Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-05-25
READING SHRINERS
LAID TO REST
Funerals Of California Wreck Vic
tins Largely Attended.
TIE CITY Is IN MOURNING

Reading. Pa, May 2f - Another
chapter in the sad homecoming Of
the Shriners frcm the scene Of the
California wreck was enacted here
when a large number of sorrowing
friends followed the remains OF Mrs.
". ". Essick Sn5 ner son Richard 70
their last resting place IN the Charles
Evans cemetery. They we're placed
IN one grave Mr.. Essick did not &C
company tire tourists. but his brother.
Walter s. Essick. was chairman Of the
committee OF arrangements and was
with the party The city FIRE alarm
bells were tolled IL times.
Stockton Snyder and his wife. Ida Z.
Snyder. were laid 10 rest ia Charles
Evans Gem etery. Services we're held
at their late homo. 1913 Penn street
The funeral of Harrison p. Hendel
was largely attended. Services were
held az his late home. 1862 Perkiomen
avenue.
Mt Hondel was buried with Ma
sonic and Elk rites. and big deloga-
tions from both these fraterniues ac-
companled the body 20 the grave. His
death was perhaps the most heart
rending OF an that occurred. he was
seated IN the dining car with his wife
and daughter Helen when the crash
occurred. and while he was killed al
most instantly the two women escaped
with only slight injuries. They were
on the train which carried the bodies
across the continent. and presented "a
piuahle spectacle as they stepped from
the car at the station. Mother and
daughter are still In a hystorical con
dition
Mrs. Mary r. Kahler. wife Of Elias
Kahler. was buried in Hams church
yard. after services Ia that edifco.
Services over the remains OF w.
Benton Stoltz and his sister Miss Nora
Elm street, and intermcnt was made
al Charles Evans cemetery.
Another double funeral was that OF
Mr.. and Mrs. Thomas J. Brumbach.
Services we're held az their late home
in St Lawrence. a suburb of this city.
and intermcnt was made ia Schwarz-
valid churchyard.
All OF the funerals were largely az.
tended delegations from the Masons.
Elks and other societies attending.
Ever since the fun story OF the
wreck was told and Reading found her.
self n city OF the dead preparations
have been made 20 receive the victims
OF the accident with proper cere-
monies.
The Joint committee Of Masonic bod
iss issued an informal order 20 mem.
bers OF DeNolay Commandery, No. g.
and Reading Commandery. 40. A.
Knights Templar. requesting each
member TO constitute himself a com
mittee Of one 20 assemble at Masonic
Hall and Join in the solemn reception.
Rajah Temple was kept open all day
with q committee Ia charge % give in
formation and issue instructions. and
when the funeral train arrived 200
Knights IN full uniform were on hand
20 act as a guard OF honor when the
dead were taken from the cars. An en-
tire troop OF the state constabulary, to-
gether with the city's full police force.
were on hand 20 preserve order. They
were called upon 20 do little more than
prevent people from blocking the ap-
proaches 20 the station.
No such sad event has ever marked
the history OF this city, and when the
train with its burden OF dead complet-
ed its S00-mile journey across the coun-
try IL was received with a solemn de-
monstration such as Is seldom witness
ed anywhere. The fairest flowers.
bought by members OF the Masonic
order along the train route were piled
IN the cars. The section Of the train
bearing the wreck victims was run
iato the station on one side. while that
carrying the survivors and friends OF
the dead was brought in on another
Those in the second section who
went through the wreck and lived TO
tell the story were: Mr.. and Mrs. A. J.
LSyengood. Mr.. and Mrs. Walter NJ.
Tyson. Mr.. and Mrs Fred Mertz, Wal.
ter Essick, Mrs. n. p. HendeI and her
daughter. Helen. and Clarence Sem
bower. They were quickly escorted
20 carriages that were in waiting and
driven directly TO their homes.
The funeral car, almost buried in
flowers. contained the bodies of Mr.
and Mrs. Thomas j. Brumbach. Mrs
" W -9~-NAs II n C4SASAoA, OSoA -
y. Haeenman, II. p. Hendel. J. Doug
lass Nipple. o. F. Kaufman, II. G
Miller. A. l. Roth. c. G.. Steffe. w. b
stoltz. Richard Essick, Mrs. e E. Kah
Ter, Mr.. and Mrs. s. S. Snyder ant
Miss Nora Stoltz. The other dead o.
the Rajah Temple party who wer,
brought in on the train were Charlie.
F. Henry, of Lebanon; Mr.. and Mrs
J.. n. Ellenbogen. of Allentown, anC
Howard Meyer. OF Hazleton. Thei
bodies were taken from the train be
fore II reached this city.