The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-04-16
SAW THE FUNERAL
LEE CHUNG OF WICHITA ATTENDS
THE OBSEQUIEs OF BOW ZEE.

1dh UDSEQUl1o VI DUN ] bb.
Deceased was President of the Yung VIC
Association at San Francisco, and the
and Contribute ed to the Expense-They
Paid White Women to Shed Tears for
Them-The Leader of the Procession
had a Paper God-wichita Cinnamon
Were Assessed Ten Dollars Each.
Lee Chung, the we'll known authority
on Chinese customs and practices was in
the city, having just returned from San
Francisco, where he had attended the
great funeral of Bow zee, late president
Of Yung Wo association, which were
conducted with all the barbaric pomp
known to the Chinese. The body was
conveyed to the city cemetery, attended
by a large procession. After the cere-
monies at the cemetery the deceased
was taken back to Chinatown from
whence the body was shipped TO China.
In speaking of the obsequies he said:
"All See-Yup-dom participated in the
obsequies. Never before has there been
Even the gorgeous procession that ac-
companied the remains of the highly
respected Ii Pc Tai to the grave was
outdone.
BOW zee was president of the great
Yung Wo company He was also a
nobleman, had been honored by the en-
peror with the title of Tine Wise One. -
He was the equal in rank of the resident
consul general, who was one of the
mourners at the funeral. The deceased
was sent here from China only year
ago to act as president of the Yung
Wos, being chosen because Of his learn
ing and executive ability.
He died Wednesday morning. He
had no relatives in San Francisco, so the
head men of his society took charge of
the body. They dressed it in sacred
robes of heavy brocade embroidered
with fold. These were put on with
ceremonies never beheld by mocking
Caucasian eyes. The operation requir-
ed two days.
Then the white undertakers took
charge. The body was afterwards re-
moved TO the meeting-room of the Yung
Wo association on the top floor of 80
Sacramento street This was draped
with white, and all Saturday night and
until the body was removed, hired wom-
en-, dressed in white, walled in relays,
while priests chanted prayers and an
Internal clamor of unharmonious instru-
ments filled the air.
The mourning all stopped abruptly
at 1 o'clock yesterday afternoon, when
the costly coffin lugged uncermoniously
down stairs. The crying women chat
tered among themselves of things femin-
inc. The men seemed interested only in
a passive way, though all were very
proud of the sable hearse with its six
milk-white horses, in gorgeous black
velvet trappings.
The funeral procession was led by a
man on horseback who bore paper god
strapped to his shoulders. This was the
god of the Bow Yee's family. The inter-
esting deity preceded the hearse in order
to warn all devils TO get out Of the way.
Then came body of the retainers of the
society, dressed in funeral garments.
"A Caucasian band followed, playing
dead marches, to the intense edification
of the fearless mourners. Then came
the hearse followed by members of the
society with blue gowns over their
clothes. The hired criers, who had re-
sumed their shrieks. came next.
Following these was a hack contain
ing a life-sized crayon portrait of the
deceased. 1t was framed with Easter
lilies and white roses. Over the frame
lowered q white stuffed pigeon. At
either side walked servants with great
Oriental banners to shade the picture.
1.-TWO Chinese bands, the guests of
honor, members Of the society in car
riages, and the funeral meats made the
nrnOnSSfnn O haIf Toila lnnO Nuanf
from the rooms of the society to Kearny
street, to Pacific, to Stockton, TO Jack
son, to Dupont. to Post, and then out
Post 10 the city cemetery. At Powell
street the brass band stopped and play
ed Flee as a Bird" while the process
sion passed.
AT the cemetery the coffin was placed
in a prominent position. Food of all
sorts. including whole baked pig, was
put before il. Then those members of
the society clad in blue robes went in
groups 10 the coffin, where they bowed
three times, and then Frustrated them
selves thrice. Meanwhile, a Chinese in
the background fired cannon crackers
in blocks of three. All this time a priest
prayers TO a cymbal accompan-
ment while the white-rObed hired
mourners groveled with their foreheads
IN the dust.
Triple libations Of gin were spilled
before the coffin. thousands of scraps Of
paper on which prayers were printed
we're burned, and last OF all the entire
OF of gorgeous banners and umbrellas
was heaped on the fire together with
the funeral meats. sweet meats and
small coins We're distributed among the
spectators. and then the coffin was re-
placed in the hearse and carried back 10 |
Gray & Co.'S undertaking parlors TO |
await the sailing OF the next China |
teamer"