The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-05-20
DURING THE FUNERAL PROCESS
SION AND BURIAL OF THE
LATE RICHARD COKE.
awful REPORT OF A.1HUUDRBOL1.
ple-Several Were Shocked, and
All Thoroughly Drenched
by the Heavy Rain.

Waco, Tex, May 16.-(Special)-T
eobsequies of the late Richard Coke We're
not disturbed by bad weather at the
tabernacle, but were attended during the
procession and at the cemetery by an
electric, rain and hail storm which
greatly embarrassed the entire open air
demonstration, which had been arranged
on scale commensurate with the dignity
of the dead statesman, whose coffin was
carried to the hearse and to the grave by
a governor, three eX-governOrs, an eX-
United States senator and other pail
bearers selected from the noted men of
Texas, who responded to the call and lent
both heart and hand in rendering the
dead honor
After citizens meeting, held in the
tabernacle, at which appropriate resolu-
tons were adopted, during which the re-
mains lay in state in front of the altar,
the funeral services were announced and
prayer was offered by Rev. B. f. Car
roll, d. D.
The funeral sermon was preached by
Rev. Rufus G. Burleson, d. D., who
was the chaplain of the regiment in
which the deceased, when captain of in
fantry, served during the war. The doc
tors sermon was an hour long and was
heard with rapt attention by the i'm
people. The tabernacle was apprOpri-
ately decorated.
The pall-bearers who carried the coffin
from the catafalque to the hearse were:
Governor Culberson, Ex-Governor Hub
bard, Ex-Governor Ross, Ex-Governor
Hogg, ex-senator John H. Reagan,
Hons. r. III. Harrison, G. X. Bell, Joe
Abbott and Speaker Dashiell. Other
honorary pall-bearers, in white gloves,
and wearing badges of mourning,
marched in front of and in the rear of
the coffin.
When the procession reached the GENE
terry storm which was awful and terri
flying came up. The northern sky was
the color of copper while the cortege was
proceeding along Fifth street, en- route
to lakewood. Angry lightning darted
forth continuously, and the thunder came
in volleys like furious cannonading. The
wind fairly howled and rain fell in
sluices somewhat like cloudburst. This
scattered some who started from the
tabernacle and caused them to abandon
the procession and seek shelter.
There were many, however, who braved
the fury of the elements, and when Sen
ator Coke was laid away in the deep
underground vault thousands of people,
with heads bowed, heard the last hymns
and prayers, accompanied by the din of
the raging storm.
Just as the vault was being closed
and DIR. Burleson was pronouncing the
benediction, thunderbolt descended
perpendicularly from the sinister cloud
hanging low over the grave and seemed
to burst close to the heads of the as
.sembled multitude. The detonation was
3gafening and the glare of lightning was
{ finding. Several people felt the shock,
10 hnl CTR n
tree within thirty feet of the grave and
4 Gipped it from the top to the roots
f&The incident caused no panic. The
people were startled, but they stood their
ground to the last syllable of the ser
vices, until the grave was closed and
then they departed, making their way to
their respective places with the rain beat
ing down upon them, the hail pelting
them and the flood water flowing in the
streets, turning all the highways into
rivers.
Hon. NJ. NJ. Crane, the attorney gen
eral, said:
81 was sitting in carriage with Mr..
Brigance when the awful roar came. 1t
sent leaves and bark flying. The shock
was felt in the carriage, and the horses
appeared for an instant to be paralyzed."
A group of people close to the tree
were stunned, and one young man fell
PROSTATE, but quickly recovered his feet.
The lightning came like great ball of
fire. The pail bearers had just lowered
the coffin and the workmen were cover
ing the vault. Governor Culberson,
Hon. Joe Abbott and the others were
standing holding the cords and DR.. Bur-
Lesson was closing the services when the
crash sounded as if the earth had been
rent. One of the remarkable features
was the calmness of everybody. Those
at the grave stood like pillars, and their
self-possession impaired courage to the
others. A few people uttered ejacula-
tons of dismay. One or two started to
flee. Quiet was restored, however, and
what might have turned into a tragedy
had a stampede set in caused no damage,
the danger being averted by the GOODNESS
of the leading actors in the funeral and
burial of Senator Coke.
Lieutenant Governor Jester was stand
ing near the grave and felt the shock,
and near him stood eX-GOvernOrs Ross
and Hubbard. who had just let go the
straps they used to lower the coffin with.
Governor Hubbard was shocked and
Nnk to his knees, but was instantly re-
tpred to his feet without injury. Judge
hagan was standing in the line beside
grave and did not feel the shock, but
r As dazzled by the flash. Several ladies
carriages plunged and struggled, but
most of them were fully controlled. Two
teams got start and ran off, but the
stopped them before they got far.
deur of the storm added to the wonderful
oconr1ad SopotOr Gnla NJ