Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1894-01-31
FUNERAL OF A DRUID
STRANGE DEATH RITES ON A LOFTY
HILLTOP IN WALES.

Impressive Ceremonies A Intending the Final
Disposition of the Body of the Late
Leader of the Druids of Waies-Rather
Mixed Services.
Far away seem the times and the rites
of the Druids; even under the mistletoe
at yuletide-the time of Yow1ing. Theirs
was one of the most ancient and primi-
tive of religions, and it's cult is greatly
shrouded in mystery. Yet it is not alto
gether dead. Among the hills of Wales
many strange relics of the past remain.
There may be no fragments of forgot
ten peoples" but there are legends and
customs and songs and social and re1i-
gious rites preserved unchanged from the
days of Arthur and Merlin and Taliessin.
There are probably not few seers who.
like Glendower, lean summon spirits
from the vastly detp," though whether or
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 archdruid of Wales
He was something more than SO years
old and might have passed for one of the
old time bards who persisted in King Ed
wards reign, so rugged and antique was
his appearance Six or seven wears ago.
1t may be remembered, an infant that
had been born to him in his old age died,
and its body was publicly cremated by
him with Druidical rites. For this he
was arrested and brought to trial. But
after hot contest in court he was &C
quilted, and Il decree was pronounced
from the bench establishing the entire
legality of this form of funeral Ac-
cordingly when DR.. Price himself died
thought of interference.
The ceremony took place on the sum-
NIT of 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 to
enter the Enclosure and witness the burn
ing. The hour 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 Z o'clock in
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 feet
apart, each being about 10 feet long and
feet high. A number of iron bars ex-
tending from one to the other formed a
rude grating between them, some dis
lance above the ground, and upon these
bars the coffin was placed, the head be-
ing toward the east and 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 the flames"
Then under and over and all around
the coffin was piled great lot of wood,
perhaps a wi ole cord of it, and to this
were added several tons of coal. Many
gallons of parafin oil were thrown upon
It, thoroughly saturating the entire pile.
Then, at about s o'clock, two of the
closest friends of the late Druid came
forward from the throng and applied
torches to the wood, one at each end of
The mass. In a moment it was all rag
ing furnace, and the hill literally fared
like volcano.
A brisk breeze was blowing, which |
famed the fire and carried the fame and
smoke far into the heavens. For many |
miles the strange spectacle was clearly
seen, and thousands of people came flock
ing thither from all parts of Glamor-
..5anshire. Seven or eight thousand of
them gathered in a ring about the pyre,
a: close to it as possible, and watched it |
W tn eager interest all day long.
Some hours after dark that evening |
t q flames had died down, and there was
only dull glow from the Goals. Then
with long hooks they dragged the coffin
from the furnace, when it was discov- |
cred that it had been literally burned |
I trough in many places, and when the
id was uncovered the receptacle was alb
. >lutely empty without the faintest trace
Nithin of the remains The coffin was
{ lbsequently conveyed on a bier, fol- |
:: owed by an immense crowd, and de- |
Iosited on the couch in the deceased's |
! ssia.ence, where few days previously
h< had breathed his last.-New York
Tr nine