The times., 1898-09-25
TROLLEY CAR FUNERALS.
An Electric Train Built Especially
for That Purpose.
(From the New York Herald


During the last few months the stroller
along Broadway. between the Herald Of
flee and Fifty-ninth Street might any day
have seen a curious conveyance, a combi-
alton of carriage and hearse- Many who
have seen 1t shuddered at its apparent ir-
reverence. They have become so accus-
toned to the sedate, solemn. slow moving
funeral procession, with black hearse and
somber hued carriages. that they cannot
look upon the innovation as other than
sacrilegious.
The new conveyance was in two styles.
One was divided off something like an
English railroad carriage. In one COM
partment at the back were seats for
mourners, and in the other were carried
the coffin and floral offerings. The other
style consisted OF a long. omnibus-like
conveyance for the family, with an in
closure on the top for the coffin.
1t has remained for the Borough OF
Brooklyn to set an example to the Bor-
ough of Manhattan as to how to have a
funeral which shall be up to date in all
Its appointments
A Philadelphia is said to be responsible
for the introduction of trolley funerals in
10 Brooklyn A specially constructed car
is to be used, and as nearly every Brook
Ignite lives on or near a trolley line
little inconvenience will be experienced in
reaching the car.
Philadelphia plan is to have notice of
the funeral printed in a newspaper. with
an obituary verse, and to respectfully
invite the relatives and friends TO attend
the services. It has been customary for
many years to employ a couple of ex-
perienced funeral detectives to keep away
regular mourners," who attend all fu-
nerals simply for the ride to the ceme-
terry and the bite and sup that follow
This custom is peculiar TO Philadelphia.
and there are at least dozen old women
| who live in the neighborhood of Cramps
| shipyard who have a record of attending
| between 1000 and $500 funerals each in
| the last forty years The trolley car fu-
nerals. to a large extent. have broken up
| this practice.
1 Trolley funeral cars are so constructed
| that the coffin is run on set of rails by
| the pallbearers, who carry it from the
| house to the tracks. Seats are arranged so
| that the mourners surround the coffin.
\ The Philadelphia car is painted black,
| from wheel to trolley pole, and the mo-
| torman is in mourning and wears the
/ proper face of sadness
| 1t is intended that the Brooklyn ar
| rangement shall be great improvement.
| The funeral car there is to be draped in
/ black crepe, with black rosettes on the
l huDS Oh the WHpelS, anu a covering
| on the brake handle and the motor
| clutch. The introdueer of this scheme
| will try TO have the railroad company
| furnish a train of cars decked out in the
| trappings of woe to follow the car con-
| tanning the body.
Only double rate of fare is to be
| charged, so that for 10 cents it will be
| possible to pay proper respect to the
| memory of the dead, instead of meeting
| the expenditure of from So to s. for q
| carriage.
Undertakers and liverymen of Brooklyn
| are up in arms against the proposed inno-
| vation. A prominent undertaken said:
"If the trolley cars go into the business
of carrying corPses to the cemeteries III
| get out Of the business or else buy stock
in a cremation society. The thing has
| knocked the undertaking business In the
West and in Philadelphia It Is shame
that railroad companies should go into
such business. Why. IL they introduce II
into Brooklyn a thousand-dollar hearse
will not bring two hundred. Wen have
to turn them into ice wagons"