The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-03-05
Tornado Victims Laid to Rest
Or Shipped Away
MANY PEOPLE At GRAVES
Col. S. T. Mccants Is Praised for
Prompt Work in Preventing Pill
laee-Neeroes and Convicts
Clearing Debris Away.

Meridian, Miss, March 4.-(Special)-
The first Sunday following the terrible
visitation of the late cyclone was an
ideally beautiful day and thousands OF
people crowded the thoroughfares viewing
the waste and desolation that marked the
path of the tornado. Every railroad en-
tering the city operated special trains,
and thousands of other strangers We're
added to the great throngs of morbid
sightseers. Many of the strangers. how
ever, volunteered financial assistance
while viewing the wreckage. and it was
not an uncommon sight to find them di-
jumping in to assist the gangs of debris
removers.
Day of Funerals.
The, day was one or funerals. the unfor-
tunates who met death being buried
throughout the morning and afternoon,
or their bodies were shipped TO other
points where loved ones awaited them.
Policeman j. p. Tarry was the first to
be consigned to earth, the funeral occur
ring late Sunday afternoon. VIII r. Nell
son, former chief of police. was laid to
rest in Rose Hill cemetery, an immense
crowd of former friends and associates
attesting to his worth as a citizen and
officer by following the remains to the
grava yard. The funeral was one of the
largest ever held in this city, and Dr..
Carpenter preached an eloquent sermon.
In one long procession two hearses COLI
tanned the remains of Mrs. Ella Single
.b,, lxfI In tba nf bar
home in the east end, which caught fire
Immediately thereafter. and those her
beautiful little granddaughter, Make
Slaughter, who died by her grandparent' $
side. Both find repose in Rose Hill, hum
dreds of citizens and strangers following
the remains to the city Of the dead
Another Double Funeral.
Another pitiful double funeral was that
of James Stewart whose battered re-
mains were dug from the ruins of his
residence near the Singleton home. and
his 16-year-old son, Clarence. Their bodies
were carried to the family burying
grounds In Oak Grove cemetery, two miles
east of the city, hundreds of people from
the city and county attending the burial
The remains of Patrick McGinns. the
Mobile and Ohio conductor. were shipped
to his former home during the night for
interment. The body of Ralph Edwards
the brakeman in McGinnis' crew, was
sent to his old home at Lauderdale. the
funeral occurring this afternoon. The body
of Claude Williams was sent to York,
Ala, early this morning. his father COM
ing to Meridian to accompany the remains
to the loved ones waiting at home. Tho
bodies of the negroes. Ben Bats and Tom
Sherod, were shipped to other points
today. but the charred and blackened re-
mains of Ed Brown, a negro man, and
Jeb A. Ramsey. the little negro child. both
recovered from the ruins from the shanty.
remain at the morgue of Hulett Bros.
awaiting orders.
Col. Mccants Praised.
Col. s. l. McCants. who called out the
militia and policed the deyasted district
without the sembance of authority with
in forty-five minutes after the passage of
the tornado by placing seventy-fve men
on guard with orders to shoot to kill
any person caught in the acts of depred-
alton, has come In for the most glowing
commendation from the local civil author
tiles as well as from the governor. state
officials and residents of the state In
general The man and the moment met
and Colonel McCants proved equal to
the occasion Additional companies of
troops arrived here this afternoon to re-
lieve the fatlgued local boys, and strict
martial law is being enforced throughout
the wrecked territory.
Relief Fund Growing.
The relief fund continues to grow in
eoodlv proportions and offers OF outside
aid continue to pour in both by mail and
wire. Col. e. L. Russell wired contri-
button of $500 for that corporation and
an additional hundred as personal Of
fering The fund Is now over $4,000, With
twice as much more offered as an emerg
ency fund The Board OF Trade and cot
ton exchange today reiterated the state
rnent, with emphasis that Meridian does
not need nor desire outside aid at this
time. The state convicts, assisted by
those of the city and every idle negro
In the city, the latter being arrested by
the soldiers and compelled to work. made
splendid progress In the work of clearing
the debris away. and every thoroughfare
Is open to traffic as before the terrible
visitation.