The herald., 1896-08-03

same day and the body returned to his
residence at the corner of Eighth an6
Hill streets where it laid until II O'Clock
! yesterday.
...su ct the mouse, and the coff1r
deposited on trestles in the vacant piece
or ground at the corner of Ferguson alley
ana Los Angeles streets, where the oh.
| siques took place. An awning about ter
feet square had been erected to shelter
the casket which was deposited under
IT, Alongside the coffin were laid strips
OF mating upon which the mourners
knelt. AT the back end of the awning
fastened to the upright posts were tLvee
large banners inscribed with Chinese
characters giving the name of the de-
ceased, date of his birth and death and
recltlng his titles Two of these banners
were OF white cloth with heavy blue
poruers, the third was of dove color with
the inscription in gold
The body lay with the head to the
SCUM ana at the foot of the coffin stood
Ire size bust portrait of Wong Chez
IN neaVy gold frame, encircled with a.
wreath of beautiful roses. The casket
costly affair of rosewood with E,ilver
nanuies, was draped on top with red
puntlng decorated with gold ornaments
and peacock feathers. The upper nor.
ION OF the lid was opened so that
through the glass could be seen the face
OF the corpse.
Across the south end of the awning
put outside was placed long and wide
.aole Whlch was loaded with all manner
or ed1bles. Directly in the center Law
young hog roasted whole and in front
OF TINS was Wong Chee's vacant chair.
WINE lying alongside his place at the
table were the unused chopsticks and
rice powis. AT the east end of the table
was another porker dressed ready for
roasting. Four cones of dough biscuits
thanked the board, one at each corner of
the table. Along the front were ranged
ten bowls of edibles of great variety.
separated on two trays To round out
the funeral feast there were boiled
ducks and chickens, fruit of various
KINDS; IN fact complete dinner to sat
lsiy the cravings of the most delicate
Chinese stomach. Scattered about the
table were tin boxes of earth into which
We're stuck a variety of punks and can
dies, great and small, which smoked and
sputtered, making a stencil vile enough
to drive away a thousand devils
On the ground on the opposite siGSSs
the table from the vacant chair was
spread piece of mating upon which
teapot and number of little bowls
were placed. To this strip of mating
one by one came various of the de-
ceased's friends and cousins, members
of the Wing family and. bowling three
times with hands clasped and uplifted
knelt and knocked their heads to the
ground muttering meanwhile something
under their breath. At either end of the
strip OF mating stood two musicians, |
one with Chinese flute or clarionet, the |
other with pair of huge cymbals, from |
which was extracted presumably mourn |
full music. The cymbals were so large |
that the wielder of them was obliged to |
stop and rest every once in while, but |
MS place was taken by another man who
Kept the thing going.
A black robed priest, across the back
IF whose gown was square of white
10th covered with Chinese charasters,
the services and chanted |
'or some time to the accompaniment of |
he flute and cymbals. AS fast as the
)unks and candles burned out they were |
'eplaced by fresh ones SO that the in
enSe never ceased to arise. The mourn
ars were Chee's two wives and two
)rothers, who were clad all in white with
lair disheveled and faces hidden. Ever
ince the body was taken from the I'M
ertakers Thursday night the four
nourners have not left the casket, Meth
+ eating nor sleeping, but keeping up a
onstant moaning. rising at times into
i, shrek, then sinking again to a pitiful
all of despair. The mourners were
onveyed from the house to the scene
\ carriages and Immediately led to the
ide of the casket where they knelt on
ne ground with faces bowed in the
ust. each clasping in one hand a broken
wing symbolical of the life SUDDENLY cut
IF.
The scene was unique. Above the