The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1894-12-28
THE STROUD OF DEATH.
Account Of the Funeral Of william E.
Shaw at LatrObe.


place, on the 26,h inst andisr re published
in ths Herald by request
"When we closed our ,orms on Saturday
to remain through The two day vacation
we exp,cled 10 have nothing to record, On
resuming TO day, but the univer. al joy of
glad and happy Christmas in all our
churches aud throughout the city. But
alas, how little we know what the NOR
row may bring forth 2 In none Of our
churches were there greater prospects
! for a JOYOUS celebration of the happy
/ day than ia The Reformed church. The
| sunday school and choral class under the
instruction of their beloved superinten
dent had made great preparation to
| commemorate the birthday OF the
/ Saviour IN q fitting and beautiful manner.
| The church had been very handsomely
decorated with festoOns of evergreen and
sweet flowers, Ia the midst Of which
| the sweet voices OF the children
! mingled with that of their in
structor, night after night, until
they had become proficient in their
respective parts and were ready for the
| Christmas chimes to call them together
when with their leader and the assembled
multitude their happy voices would ring
out in glad refrain in the great Christmas
cantata which had been prepared. They
were all present, indeed, on Christmas,
but how sad the change Instead of the
| glad peals the bell tolled the knell Of
severed life. The silent tread, the hushed
voices Of the great throng of people who
literally packed the church, all indicated
the solemn visitation of death which was
soon verified as the cortege, preceded by
the well known form OF Undertaken
Stader, marched silently down the aisle
where the casket was placed at the chaucel
rail. Then was realized the solemn
meaning of the warning that men are
but grass.
The stranger might well ask the mean
ing Of the solemn and unusual sight. The
scene was one that has few parallels. 1t
was the funeral of the brilliant young
superintendent of the Sabbath school, he
who was to have led them in their happy
songs of praise, he who had directed them
and assisted in placing those beautiful
| festoons which were now serving as
draperies around his couch of death, sur
rounded by his beloved school whose tear
wet faces gave evidence to the sorrow that
had so suddenly saddened their young
hearts. The transformation was very
marked. 1t seemed as though the entire
population had turned out to honor the
memory Of one of the noblest young men
that it has been our pleasure to meet for
many years.
The platform intended for the school in
their entertainment, was occupied on the
right and left by young people from this
and other churches; the centreswas occu-
pied by the pastor, Rev. G. M. Hartzell,
and number of our city ministers among
whom were Revs. Oliver and Carr, of the
Presbyterian; Rev. Hill, of the L. p.
Revs. Turner and Wakefield, of the NJ. E.
Rev. Wismer, of the Lutheran and Rev.
Stephan, of the Reformed churches. A
quartette composed of Misses Gertrude
Wakefield and Blanche Reynolds and
Messrs. G. H. Wakefield and James b.
Weaver with w. NJ. Shumaller at the or
gan, were Immediately back of the minis
ters. Thus we had in one company the
most eloquent orators and best musical
talent of the city to honor the memory OF
r the young man whose remains were laid
e in state at the church altar. Well might
r the stranger inquire who he was or if some
e great nobleman had died. To this natural
e question the reply would have been that
4 the remains were those of viii Il. Shaw
. who in nieed was noble in heart and in his
great and Jealous work for the Master in
whose service he had enlisted on the 18Th
day OF August, 1898 He was born in Shen
andoah, Pa, 25 years ago, and came tC
e Latrobe about three years since. He wa'
/. a maChinist but at the time of his death
q was employed at the Latrobe steel work,
Y as a time-keeper He was one Of those ac
! tive, energetic young men who cannot en-
i, dure idleness and was always busy. This
a peculiar trait made his service of great
r value to the church, and after he united
! with it his work has been of great anC
e lasting good, the influence of which viii
n survive him for years to come
a Several months ago he was injured
~ while handling a heavy casting at tn,
steel works and had complained of it NOR
or less ever since Some ten days ago h
again complained of not feeling well bu
- KEEP at his posts of duty, at the stee
works in the day time and in drilling hi
" pupils in the evening. Thursday evening
- he was in his brothers. "a. h. Shaw's
store, and played over several pieces witt
him, but he complained of feeling badly
Al Friday and Saturday evening he coul
As not be out and on Saturday evening h
"a was anxious for the DOCTORS coming, ant
l. finally said to his brother that he ha
Il better go for the doctor. The brothe
IN started, and after he had gone he decide
w to get up and was seated in chair,whe
Or he suddenly threw back his head and fel
~ to the floor dead, having been suddenl
called to better world to sing theligla
Christmas anthem in sweeter! lstrai