Durango semi-weekly herald., 1904-07-21
MARTIN WiELANO AND CLAIR
ENCE COLLINS LAID TO REST

10 pay tribute to the dead Tn,
church was lavishly decorated witt
iiowers. and the music was furnished
by Prof. York's quartet. The funera
sermon was delivered by Rev. Fergu
son large concourse of people fol
lowed the remains to their last rest
ing place in Greenmount cemetery
fhe Elks were out in full force. Fol
lowing is the sermon by Rev. Fergu
son:
Beloved. we are here this afternoon
u5ler sad conditions. God has been
in our midst. and has taken away two
oil our townsfolk. Clarence Collins
ana q. Martin Wieland lie before us
in death, and we are come to perform
the last sad rites of the living over
their remains.
Besides. the circumstances in the
case are exceptional in a certain way.
People seldom have to mourn the loss
OF two friends in Il day Oftentimes
there is double wedding: oftentimes
there is a double birth: but a double
funeral Is oGt of the ordinary. Doubt.
less the most of those present are
observing one for the first time.
God seems to have broken his law and
whether or not this is true. he would
nave men be still and know that he
is God. Almightiness Is here written
over against helplessness In language
so clear that he who runs may read.
The Incidents leading up to the oc
oasion were as follows:
Thursday morning several of the
boys were swimming in the river
above the town. Clarence got sepa.
rated from the others and undertook
to cross the stream in an untried
place, and got into water beyond his
depth. Some of them ran to his as.
sistance, but none were able to rem.
der the needed aid His strength was
greater than theirs in the moment OF
desperation. and, finding him beyond
them. an alarm was given.
Martin Wieland was fishing near by
at the time. His ears heard the call
ana all haste was made to get to the
scene of trouble. His clothing was
cast OF as he ran and strewn here and
there along the bank of the river, but
his effort was destined to fail. and
make the Incident which was already
bad enough double tragedy. The
suppostion is that, being warm from
his eNertion, he was taken with the
cramps the moment he threw himself
into the fater and, instead of being
able TO save the boy, the lost and
would-be savior met a common death
in the treaeherous waters of the Las
Anmas.
Clarence was the 9-year-old son of
Nj and Mrs. Adurp Collins. His birth
place was Arizona, being born to his
parents there Nov. 10th, 1894; here is
where he went ont of this world, as
has been said, being drowned July
IA, 1904; and, tho the shortness of
his life and the circumstances of his
death may be sore grief, there is
much consolation in the thought that
every child is born and dies unto God.
God is his father. Jesus has said:
Suffer the little children to come
unto me, and forbid them not, for of
such is the kingdom of heaven" and
his reason for the eXhortation is given
in these words: Il say unto you, that
in heaven their angels do always be-
mold HE face of my Father, which is
in heaven"
Martin Wieand was foreign born.
His native state was Saxony, Ger
many. Nothing is known of his fam
lily here, beyond the fact that four
years ago he had a sister still living
in the old country whose address has
been lost. But all of the old settlers
knew him and knew well of him. He
came to this country as young man.
and the spirit Of the pioneer being
strong in him, he pushed out in 1882
as far west as Durango. Here and in
the surrounding country he engaged
in diffeo kinds of business, and
those who have known him longest
and best have testified that he was
worthy of the utmost confidence of
his Ax1iiowmen in business affairs down
to his dying day.
In 1899 he identified himself with
the Elks. Afterwards he held an of
nee lHu'H IN tue llHlt III liIS lONSt,
aud Is said to have been In evidence
always as faithful, warm-hearted
and liberal man. His friends have
gpolSen of him as follows: He was
100 busy helping others to succeed
himsefi' and his last act seems to
have born ont their statement. His
life was lost in trying to save anoth-
er's and the good book says: Greater
love hath no man than this that man
lay down his HE for his friends"
The statement has been made that
this Is a sad occasion. That is true,
too, but there Is note Of cheer even
In the midst Of the sorrow. Martin
Weland did good, and, tho there Is
now no blood relation to minister to
him. ranks of friends rise up to do
him honor; and the case is al Illus
iration OF universal truth. life
given to the service of the world al
ways returns upon the head of the
servant in due season with blessings,
Tho spent Ia II humble sphere, and a
good life is the best preparation for
death.
Honor and shame from no condition