The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-16
Remains of Captain Charles
French Laid to Rest.
LAST TRIBUTE IS PAID
In Spite of a Driving Blizzard Crowds
Lined the Sidewalks to View the
Procession Chaplain
Stulrs Address,

anu loved MIN IN lie, were laid to rest
with military honors the remains of
Captain Charles French, 56th United
Stares volun 5eers. The day was a
cold, chilling one and a pitiless wind
drifted the falling snow necessarily.
The floral tributes at McCartneys,
where the body mas lain in state for
the past two days, were exceedingly
beautiful. From Butte Lieutenant Col
onel Cook and Lieutenant Calkins sent
broken wheel; the Odd Fellows of the
city, of which order deceased was a
member, beautiful wreath with three
links entwined; the police department
of the city, knapsack OF flowers, with
the letters ~. 8. A." and underneath
Co Az in flowers; Mrs. Ben Lapeyer,
beautiful flower shield done in the
national colors. For Our Boy That
icent pillow of chrysanthemums; Mayor
Collins, 200 white roses, and Company
a, of which the dead soldier was a
comrade, floral tribute three feet
square with crossed guns done in flow
ers, surmounted by the figures "35th."
The rooms were decorated in Grape and
the national colors.
At 1870 p. m. the artillery caisson,
drawn by four horses and ridden by
two members Of Company A, swung in
to the curb and the 80 members of the
dead captains company, commanded
by Captain Preston of Company 1,
stood at attention. present arms"
and the dead soldiers coffin, draped in
the stars and stripes, was carried
through lane of uncovered friends to
the waiting caisson by Price, Hawkins,
Tolbert, Herbert Boardman and Klaur,
detailed as pallbearers from Company
A. Forward march, and the sad cor
tege moved slowly up Central avenue,
in the teeth Of binding snow storm
on its way to the cemetery, three miles
from town. All of the business houses
of the city were closed and despite the
inclemency of the weather the streets
were lined the full length Of the six
blocks OF the procession. AS they
watched the sad procession, many who
knew the dead man well spoke of the
other procession a year ago last May.
when, in the bright sunlight and amid
the huzzas of thousands, the dead Of
ticer marched jauntiiy down Central
avenue at the head of Company A and
bid laughing adieu to ms friends for
the last time. For the condition of the
weather the procession was a phenom-
email one. Led by Marshal Stafford and
aides came the Black Eagle band and
g. portion of the Great Northern; fol-
lowing came the ex-members Of COM
pany A, commanded by Captain Pres
ton and Lieutenant Boardman, and
detachment of veterans of both sides,
and Chaplain G. G. Stull of the Mon
tana volunteers, preceding the draped
caisson with the remains. Following
the carriage carrying the dead mans
sorrowing brother and father came
Major F. J. Adams, Adjutant General
James T. Stanford, Captain A. J. Jen-
sen and Major John NJ. Miller. Then
came the civilian portion, commanded
by Marshal c. H. Robinson, Rainbow
lodge, l. O. Q. F., city and county Off
Gals, the Carpenters union, of which the
dead soldier was member; Sons Of st.
George; Christoforo Colombo society:
A. Q. H, and other civic societies and
a long line of citizens in carriages. Ow-
ing to the weather the services at the
cemetery We're necessarily very brief.
Chaplain Stull, lately a comrade of
Captain French. paid him the follow
ing tribute:
THE highest eulogium passed upon
human greatness and upon the grand
est character the world ever knew was
that He went about doing good This
was said of the son of a carpenter. H 8
mission was to the slave. The world
has grown In greatness because of the
luster shed by that one 10 centuries ago.
His life has made possible the beauti-
full spectacle of a nation such as ours,
and the beauty of his teaching sent out
into the world men willing to give life
years ago human sympathy and love
prompted the formation of large bodies
of men who were anxious to give succor
and aid to a distressed people. Fore
most among these was he whom we
this day consign to his last resting
place in this city of the dead. You re-
him as with a last fond fare
well, to one whom he never expected to
meet again on earth, he went out from
his home and friends. There was no
forecast Of greatness. no thought of
no desire to do other
than his duty. This was faithfully
done, and to-day he comes back to US
noble men, shrouded in death. Mem
Dry pictures to me the miseries of a
terrible struggle, not alone with a saw
age people, but the depressing influence
of climatic conditions. l see men strug-
gle along through swamp and marsh
under tropical sun; l see the lonely
roads and highways; I hear the groans
tered in the performance of a self-im-
posed task; l remember the fainting
and exhausted heroes as they labor
iously pushed forward against an I'M
seen foe, but at no time In all these |
many weeks Of intense suffering do I
aught but the splendid cour-
age and endurance of the one whose
thought Of his own need, his constant |
endeavor was only to ameliorate the |
and to cheer the depressed. |
Never Sinking his duty, he. went where |
dangers were greatest and set the eX-
ample that prompted his men to forget |
the present discomfort and follow to |
certain victory. In it's performance his |
splendid personality was swallowed up |
and in the closing days of our army's |
triumph his strong life went out.
For his country and his fellowmen |
Charles French gave his life Who |
shall say in vain? He had but crossed |
lies meridian when his earthly man |
hood ceased. Full of visor, seemingly |
with life's work opening UP before |
him, with greater promise than ever be-
fore, eager to take up the work of nu-
he was cut down in its per-
'ormance. Many to-day hold pleasant |
of past benefit coming from
the hand of one who was and is not.
Many tear has rolled down the cheek |
rs memory has brought from its re-
ness some act of kindness that has