The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-07-16
GOVERNOR AND HIS STAFF
PRESENT AT FUNERAL.
THE IETERMENT IN THE CITY CEMETERY
At the Grave a Salute of Three VoIleys Was
Fired and Taps Were Sounded as the
Coffin of the Dead Soldier Was
Covered With Earth.

of the dead soldier-GeOrge y. Banks,
The gathering which assembled at the
Tabernacle church to witness his funeral
was the largest seen in many year, ON
a similar occasion in Raleigh
The soIemnIty or the occasion was
felt by everyone and the deep quietude
bespoke the feelings of those who had
come to honor the soldier boy who met
death in such a tragic manner.
1t was a military funeral-not de-
tail was omitted, not an honor that his
comrades could pay young Banks, but
was laid upon his bier. And the wreaths
and banks of flowers upon his coffin, the
tender care and dewey eye, told in sim
pier, but truer language than even the
muf1ed drum and reversed arms, of
the dove these men bore for their dead
-comrade.
They laid him to rest in the old city
cemetery, with all the military cere-
mony and solemnity of "a soldiers
burial.
1t was $50 o'clock when the cortege
entered the crowded church. First came
the military escort, consisting of eight
men under the command of Corporal
Parker.
Following the escort came the casket
containing the dead soldier, borne by
Lieutenant w. r. Beavers, Sergeant u.
Smith. Sergeant G. b. Hocutt, Corporal,
John Mangum, Private ID. A. Anderson
and Private w. III. Doanes. Next came
the family and relatives, followed by
the Governors Guard in full dress uni
form under the command OF Capt. A.
J. Crawford. Then came Gov. Russell,
Private Secretary Alexander, Maj. II. M.
Hayes, and the Governors staff in uni
fern. Following these were a number
of intimate friends of the deceased.
After the singing of funeral hymn
and the reading of the ninetieth Psalm
by Rev. DIR. Simms, chaplain of the
Guard and pastor of the church, pray
ser was offered by Mr.. John IT, Pullen.
DR.. Simms then spoke of the great sor-
row that had come to the community in
the tragic death of the young soldier.
1T is not confined to a family" said
the preacher, lit is not confined to those
who have been associa ted with him. Ev-
cry family can feel it, every mother S
heart throbs in sympathy, every sister
can weep-even those of us who have
passed the heyday of life and are going
down on the other side know what this
means-how near it came to being blood
of our blood and flesh of our flesh. 1t is
something that takes hold of the whole
community without regard to age, sex
or color.
"As chaplain Of the Governors Guards
/ want to say few words relative to the
sad accident-for accident it was-that
has brought us here to-day on this sad
mission. These men were comrades, they
were all friends, brothers. They would
have stood by one another under any
circumstances.
"Some have heard that a number Of
loaded cartridges were taken from one
of the young men as he was leaving the
arm0ry. This is not true. The shells
taken from him were not loaded. They
Were the regulation blank cartridge.
Another story has been circulated to
! the effect that there was drinking in the
company that night. This also is I'm
true. There was, / am assured, nothing
but water, from canteens, drunk by
either officers or men,"
After this statement DIR. Simms made
few remarks suggested by the text:
Eye know not what shall be on the NOR
row."
81 thank God,' he said, "that it is So
that there is a curtain that shuts down
around our head and hides the cup that
we must drink tomorrow. oh, if could
have known Yes, but God in his mercy
has hidden it. All life would lose it's
joy if we knew. What man could be
happy if he knew that in the far end O
great sorrow was to come across his
path? He would go about all his life a
dead, joyless thing. What mother could
smile and pet her babe if she knew in
the coming years it would mock her love,
hetray her confidence, shame her name
and hasten her steps to the grave?
But the joys Of the future-they are
revealed to us through Gods word. Hope
springs eternal in the breast-aspirations
rise and lift and buoy us up. 1t is joy
that the world knows not Of and it makes
rs strong, feeds us-becOmeS to us food
and drink. Thank God that the joys
and hopes Of life are borne in upon us
to-day that by them we may be enabled
20 bear the sorrows and Affections Of
tomorrow"
This concluded the services at the
church, and the procession to the ceme-
terry was in the same order as that to
the church. At the grave the regular
military order was observed. After q
prayer by the chaplain three salutes
were fired, then the coffin was covered
with dirt, and the bugler, John Lums-
den, sounded taps, which means a SOL
6eTs goodbye.
According to military rules the Guard
then left the grave Immediately and pro-
seeded at once to the armory where they
were dismissed.
THE OFFICERS STATEMENT.
Pie Killing Of Private Banks Remains