The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1895-06-18
A WEIRD BURIAL.
ONE OF THE STRANGEST FUNER-
AIS EVER HELD.
How Circus Man Who Had l'roba-
bly, Died of Yellow Fever Was
Laid Away In Alabama
Manager COup's Story.
n TO one has a more varied ex

. NntblC Us wei us inc numOr
GUS side, said the veteran Snowman.
w. G. Coup, who has just died after
an eventfui career. He was talking.
only short time ago, to group OF
newspaper men in the lobby of IA hotel
and relating anecdotes of his travels
over the country.
"Ihe following incident happened
in Alabama in the year thnt yellow
fever was epidemic. Our route was
along the borders of the affected dis
trict. We had entirely escaped the
dread disease, and rs we moved up
through Alabama we congratulated
ourselves on orr good fortune.
owe arrived ut n small town one
morning to unload for one-pipht
stand. The men tumblcd ont early
for work. OnSihnn was missing-my
most valued Oyerseer of the laborers
canvasman volunteered the informa-
ton that Jack was back in the car
doubled up with misery in his
in'ords. When | got back to the car
| saw the poor fellow lying very near
death and as yellow as au orange.
''Ihe people with the show must
not know this, neither must the pub
lie. l did not propose to expose the
public to the plague, neither did |
intend to put any of the mems lives
IN jeopardy by asking them to help re.
move the sick man. | locked the car
aud went for doctor. He shook his
head obviously after his diagnosis.
and, III answer to my anxious ques-
tions, said that it might be yellow
jaundlce, but he thought it was yellow
fever. To be on the safe side he
would get the man out of the car and
then fumigate it. He assured me that
1t would he safe to let the perform
ance go on and that he would take NIL
the precaution necessary to prevent a
spread of the contagion. The first
thing to avoid would be panic.
"Ihe doctor md / removed moor
Jack to an abandoned cabin near bv
and iumi9ated the car. When we had
laid our burden down on tue dirt floor
of that humble abode aud removed the
sheets he was swnthcl in, nolhins was
there but inGnimate yellow clav.
jacks faithful soul had gone to where
there were no hoop-las, red lemonade
or sawdust, and where they make
better music than any made by cir
Gus.
&" We'll, he's gone, anil must be
buried. / suppose you can give the
show without him, sail the doctor.
with the CHASTITY professional cheer
tulness OF doctors when no mourner
Is present. q suppose so, / answered,
rs | gazcd Mt the yellow face of the
dead man, and Mt the same timo |
wondered if jacks wife and baby
could get along without him too.
But there was an exciting bit of
business to DO attended TO before
could arrange for the burial. Alarm
seemed to bo in the air The people
of the troupe had gathered in groups
and were whispering among each
other and casting anxious g!anccs at
the cabin. They were treasured as |
stepped outside with the doctor, and
they strOlled away. 1t was ONLY n
few moments, however, until an OH
Ger from the town rode up and de.
manded tho cause of the death The
doctor toll him he ha not decided.
but would give him the certificate
shortly. Without word the officer
pushed the door open, gave glance.
and bounded out, shouting ut tho ton
of his voice: chat man died of vel
low fever - He continued to veil to
every one rs he rode, but was 80 cx-
cited that no ono SCENE to under
stand him. He had spurred his horse
tn a 4 l.
circus ground
"Cold chills played up AL down
my spinal column. Tbeu got action
ON me. / spraug on u horse that was
hitchcd near by nud dashed alter the
man who was yelling ruination to nv
business, possible destruction of nv
property md disaster TO his own town.
! overlook him just rs he leaped into
a crowd that had collected to watch
the erection Of tent
Fly for your livesr no yelled.
y man with the show has died Of
1T won't be n marker TO what Won
will die Of ! / shouted, as / ramned n
revolver in his iucc. Then explained
TO him that ho was mistaken and
asked him 60 como back and get tho
doctors certificate. Perhaps the sur
mary manner ~ which / had dcnlt
with the officer, combined with other
good reasons, made the doctor write
yellow jauudicc.
well, VIC gave tho show as usual.
and our tents were crowded TO their
capacity. 1t was the longest dnv T
ever remember to have passed, but
the performance WIS over at last. the
tents taken upaud the mon md animals
nsleop 10y midnight. 10 was after that
time before / began preparations for
The funeral i had hired % colorcd
man to dig grave out IN the suburbs
of the town, but in the confusion for
got the Cxnct locality. hitchcd
muIo team to nu old wagon, and, nc
rompanicd by the doctor and side.
how tnlkcr, who was as game man
MS ] over knew, we lifted tho corpsc.
that was wrapped in blankets entura.
ted with disiufcctouts, onto the wagon
and started.
''Wc wcrc thrcc hours ON tho rood.
owing 20 my having forgotten where
Tho grave wac. We finally found D.
cabin, where, IN response to knocke.
ho door wos opened by n little white
girl, bnrefoOtcd and i'm her niqhtVowfi.
She eaid she knew where old Uncle