The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1903-07-17
A MIDNIGHT BURIAL.
TRUE STORY or THE FIRST MASONIC
FUNERAL IN ARIZONA.

Owing to a Sequence of Peculiar In
cidents the Ceremony Was Delayed
and Was Not Completed Until the
Sun Peeped over the Hills.
The following true narrative of the
first Masonic burial In Arizona, as re-
lated to me by my old friend, Colonel
W. NJ. Williams of Cairo, Ills, will
doubtless interest your readers. give
1t, as nearly as possible, in his own
words:
In 1860 | was In Arizona as super
intendent of the St Louis Mining COM
pany, located on the San Pedro river,
short distance west of what Is now
known as Tombstone and 40 miles east
Of Fort Buchanan.
On one occasion l made visit to the
Santa Rita mines, located in another
part of the territory. These were man.
aged by Cincinnati parties and were
known as the Helntzleman mines.
When arrived there and introduced
myself, as none of us had ever met be-
fore. was greeted with that cordial
have lived on the frontier or in mining
camps by Mr.. H. c. Grosvenor of Gin
cinnati. the superintendent. with two
others who occupied positions at the
mines.
One of these. Mr.. j. 7. Mason, |
found seriously indisposed; the other
sent to Fort Buchanan to bring DR.. ].
ID n Vru-iD c,,rD.on Of rho rNoct
then devoted my time to the sick man.
who was growing more feeble each
hour. He told me If he died he wanted
to be buried with Masonic honors.
had tried" him and found him to
be bright third degree Mason.
promised to do all could to carry out
his request. He died before morning.
and the messenger sent for the doctor
had not returned. and 1t was uncertain
as to when. IL ever. he might return.
As in those days there were not over
IS Americans In the territory outside
of the troops, the taking of life by the
Indians was daily expected In this
emergency 1t devolved upon me to ar
range for the burial Of our friend.
sent peon messengers to Tubac and
other places where Americans were
known to be to come to my aid.
During the day selected beautiful
spot overshadowed by large mesquite
tree and there had very deep grave
dug. as in that country the coyote Is
kird of hyena. that will unearth any
corpse If not Laid deep in the ground.
This work was done by poems, while
stood guard to keep the Indians from
surprising u.s.
BY midnight the messengers | had
sent out commenced returning with
the few who could come with them.
found among those who arrived two
or three Masons. who like myself.
were rusty In the Masonic burial
ritual. We opened the trunk Of the
deceased. hoping to find something TO
guide us In fulfilling his last request.
The only thing we discovered was an
Episcopal ritual. The following per-
sons composed the funeral coTtege: DR.
G. B. Hughes, J. Howard Wells, VIII
liam s. Curry. Fl. G. Grosvenor. Colo
mel Titus. 8. Warner and myself.
We had determined to bury the body
at night. in the darkness, having no
light except a candle in one Of the old
time perforated tin lanterns by which
| could read the service.
After lowering the body into the
grave l commenced to read the serv
ice. stood close to the head of the
grave. and Mr. Howard Wells held the
lantern behind me. rustling sound
was heard 1t was supposed to come
from lurking Indians, and every one
looked out for himself. The man hold
ing the lantern dropped it into the
grave. and | fell in after it.
There | was with the corpse in a
deep grave. | had my pistols and
Sharp's carbine with me, and | real
lied that II the Indians peered into the
grave l could fill it with dead bodies
listened. Not a sound was heard. My
companions had. suppose, secreted
themselves and no doubt thought
had done the same
After the lapse of about four hours
day began to dawn, and as | stood
upon the corpse tho cotfins were in use
in Arizona at the time of this occur
renee. the dead being simply wrapped
III their Blankets and cautiously look
ed over the brink of the grave to take
In the surroundings.
I soon saw my comrades, one by one
emerging from behind rocks. where
they had hastily secrpted themselves,
40 one knowing where the others were.
| called aloud for help and was soon
assisted from the prison in which
had been confined for fully four hours.
and as this Is the first Masonic funeral
that was ever held in Arizona think
il deserves record.
After comparing notes we discovered
that the mesquite tree under which we
were holding our solemn service was
the roostlng place of colony of crows.
our intrusion having disturbed them
and thereby causing US TO stampede.
AS the sun rose above the mountain
tops we returned to the grave and
completed the reading of the ritual
and covered our friend with the clods
of the valley and left him sleeping
where he will rest until the resu'rec-
ton morn Evelyn B. Baldwin In New
York Masonic Standard.