-
ing ''consig1lei to the tiaIaga.'
Then under and over and all AROUND
the coffin was Piled Il great lot of wood.
perhaps a whole cord II il, and to TINS
were added several tens of coal. Many
: gallons of paraf u o. were thrown u, ii
il. Thoroughly sa1aEs.;at The entire pile.
Then. at a 5nt . O'Clock, two ii TIE
closest friends Of the late Druid cane
forward from The taIang and apsi. .