Los Angeles herald., 1907-04-03
RAFFLES VISITS
THE UNDERTAKES
HAS RELATIVE WITH PECULIAR
TASTE
Wants Him Buried Standing Upright,
and Yet Blsck-cravated Gentry
Fall to Tumble to
Game
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figuring just what sort of Job they
would be called upon to tackle, as
declared i'm each place visited that the
man, who was scheduled to die today
insisted on being buried-IN AN UP
RIGHT POSITION.
The fact that the man for whose
funeral I was arranging wasn't dead
vet, added to the remarkable desire of
the dead man to be buried standing up,
should have been sufficient cause for
the undertakers to at least look me
over, either suspiciously or apprehen-
siyely, but all were so anxious to get
busy on the planting end Of my relative
they all failed to figure me as possi-
BILE financial proposition.
Here's the story, what do you think
Of It?
A tall, dark complexioned, solemn ap-
pearing man, wearing a Prince Albert
coat, was busy passing out black gloves
to number of mourners assembled
in the chapel in the rear of Booth e.
Boylston's undertaking establishment
at S29 South Spring street when I
started my foolishness.
Starts the FooIishness
Boylston, who requested me to take a
seat and wait few minutes. Shortly
afterward Mr. Boylston led the way
his private office, where he listened to
my story, which went something like
this:
My relative lived in Pomona, but
was expected to die today. He had
expressed the wish that he be buried
in an upright position. I wanted to
know how much 1t would all cost.
Mr.. Boylston declared my relative
had certainly made an odd request, as
he had never yet buried any person
standing UP. "It will all depend on the
casket and the other Details" said Mr..
Boylston, regarding the price, "but if
you want the body cremtaed 1t will
cost you $50 cash."
At No. 800 South Main street tried
my chances with a medium built man
with gray mustache wearing glasses,
who was in charge of Robert Sharp &
Sons undertaking rooms. Later 1
found he was Mr.. Sharp, senior mem
ber of the firm.
Mr.. Sharp Is Cheerful
Mr.. Sharp laughed heartily when 1
almost tearfully told him about bury
ing my relative standing up, declaring
he had been long while in the under
taking business but that he had never
before been requested to plant anybody
in that fashion "Why, the fellow
must be out of his head" said Mr..
Sharp. 'I never heard anything like
that before"
I noticed copy of the Los Angeles
Herald lying on a table in Mr.. Sharp
ssftees .-Gissd to note that you are read
ing live newspaper, Mr.. Sharp.
A tall man about forty years of age,
in charge Of Cunningham & O'Connor's s
ar-f a ~ nCto hi IfeI,r,, n
South Grand avenue, seemed pleased to
show me large variety of caskets and
declared that gray was the predomi-
natnig fashion to bury young men in.
He also showed me the chapel and
parlors Of the establishment, which
looked fairly fit to me. When I sprung
the story about my relative wanting
to be buried standing up he smiled in a
qu1zzical sort of fashion as he re-
marked: II never heard Of any such
thing and I don't believe it could be
done" He gave me one of his cards.
however, after I had promised to call
around later.
Never Heard of II
was greeted by a tall, smooth-faced,
light complexioned, gray-haired man
about fifty years of age at Overholtzer
& Mills company at Pico and Grand
avenue when 1 entered and began
making inquiries concerning the burial
of my alleged relative.
I discovered later 1 was talking to
Mr.. Mills, to whom 1 related the
strange desire Of my soon-to-be dead
relative. Mr.. Mills declared he was
quite positive such a burial could not
be accomplished, as he had never heard
of such thing.
At 1897 South Flower street I re-
peated my story to Mr.. Garrett of the
undertaking firm of Robert L. Garrett
& Co. After showing me about his es-
tablishment Mr.. Garrett finally de-
clared he did not think it would be
possible to bury my relative in the
manner / described. He gave me one
of his cards. however, in case my rel
ative should change his mind.
AT Tenth and Flower 1 accepted an
other chance in the undertaking rooms
of Orr & Edwards company. where T
encountered young man with smooth
face wearing a dark suit, who was
reading the wrong newspaper as I en-
tered.
Conductors All Dead Ones
This young chap after listening to
my story walked to the rear of the
room where he whistled through a tube.
A moment later an elderly man with
gray hair and smooth face appeared
and proceeded to show me several sizes
e-AAt hNJ 10 VI NetShtLHg III dll OIL which L
appeared to take a mournful interest
Like others in his particular business
this chap declared he had never heard
OF such thing as burying a man stand
ing up and thought it would be i'm
possible. He was good enough. how
ever, to give me one of the firms cards
and the downtown address of the
Evergreen Cemetery company.
Then jumping on West Ninth street
car No. 239 I rode with conductor No
1888 as far as Fifth and Spring streets,
where I bumped into conductor No
lz44' who was standing on that corner
and whom / asked where I could catch
a San Pedro car.
Then walking over to 445 South
Broadway bought a pair Of insoles
from a short smooth-faced young man
wearing black suit in Burns shoe
store, According to the sales check
which was No. 9, the clerk was No. s.
All Ready for Capture
At 449 South Broadway, Fosgate g.