The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-04-20
WITH MUCH RESPECT
Thousands Of Friends Attend the
Funeral Of Captain Shepherd.
REV. J. R. RUsSELL's WORDS
The Ceremonies We're Conducted
Under the Auspices Of the Peo-
pie of Butte-An Imposing pee
tacle--A Monument for Him.

houn Shepherd was held yesterday af-
ternoon under the auspices of Butte.
There was no organization which the
captain belonged to under whose aus
pices the funeral might be held. There
was no church of which the captain
was a member that could take charge
of the funeral. The captain was a
member of no church and of no organ
ization. He belonged to Butte and 1t
was therefore fitting that Butte should
take charge of the services. 1t was a
funeral of the people.
IL would have been the happiest day
of the captains life If he could have
seen his own funeral yesterday. He
would have been proud of II. IT was
such a funeral as the captain himself
would have got UP, IL he could have
had the arrangement and direction of
1t. 1t only lacked one thing perhaps.
and that was a band to give a more
martial air TO the procession as 1t
moved through the streets. Captain
Shepherd for years and years got up
Fourth of July parades by which the
bands were enabled to get double pay
for an hour or two of marching. Yet
there was not a single band in Butte
which volunteered its services to es-
cort the old captain to his last resting
place.
was taken to the Auditorium at 8
o'clock yesterday morning, where II
lay in state. The remains of the old
warrior dressed in his Mexican uni
form, were wrapped in a silken flag,
the tribute of the d. ]. Hennessy Mer-
camille company. On the caslVet were
many floral emblems, the gifts of low
mense wreaths, two floral stars and
sheaf. Among those who sent floral
tributes were Mrs. f. Gidel, Mrs. H.
Park, Mr.. and Mrs. Sol Levy, Mr.. and
Mrs. Joe Klaffki, Mrs. Neidenhofen
and Mr.. and Mrs. Hugh Harris. The
captains sword and chapeau were be-
side the casket
1t is estimated that 1000 people view
ed the remains of the captain at the
Auditorium yesterday. There were
many visitors during the forenoon and
beginning at l O'Clock a steady stream
of his friends and admirers passed
down the aisle and by the casket for
a last look at Captain Shepherd. So
great was the crowd that the services
were delayed. The people kept COM
ing and as there seemed no likelihood
of a cessation the doors were finally
closed so that the services could be
held before the vast audience without
interruption. In the big crowd that
filed in token of respect past the bier
were A. p. AS and Catholics, foreign
born and native born citizens, men
from Ireland and Cornwall, from Cam
ada and Germany, black men and white
men, all moving side by side in ac-
acknowledgement of one who was a true
patriot, of one whose patriotism was
so exalted that IL rose above all petty
questions of creed and birth.
1t cannot be said that many tears
were shed over the captains bier. 1t
was not a funeral; IL was an ovation
Never was there funeral in Butte so
largely attended. When Rev. ]. r.
Russell succeeded in obtaining quiet,
there was not room in the big Audi
torium for another person. Mr.. Rus
sell read from the scriptures and then
the Butte Glee club, consisting of John
F. Firch, w. ]. Bossert, w. Turner,
William George, w. c. George and
James Kippen, sang II Cannot Always
Trace the Way" Mr.. Russell then de-
livered an eloquent eulogy on the cap
tain, which was listened to with close
attention. He said
In almost every community one
finds an individual who, by common
consent, has been appointed the oracle,
to whom all questions of wit or wag-
humor or greatness are re-
ferred; the subject and the object of
the practical jokes of the place, the
one whose time and energies are to be
given for the amusement and enter
tainment of any who may have an
idle moment on their hands. He be-
longs to the community because the
public wit is common property. Every
one claims him. He has few, IL any.
enemies for, while he must possess
some originality. he can not have much
force of character. The idle seek him
that they may pass away the time; the
busy man stops to pass a. few remarks
that the strain on his mind may be, for
the moment, relieved.
Such a man was Captain Shepherd
to Butte. He came here in 1879. BY
degrees, unconsciously to himself and
to the community, he be-
came the public favorite. To him were
referred, in a waggish way, all great
questions in American history; to him
as the one solving problems in
came the politicians of
this place. In good part did he receive
such questions, and with becoming
dignity did he give replies to them all.
He assumed the direction and care of
the flags, and no national holiday was
permitted by him to go by without a
reminder to the Americans in Butte
that they should remember the day and
teach their children what IT signified.
He had a generous. unselfish nature.
Those who contributed to his support
A11 " OC NoAC VI hOl W BANc iiiil InOIt
than he needed at the time, or they
would be, in round about way, con-
tributing to unworthy beggars. Had
he possessed the income of the Roth
schilds, IL would all have gone to the
poor. not in a methodical way. but in
1pen-hearted, unsparing, extravagant
profusion.
He was a familiar figure on the
street. We will all miss him. and for
many years Butte people who may now
De absent from the place, when they
-eturn. will remark his absence, as they
would some old and prominent land |
mark. One of the dials on our city |
lock would hardly be missed more !
han will the face of our old veteran I
when we again celebrate our national 1
A great part of the process l
ion viii be lacking, especially to the /
younger people. when the carriage car |
wing the old captain with his regi- |
nentals Of the fashion OF 50 years ago. |
ails to appear. Butte has been his |