Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1894-01-18
FUNERAL OF A DkUiD
STRANGE CEkTH RITES ON A LOFTY
HILLTOP IN WALES.

Impressive Ceremonies Attending the Finn
Disposition Of the Body of the Lat
Leader Of the Druids Of wales-Raths
Mixed Services.
Far away seem the times and the rite
Of the Druids; even under the mistleto
at yuletide-the time of Yowling. Their
was one Of the most ancient and pri1ni
tive Of religions, and its cult Is great,
shrouded in mystery. Yet it is not alto
gether dead. Among the hills of Vale
many strange relics Of the past remain
There may be no fragments Of forgot
ten peoples" but there are legends anC
customs and songs and social and reli
gious rites preserved unchanged from tbs
days Of Arthur and Merlin and Taliessin
There are probably not few seers who
like Glendower, "can summon spirits
from the vasty deep" though whether OF
not they will come is yet mooted ques-
ton. And as for the Druids, their line is
yet unbroken, and their weird rites are
still celebrated as Of old,
The death occurred at Llantrissant OF
DR.. William Price, who held the distin-
guished Office Of archdTuid Of Wales
He was something more than 90 years
old and might have passed for one of the
old time bards who perished in King Ed
wards reign, 50 rugged and antique was
his appearance. Six or seven years ago,
1t may be remembered, an infant that
had been born to him in his old age died,
and its body was publicly gremated by
him with Druidioal rites, For this he
was arrested and brought to trial. But
after hot contest In court he was ac-
quilted, and decree was pronounced
from the bench establishing the entire
legality of this form of funeral Ac-
cordingly when DR.. Price himself died
a similar ceremony was enacted without
thought of interference.
The ceremony took place on the sum.
init of a high hill 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 tc
enter the inciosure and witness the burn
ing. The hour first set was noon. But
public curiosity rose to so high pitch
that, to avoid being overwhelmed by
mob of sightseers. it was at the last mo
ment decided to change it to Z O'Clock il
the morning. So in the gray light OF
that early hour the strange procession
made its way to the hilltop. No mourn.
ing garb was to be seen. The closest
friends Of the deceased Druid were at
tired In the ancient costumes of the
Welsh people.
The body Of Dr. Price was clothed in
the Druidical robes he had worn in life
and was then placed in a coffin of per
forated sheet iron. On the hilltop two
stone walls had been built, four fee
apart, each being about 10 feet long ant.
4 feet high. A number of iron bars ex-
tending from one to the other formed a
rude grating between them, some dis
tance above the ground, and upon these
bars the coffin was placed. the head be-
ing toward the east aud the feet toward |
the west.
A clergyman Of the Established church |
was present and read the ordinary serv-
ice for the dead in Welsh. The vest
ments Of the church contrasted as |
strangely with the Druidical garb worn
by some Of the attendants as did the |
words Of the prayer book with the |
strange rites. Some slight changes were
made in the service, such as the body be-
ing consigned to tho flames"
Then under and over and all around
the coffin was piled great lot Of wood,
perhaps whole cord Of it. and to this
were added several tons of coal. Many
gallons OF paraffln oil were thrown upon
t, thoroughly saturating the entire pile
Then, at about o'clock, two Of the
,losest friends Of tho late Druid came
from the throng and applied
.orches TO the wood, one at each end of
.he mass. In moment it was all a rag
ng furnace. and the hill literally flared
ike volcano.
A brisk breeze was blowing, which
aimed the fire and carried the fame and
moke far into the heavens. For many
niles the strange spectacle was clearly
cen, and thousands Of people came flock,
ne thither from all parts of Glamor
tanshire. Seven or eight thousand OF
hem gathered in a ring about the pyre,
IS close to it as possible, and watched il
With eager interest all day long.
Some hours after dark that evening
he flames had died down. and there was
nly dull glow from the Goals. Then
With long hooks they dragged the coffin
rom the furnace, when it was discov.
red that it had been literally burned
trough in many places, and when the
id was uncovered the receptacle was alb
olutely empty without the faintest trace
within Of the remains The coffin was
ubsequently conveyed on a bier, fol,
owed by an immense crowd, and de-
osited on the couch in the deceased's
osidence, where a few days previously
. had b7eathed his last. New York
'ribune. :