Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-03-17

New York, March 16.-The body of
Patrick Mccarthy. late of the aims
house, was put under the sod on Harris
Island to-day, but it does not Ill a
pauper's grave. It rests in a soldiers
grave and it received a soldiers burial.
He was veteran of the late war.
Other ex-soldiers have died in the aims
house, but never before was there such
a funeral on BlackwelFs Island. Those
who died before Mccarthy were placed
in rough pine boxes, carted down 10 the
landing, carried on board the steamer
by men in striped clothing from the
penitentiary, and dropped into the
trenches on Harris Island that accom-
modate fifty bodies each, with no more
pOmp or ceremony than would be exer-
cised over the remains Of an animal.
An undertaken. with his breast
adorned by a Grand Army badge, went
over from New York with a rosewood
coffin for Mccarthy. The body was
clad in a soldiers uniform. The coffin
was covered with the national flag.
Around il there were lighted candles
and the altar was ablaze. a priest
OF McCarthy's religion conducted ser
vices for the dead Ia the almshouse
chapel, and a choir of six voices furn-
ished solemn music
VETERANS At THE FUNERAL.
The front pews Of the chapel were oc-
cupied by the twenty-e'ght eX-Soldiers
VINO remain in the almshOuse. GriZzled
old veterans all OF them. one with a
single eye another with only one leg.
still another who lost both arms at
Antietam, then man with only half
a nose, here one with eyes half blinded
1y the smoke OF Balls Bluff. Behind
and around them were seated the other
inmates Of the almshOuSe. the women
on one side and the men on the other.
In the gallery there was a crowd gath
cred around the choir and organ.
blind Sal" the soprano, was never
i'm better voice. That was remarked
by the Oldest inmate, as she sent forth
the grand notes OF Peace 10 His
Ashes" The almshouse folks do not
weep often. they are too hardened 10
misery for that, but their tears flowed
TO-DAY under the influence OF the music
and the unW0nted surroundings.
The priest Rev. Father Blumensatt,
came from behind a screen, clad in the
robes of the Church. He sprinkled
holy water on the flag over the coffin
and his assistant swung the censor.
He chsnted the services for the dead
in Latin and the cong. egation made
the repOnSes. Then the priest ex,Olicd
the man whose corpse was before him.
He was a soldier of the Union" said
the priest. "buJ he would have gone 10
an unhOnOTed and an unmarked grave
had not God put IL in the heart OF one
man 70 prevent Il. AS r. IS future gen
erations will be able 10 point out the
spot where the hero Mccarthy lies. so
will il be with all of Won eX-soldiers
hereafter. for General O'Beirne has
promised to see that all Of you receive
proper burial
VIEW THEIR OLD COMRADE.
The lame, the halt and The decrepit
filed past the coffin and looked for the
last time on their dead companions
features. Then six stalwart eX-
soldiers. in blue uniforms, shouldered
the coffin and carried it down stairs.
where Gen. O'Beirne delivered a brief
speech lie spoke OF the honors the
veterans had won in war. and caution
ed them 10 uphold the dignity OF their
uniforms and the respect they had COM
manded for the flag
The General deplored the fact that
there were any old soldiers in the aims
house. when there were soldiers homes,
provided by the people in which they
might spend their last days. The Gen
eral knew that some Of them had been
expelled from the homes, but he prom
ised TO investigate those cases and
furnish a remedy il such action was
proper.
The faces Of the listening veterans
frightened at the Generals words. and
they applauded the conclusion of his
speech.
McCarthy's coffin was then carried
on the shoulders Of his comrades to the
steamer that took it to Hart's Island.
There a volley was fired over his grave
and the services were at an end.