The Portland daily press., 1897-12-18
The LAST RITES.
The Funeral OfEthe Dead Sailors Of
The ThurIOW.
REV. MIR. PEARSON SPEAKS I'M.
PRESSIYELY OF THE LES
SONS TAUGHT.

ALarge Attendance-Mayor Randall and
City Officials Present-A Large Crowd
Viewed the Sad Procession.
their lives in the wreck of the Susan P.
Ihurlow, Tuesday night, took place yes
terday morning from Rich's undertaking
rooms. The remains of the five unfor-
tunate men, were neatly shrouded and
coffined in handsome caskets. On each
casket wreath was placed. There was
d very large attendance. Among those
present were Mayor Randall anG several
members CT the City Council, DIR. Smith
commissioner of cemeteries and public
grounds, Capt. Weldon the owner of the
ilI-tated vessel, Mr.. Reimann the Esole
survivor of the wreck, City Clerk Dyer,
City Messenger Nacgowan, Capt.
Humphreys of the Portland Marine I'm
derwriters. Capt. Trundy and number
of his life saving crew from the Cape,
and quite a gathering OF Commercial
street shipping men. Outside the doors
an immense crowd gather,d attracted by
the unusual spectacle Of the five hearses
waiting for their mournful burdens.
Rev. Samuel T. Pearson, of the Gospel
Mission conducted the services and he
spoke with great fervor. After prayer by
the clergyman, Shaw mixed quartette
sang with much expression the beautiful
hymn Gathering Home" Then Mr..
ooo Z +1,o T., ;o1
at it's conclusion the quartette sang that
most appropriate selection m Pilgrim
and Stranger
Rev. MIR. Pearson then spoke at con-
! siderable length. He said that we were
assembled to pay the last tribute of re-
spect to the memory of departed broth ers
whose forms are now enshrined in icy
death. I have stood, said thu speaker,
amid the roar and carnage of battle, ]
| have gazed upon the cleaning bayonet OF
the opposing foe. but, to my mind this is
| one of the saddest and most solemn
moments of my existence. Only few
hours ago when our citizens, sheltered
from the fury of q terrible storm, were
seated around their cozy iresides just
without the sound of their voices, these
men, whom we mourn today were battling
with all their might against the elements.
| At this time when we gaze up
on these caskets, and look upon these
faces still in death, one thought impress
es the beholder and that jssthat while we
try to penetrate the, future that God has
| fi4. 10 ,o,i -
grave. THIS far, He says, can you go and
no farther. Not since the drowning OF
the Cleveland family in Diamond Cove
have we had SO terrible disaster as this
brought before us. Here are men in the
prime of life, in the twinkling of an eye,
preciate what the Saviour said when he
uttered those beautiful words I was a
| stranger and ye took me in.'' If the
Bible teaches anything 1t teaches the
power of sympathy, and that sympathy
is most touchingly displayed at these
services. It seems to me that the City Of
Portland in the form of her Chief Magis
trate, and these others associated with
him, have written in letters of fire that
the bonds of sympathy are strong as ss.wit.
messed in their works and in the assembly
gathered here today. I think that il
Jesus wept over the body of Lazarus
He surely could weep over this scene.
We are here to pronounce q simple
euiogy over these men. I am sorry I did
not meet them before they came to their
sad end. They have come here agains!
| the. fierce struggle of their manhood,
brought by power against which their
strength was as nothing. T believe that
our chief magistrate and the city govern
ment of Portland are, by their action in
regard to them, writing in golden letters
on the records of theSlife everlasting. It's
a sad spectacle on which we gaze today
and there is no way by which we can fifty
express our sorrow. There is no human
sympathizer here today, connected with
either Of the deceased. to pay the last
! tribute of respect to their memory. But
there is present, the captain and owner OF
the i'll fated vessel, who, sick and suffer.
1 ing, came here to see that their remains
were tenderly and properly cared for. Il
God had not the rpower to assuage OIL
griefDivinity wouldsneyer have said "Let
not your hearts be Etroubled, We believe
! in God, believe also in Me-" In al
the final struggles OF these men the all
seeing eye was uponsthem. The question
fer us to ask ourselves today is this; I
the final summons should come to any
one of us are we ready to meet it. We
should take the lesson this sad disaster
teaches us to ourselves
The speaker confined at come
length in (Which he referred tc
those to whom the shock of this sac
| bereavement would come with such force,
and followed with most earnest and
touching prayer.