The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-03-23
PIONEERS At HER BIER.
IMPRESSIVE RITES At rvNERAI. or
MISS EuGExlE MvoNAHA.


Almost forty seven years ago there was
horn in a little cottage at Front ami Main
streets in the tiny settlement OF Seattle u
girl baby. tea the wife % George " McCon-
aha The s.rI was the daughter % one OF
"a group ~ hardy spirits who laid the
foundations OF tho great city Of Seattle IN
the early sfs. She was called Eugene Nc
oonsha- Yesterday afternoon some OF those
who were here when she Was born gathered
with many others who came afterward in
the First Presbyterian church To honor the
memory of the first white child born in
Seattle. for all thar was martal OF her
whose life had been co~exissent with that
Of the city wherein she was reared lay
in u coffin near the altar covered with
flowers.
1t Is not often that so many pioneers OF
Seattle and the state Of Washington ara
gathered together assembled at
Eugene McConaha's funeral Theodore
Williams. who was for many years sheriff
OF Kitsap county, and who during his
term of office executed the sentence OF tho
law on an Indian murderer: Daniel Has,
ley, Charles Prosch. Judge j. j. Mclsilwra,
who was appointed by Lincoln attorney
general for the then territory of Washing
tom Mrs. Mary pontius. Mrs. Arthur A.
Denny. and many others who brought
their iares and penates to the wilderness
Of Puget sound almost half q century ago.
were in the throng of mcurners al the bier
of Eugene Mcconaha.
In the pulpit was Rev. George f. Whit
worth. himself a pioneer resident of the
state. and qualified To speak from long
years OF intimate association TO tho few
remaining members OF that hand Of cour-
ageous men and women who built their
homes on the shores OF Commencement
bay. when the forest about them was un-
| tracked by man.
WhiteneA by Accumulation 81 Years.
Thus II was that a peculiar interest CEN
tered about tho funeral Of Miss MeConaha
and so tndelihly impressed the minds OF
those who heard the final rites that they
| will not soon forget The unusual occasion.
| The seats on the main floor OF the church
were occupied by men and women, many
OF them with hair whitened by the accu-
| mutation of years. others with gray just
| tinging their temples. The older ones had
known the deceased since her childhood.
and some even had sat by her cradle
The services were simple. but most i'm
| pressive. The preacher spoke first to the
i hearts of those who suffered. lie told tha
old. but ever new and always beautiful.
story OF the lowly Nazarere. OF the Sa-
| yior who denied Himself the commonest
| pleasures of life that men might see tho
/ better way" lie spoke OF the temporal
nature of all earthly things and Of the
| eternity OF the Christians reward. For
| IL was In order to give to man the price,
| less heritage Of eternal life that Christ
| lived. and suffered and died." said the
| aged minister ''and that He denied 20
| Himself even that which the birds OF the
| air possess a home. And II Is To Him and
/ His minisirations 10 man that l would di-
rect your thoughts In this hour or sorrow
4 and affection
-l<
| referred to the life and character Of the
| deceased. Il need say but little OF her to
| yon,' he said. for You have known her
| since her birth. You understand In re-
| gard 10 II that she has been identified with
| this community since its foundation, and
before II had grown from hamlet Of -four
or five families 10 the present magnificent
city. She has been watched over by those
who have been so many years acquainted
with her. She was for many years a sur
ferer. you know. But ] have talked
with her number OF times. and know
that she thought very much Of another
world and that she knew the necessity OF
preparation for it,
\ Parting GLANCE.
Concluding, the speaker exhoried HIS
auditors 10 take note OF the brevity
Of human life and To prepare for
s.thc life everlasting" Thus ne said
and mourning TO many. might be
turned into one of flesseinsss to those
who had gathered a. the bier To do honor
TO the memory OF her who had passed
away.
As the minister finished Mrs. Jennie
Houghton Edmunds sang Rock Of Ages -
The mellow. liquid notes OF the familiar
melody filled the church and touched tho
hearts OF all. There were few dry eyes
among IN. pioneers AS the I'D of the casket
Wax lifted and ~ parting glance was taken
at the face az the dead
LARGE coneourre followed the remains
to tbs cemetery. where n short service was
held. The pail bearers were all old resi-
dents of Seattle. They were. Judge Cor
nsius II. Hanford -. q. Deany James H.
HooIery. Frank Hanford Clarence Bag
les and Harry Whisworth
In the throng that filed out OF the church
after the services were noticed the fol.
lowing pioneers and Old residents OF Scat
tie: Mrs. Mary ronsius, Mrs Abigail Ham,
ford Theodore Williams Charles prn@rh
Edgar Bryan. Or, kellogg, w II. Gillian.
Griffith Davies. ~. j. carkeek. Daniel
Ragiey ID. Ii. ward Thomas proscb John
r Condor. 4 l.. Crawford J. u. smith.
Mrs 3. A. Libby. Robert Abrams T.. q
Rowe. Va r. MeSait. III. H. Maysaersbauey.
Mr. and Mrs 1Tili Mcdonald. Mrs A A
Denny George 4. FRYE o. o. benny. Judge
John j. NcsHlyra. Theodore Hailer. r. D.
iifnekiey. Dexter Horton. Judge Et,en
Smith J. FraasnihaI T.. 70. Andrews. J. r.
EenworthY, n FFauenshaI william Ken
H@y. Mrs. Russell, A, W. Piper Mrs sadie
Wilson, Mr. and Mrs J. NJ Lyon Mrs
Ellen MrElroy. Mrs. Robert Russell Mrs
Ferguson, Mtss Bean, Mrs. Tfaorndyks ana
etbsFs.
Mrs. Wyekof-. the mother ~ Mlss Me-
ssenaha VINO has lived ia seatsi. since
~, was supported ~ her SOFAS, John Van
Xyek9w ard George Aecsnaha A ttess-
Cation Of members 81 tho seastia IRE lie.
partsnsnt attended the funeral la fun uni
form john Van WYesor icing one 81 the
brat krawn Ssrssen In The department
III. inteTmsrt was at Lake View Gene
terry.
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