The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-03-19
JOHN L. CRIED.
Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep"
Brought Tears to Sullivan's Eyes.
From the Cincinnati Enquirer.

From the Cincinnati Enquirer
A funeral was passing down Sixth
street the other afternoon headed by a
lodge and a brass band playing Nearer,
My God, to Thee ANY number of pedes-
trians stopped to see it pass. Near the
corner of Vine street three rough-looking
fellows were standing looking at the
mourners. As the last carriage passed
by one of the trio pulled out a dirty hand
kerchief and wiped away tear that was
trickling down his face. One of the gang
that hangs around Vine street noticed the
fellow crying, and remarked that it was
strange to see a fellow like him cry at the
sight of a funeral and a band playing
Nearer, My God, to Thee"
'NOthin strange about that said an
other one Of the FOUNDERS, II saw John l..
Sullivan cry once"
yes you did, remarked another one
of them.
THAT'S what 7 did I'll tell you about
it, said the rounder, and the boys paid
attention WELL" he said, do you re-
Der when the prince of comedians,
Luke Schoolcraft. died here some time
ago' They all said yes well, that's
what I'm going to tell you about. When
poor old Luke died John L. was playing
at HaVliu's. Luke's death cast a gloom
over the theatrical people in town that
week, and many of the actors drowned
their sorrow in the flowing bowl that
night. Well, the Elks took charge of the
funeral, and when the lodge room was
opened for the services l was one of the
many who attended. Why, boys, Ill
never forget that. Gathered in that
large room were all the members of the
Elks and every actor and actress in the
city was there. The services had hardly
commenced when in walked John H. IL
looked strange for the popular eX-cham-
pion to enter the room of a lod ge from
which he had been expelled, but it was
Luke Schoolcraft's funeral, and he and
John L. We're fast friends. John took a
seat near the door, and all eyes were on
him for moment Then one of the mem
bers read an original poem and boys, you
ought to have seen the ladies cry
The President then announced that
when Luke at any time referred to death
he always said that when he died he
wanted some one to sing My Old Ken
lucky Home, over his remains. Thepres-
ident said his request would be granted.
Mr.. Julius Widmark would sing it, Wild
mark walked over to the organ with the
music in his hand. Now, Eve heard Wild
mark sing many time in the theater,
but I've come to the conclusion that no
only sang once in his life, and that was
at Schoolcraft's funeral He stood at the
side of the organ when he sang, and it
was the sweetest, but most solemn thing
| ever heard. When he was singing the
last bar of the famous old song he broke
down and wept like a child, and nearly
every man and woman in the room was
crying | tried to choke mine back but
l couldn't do it, and l cried myself. I
| looked over to where John L. was sitting.
| There he sat with a blank look on his
face. There was no sign of tear.
| moment later minister got up to speak.
1t was a touching sermon, boys, and dur
ing his remarks he said, Now | lay me
down to Sleep There was moth
ing so awful touching about
that to me as I heard it be-
fore, but suddenly | saw several persons
look over toward Sullivan. [ looked too.
What do you think2 John L. was CRYING
like a baby. l was dumfounded, as l
thought there was nothing. that could
make the big fellow cry but he was, just
the same. Well, the funeral was over,
and the Elks and friends marched to the
depot with all there was left of poor
Luke. An hour afterward ] dropped into
Andy Gilligan's, and who was at the bar
but John L., shooting in whisky as fast as
he could. He was surrounded by crowd
of admirers, and they were talking about
the most impressive things al the funeral
services. Some said this thing and the
other said something else. Finally, John
L. broke in. He said: Say, you fel-
lers are all wrong. III tell you the pur-
test thing said" "What was il, John?D
asked one. "Well, the purJiest thing was
when the preacher said Now lay me
down to Sleep" and in the same breath
turned and said: "Give all the S. an
other drink" The last I saw of Sullivan
that night was when they sent him home
drunk in a cab. He had drowned his sor-
row in the howl