The San Francisco call., 1896-05-03
CURIOUS FUNERALS.
A Corpse Escorted by Hundreds {
Chimney Sweepers.
San Jose, April 80, 1896.

Chimney Sweepers.
The most amusing request ever made by
dying man was probably that of very
jovial Irishman. Having glorious recol-
lection of the fun he had enjoyed at wakes
and funerals he was very anxious that his
friends should make the most of the op-
portunity in his case. Hence he specially
requested that certain sum of money
should be spentin entertaining the mourn
ers and regaling them with the good
things OF this world, especially of liquid
character.
This was promised, and the question
was asked, should the money be spent on
the way to the cemetery or on the return
Pat regarded the inquiry as distinctly SUI
perfluous, and replied, with some degree
of irritation:
"Why, goin' out, sure. I'll be wild you
then, but won't be wild We coming back. "
The good mans peculiar ideas as to the
connection between the mortal and spirit
ual in mankind were duly respected, and
the BOYS had an elegant time botn before
the PROCESSION started and while 1t was en-
route for the scene of his last resting
place.
Clegg, one of the Oldest coniurors of
whom we know any details, was equally
soicitous for his friends creature COM
forts. He expressed a desire to be buried
in peculiar fashion, and his request was
complied with. OF his very scanty savings
quite a large percentage was set aside for
the entertainment of sixty OF his bosom
friends, who acted as chief mourners.
They arrived early in the day, took
last look at the remains of him with whom
they had enjoyed so many hours of bois-
ferrous mirth, and then sat down to fu-
neral feast, consisting of spiced cakes and
an unlimited supply of home-brewed ale.
Each q directions little wrpafbs
of holly, gorse and rosemary, and a small
band of tiddlers scraped out bright melo-
dies while the baked meats were being de-
voured and the ale disposed OF.
By the time the funeral procession
started most of the sixty were slightly in
ebriated, and the march to the graveyard
was far from dignifed. The fiddlers led
the way, followed by the sixty mourners,
with another chief mourner bringing up
the rear on more or less lineal descend
ant of the animal which delivered the his
torical rebuke to Balaam of old.
A quarter of a century ago an old lady
who was an inveterate snuff-taker made it
imperative upon her heirs to recognize
her habit at her funeral. For years her
friends had tried to persuade her to aban-
don habit which had become part of her
nature, and was source of annoyance to
all her friends.
She was obstinate as well as wealthy,
AOL kept up Ju0 udDlJ W bilt ldSJi
but IN her Will called for snuff funeral.
Her direct heirs were in favor of ignoring
the instructions as evidently the work of
mind diseased, and allowing the estate to
be distributed by the public administrator.
The other legatees, how ever, were loud
In their protests, and they finally prevailed.
Snuff was scattered over her body and
along the line of the procession, while the
pallbearers were such inveterate snuff
takers that they readily fulfilled their part
of the not very select arrangement. 1t is
even stated that the minister in order to
earn an exceptionally large fee, took snuff
throughout the entire ceremony.
a very interesting account was published
IN London newspaper more than forty
years ago of the funeral of George Will
liams, described as the king of the chi m
ney-sweepers. He died Just before the
great exhibition was opened. and his
funeral was attended by several hundred
chimney-cIeaEers, including an immense
number of little boys, who earned a few
pence day by climbing up hues and re-
moving SCOT and distractions.
AS tribute OF respect TO profession
which, in the days OF large open CRATES
and historical chimney corners, was very
important one, and partly because of Will
liams' dying request, these little sweepers
worked as usual during the early daylight
hours, and appeared at the funeral with
faces, hands and clothing covered with
SCOT. AS banners they carried the brushes
used in their hazardous and lung-destroy-
ing work, and the parade was one of the
most grotesque on record.
The proceedings were calculated to an
noy people of refined sentiment, for the
trade obsequies were continued up to
the grave ITSELF and the utensils used bv
the chimney cleaner were, like we are told
is the good man does, buried with him.
But the results of the funeral were en-
inently satisfactory. 1t had not been gen.
orally recognized that boys of six and
eight summers were employed to climb up
Aues and knock out distractions, but the
number OF the diminutive specimens OF
humanity called attention to the acts of
cruelty which were perpetrated in the
small hours of the morning before or
dinary mortals were astir.
Inquiries were made, and it was ascer-
tanned that the boys were frequently
whipped into obedience, and forced into
chImneys which were sometimes hot
enough TO blister their little hands and
feet. Thus it was that this peculiar funeral
resulted in an agitation which finally
liberated at least a thousand boys from
tyranny and slavery.
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IA.