Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-27
Impressive Funeral Services of the
Dead Firemen.
FENTONS CHARACTER EUL0GIZEl
Equally Solemn Rites Over O'Don.
oghue and Mastin.
SIN G. E RE MOU RNIN G

his LIE in the disastrous c0nfdgratlon at
Knox's warehouse, took place this morning.
Brief services were conducted by the Rev.
Father Michael A. Merely at the late resi-
dence of the deceased, I'D 13 IL street
| southwest after which the remains were
| conveyed to st. Dominic's Church, where
| solemn requiem mass was celebrated by
Father Merely. assisted 10y Rev. Father
Hugh F. Lilly as deacon and Rev. Father
| John A. Hinch. subdeacon. The friends of
| the dead man began to gather in the edifice
some time before the funeral party arrived,
| and the main body of the church vas pretty
| fully occupied, :he larger proportion of
those present being ladies.
| A Sad Scene.
When the casket was borne down the
| main aisle by six stalwart comrades of the
| deceased the sobs of the heart-broken sis
| tiers who followed the coffin rlingled with
| the dirge the organ was mournfully muir
| muring, making the scene cad beyond ex
| preston. When the mourners ard congre-
! CATION were seated and the celebration of
the mass begun it was impossible for the
dead mans sisters to restrain their emo
| ton. They were constantly on tn, verge
of being Frustrated, but kind friends warded
this condition off by the steady application
Of restoratives. The coffin of mahogany,
| richly and heavily trimmed with silver re-
posed In the center aisle. 1t was almost
| completely hid from view by exquisite floral
| remembrances, while many large pieces
| rested against the communion rail and the
pews. Striking among these was large
| horse shoe, composed of white roses and
| purple immortelles, the latter of which
| formed the words III. s. Union, No. H."
| This had been sent by the members of
| Horseshoers' Union, No. IL, of which the
dead fireman was a valued member. Dur
/ ing the mass the Gregorian requiem was
| sung by the choir and chorus. Miss Barbara
Fisher presiding at the organ. The solos
| rendered were Ave Maria" by Miss Aloliie
Wright; Jesus BE His Rest Eternal" by
Miss Blanche Wood, and Nearer. My God.
| to Thee" by Miss O'Connor. At the close
| of the mass the litany was chanted, and at
| its conclusion Father McFeely came for
| ward to the communion rail and delivered a
| sermon that will long be remembered for
| its striking impressiveness by those who
| listened TO it.
! Father McFeeIy's Remarks.
| With tender gesture toward the casket
| ne began, with touching infection. We'll
| done, thou good and faithful servant"
| Such were the words he said that Jesus
| Christ had addressed to one who had done
his duty in the past, and such were the
| words that the Savior would utter in the
future to all who conducted themselves in
thls hte IN such a maner as to deserve
| them The occasion that had brought the
| congregation together was one of genuine
sadness Every man. and every woman in
Washington felt a pang of sorrow in their
1 hearts for the heroic firemen whose remains
were about 10 be returned to their original
gust; The brave young man whose body lay
| IN the coffin before him had imperied his
NE TO save the property Of Others. and he
| believed that such men were drawer than
those who went forth to face the lannon's
| mouth. After graphically depicting the dam
gers with which the life of the fireman is
| fraught, Fathe- McFeely grew more impas-
| stoned The men Of the fire department, ne de-
| ciared, are unappreciated for their heroism
| by the public, and are not remunerated Just
| ly for the toll they perform or the perils
they brave. DrcEes, oilers and laggards. he
| said, were salaried oftentimes far beyond
| their just deserts but the men who hold
| their lives in their hands for the benefit OF
others were treated unfairly financially.
| Young FcntOn's High Character.
The priest then proceeded to eulogize the
| character Of young Fenton. Seldom, from
| any pulpit, has such words of praise and
appreciation fallen from a preachers lips
upon similar occasion. The glowing sem
fences were evidently inspired not only by
the giadness of the churchman over the
knowledge, of a good life well spent, but
rang with the fervor OF friendship as he de-
| scribed the estimable qualities of the de-
ceased. 1t was nearly an apotheosis OF the
young mans character.
He was true young man." said the
priest, but you knew him. l don't need to
tell you of his buoyant spirits; his winsome
ways, his anxiety to ever have those around
him happy and enjoying themselves. and in
whose heart there flowed naught but the
| milk of human kindness
He was a dutiful N and the idol Of a be-
| loved mother. who 'eceded him into the
grave, and with with his soul is now unit
| ed in the kingdom of happiness and love.
1t was well that he was SO, and j wish that
| all young men of today would take his life
| as a pattern for their own. He wasn't a
| young man who loved to loiter on the
street corners, to gamble or to drink to ex-
| cess. He loved his home, he loved his sis
| tiers, he dotted on them. and in doing so he
showed himself every inch a noble man No
| q Of hi
| doesn't love and honor his mother. No man
| is worthy of the name of man who doesn't
love and honor and protect his sisters. In
his religion he was as happy he was in
| his home. He never held his head down in
shame for the faith he professed, nor
| FLUSHED to bend his knees in penance while
he poured out his contriton TO his God"
Father McFeely continued his eulogy for
| some moments, and the emotion of his au-
| ditors was intense. His peroration was de-
livered with thrilling feeling. For the
| dead man in that coffin" he exclaimed
| 1.-The mother church has nothing but praise
Today she sings his requiem. Today she
calls upon her God to shield that just soul"
| Borne to the Grave.
At the conclusion of the sermon the coffin
was again taken up by the pallbearers, who
| were William II. Webb and William H.
Meichoir Of engine company No. Z, George
| A. Mcguire and Charles &. Proctor of en-
| CINE company No. /. and Foreman Charles
L
| /, of which the dead man was a member.
| II the scenes at the commencement of the
| services were sad they Were patheticaliy so
| when the funeral procession moved out of
! the edifce. The dead mans sisters, in spite
of the ministering attention of their devot-
| ed friends, tottered after the casket, sob
| bling and mourning until their desolation
| seemed to extend itself to all who were
| there, and strong men, as well as their
| weaker companions, sobbed aloud. The
| funeral cortege proceeded to Mount Oliyet
| cemetery, where the interment took place.
| Undertaken Lee had the arrangements in
| charge.
| Dennis O'DonOShue's Funeral.
| The funeral Of another of the heroes who
| lost their lives in the Knox fire took place
| this morning from the late home of the
| deceased on the Tenleytovn road above
| Georgetown. There were many friends of
| brave Dennis O'Donoghue present to pay
| their last tribute of love and esteem to one
who had been SO dear to them. After short
| services for the dead were held at the resi-
| dencc the body was taken to ST. AIMS
| Catholic Church, at Tenleytown, where the
| Rev. Father John NJ. Barry celebra ted
| requiem mass and delivered a feeling
| mon, in which he extolled the good qualities
! of the young mans character. At the con-
cluson of the ceremony the remains were
| taken TO Holy Rood cemetery, where they