The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-03-23
STRICKEN CITY HOLDS
FUNERAL FOR ITS DEAD
Continued From Page One

The mayor also announced that another
body had been identified. that OF Mrs. LII
liam Hurd, The identification was by
her husband William V. Hurd. through
silver buckle. which was found clasped
TO a part of her skirt.
From the two city hospitals came the
report that the injured were improving.
and that II was believed that the most
seriously injured, Hira mPierce and WI
liam Lightfoot. were out OF danger
CENTRAL CEREMONY.
OF the three public funeral services ar
ranged that held I'm the auditorium Of the
City theatre was regarded as the formal
and central ceremony, with the meetings
in the Porter Congregational church and
ST PsuPs Episcopal churches. held In
order that the great body OF people de-
string to participate IN the services might
have an adequate opportunity TO take
part. The accommoGs tons however.
were far from sufficient. for many hun
dreds were unable 10 gain admission 10
any Of the three edinces
in the body OF the theatre auditorium
sat the nourners OF the dead. a large
company. all assembled IN common be-
reavement. The auditorium was draped
in black The stage was decorated with
long streamers Of black punting. On the
stage sat the mayor and members OF tho
city council. the clergy Of the city. repre-
sentatves OF the labor urrons and of other
organizations whose ranks were depleted
by the disaster and others for whom IL
was deemed special seating arrangements
should be provided
GOV DOUGLAS ATTENDS
Governor Douglas occupied a seat in
the front OF the auditorium and near
him sat others prominent throughout the
state.
Mayor Keith opened the services with
r few simple words of reference 20 the
city's great sffliction.
Then Rev Robert T.. Rae OF the Waldo
Congregational church read the goth
psalm and Rev Julian s. Wadsworth
representing the Methodist denomination
invoked blessing.
The Roman Catholic church was repre-
sented by Rev. William E. Keating OF ST.
Patrick's. who delivered the first formal
address. and the Unitarians by Rev. Rush
r. Shippen. u. d, the Oldest preacher I'm
the city. who also spoke
Appropriate music by a band and a
quartet was interspersed between the
speakers. simultaneously were held the
services at the two churches, the speakers
including Rev William II Morrison. OF
the Universalst church; Rev George
Boyce Titus Of the First Baptist. and
Rev. Frank Bingham White OF ST Paurs
Episcopal. At St Pauls a choir OF
mixed voices sang selections
PROCESSION FORMS.
Meanwhile the score or more OF organ
izattons which were 10 form the great
procession TO the cemetery were forming
In order in various parts OF the city. Al
the conclusion OF the city theatre services
the procession started
The parade was in four divisions. AZ the
head marching City Marshal William A.
Boyden and platoon OF police.
The first division was composed Of Com
pany I, Heavy artillery. Massachusetts
militia, James a. Fry camp. Legion n,
Spanish War Veterans; the joint shoe
council, Central Labor union and tho
members ofs the Finishers, Tasters ard
Elastic Webb Weavers' unions.
The second consisted OF the French
guards, the Union 81. Jean Baptiste. the
local division OF tho Catholic Order OF
Foresters and Seville council. Knights OF
Columbus.
The third was composed Of the Cam
pello Vets Firemen drum corns the odd
Fellows lodges. the lodge OF the Sons ~
81 George. the Ancient Order OF United
Workmen. the Csmpelo Veteran Fire
men sssocia tion and the Shoe City wheel
men.
The last division contained eight COM
panies OF the knights OF Pythias. four
from Rrockton and the rest from nearby
towns. and the committees from lodges
Of Odd Fellows
The employees OF tho r r. Grover corn.
pany factory, who escaped without injury
from the explosion. formed the last OF the
Ice ot march
THE NOC RNERs
The nournsrs followed In CARRIAGES and
the procession moved 10 the morgue. not
Ear from the City theatre
Tho hearses containing the bodies Of
the dead, toined the procession which
wei ded It's way slowly 10 Melrose ceme-
terry on Brockton Heights The streets
were filled with silent throngs Of people
who stood with hats uplifted while the
CortCge was passing
Bands and drum corps marching in line
rlayec dirges as the dead were borne
along
Arriving ~ the cemetery thA caskets
were removed. oas bv ore from the
hedrses. while n weeping multitude stood
by. and placed In the receiving vaults.
until their interInent I'm tho special lot
selected by the city for their 1nsl resting
place