The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1910-03-05


Signal of Feb. II 1910.
THE BURIEL OF wHISKEY MIKE
(The Union Signal representatives
who made a trip to Alaska last year
spent two days In the little town
where the scene OF this narrative "a
laid. They were the guests of the pas
tor who officlated at the burial of
whisky Nike" and the story Is O
true one, typical of conditions on the
American frontier. The Womans
Christian Temperance Union has a
very definite missionary interest In
Alaska and an appropriation from
the Willard Memorial Fund went to
the work there last year.-Edltor)
who Is he2 Where did he come
from? How old is hep"
These and other questions brought
but vague replies. In these frontier
Alaska towns We know but little about
our neighbors, many of whom are
reticent about their past. Some have
taken other names on reaching a new
country, and we soon fall into the
taking every man as We find him.
Gray hair and lines on the face are
certain signs of age, for anxiety and
sin often make aid in expression those
who are young I'm wears.
A ring at the parsonage doorbell
brought the pastor. who was told, "A
man died in q shack last night; we
want to bury him at two o'clock. Is
that hour convenient for your" Yes,
hn oCtn Iyn 10
I "No, I guess he has no friends. He
come in from some mining work four
or five days ago, and had more than
two hundred dollars; he spent IL all
for drink and died dead broke. The
doctor said II was stomach trouble,
but all the boys say II was whisky
just whisky, that's all.
ANY relatives? Guess not; can't
learn of any No one seems to know
him by any other name than whisky
Mike. oh, guess he might be about
forty-five years old-he may be more,
and he may be less. Yes, I'll get the
boys together at the shack where he
died. Use the church? / think we'd
better go straight from the shack to
the grave, where you might say a few
words, IL you wish"
At two o'clock we were there, the
hearse waiting. 1--WE need more men,
one or two at least" said the pastor.
A call In a nearby saloon brought
them. The hearse passed through the
town, followed by four or five silent
men, and the pastor. About thirteen
dogs Joined us, as their owners were
pail bearers; and we were later fol-
lowed by six small, curious boys.
Mikes coffin was in full view, and as
we went few stopped to gaze. Final
ly we reached the little cemetery
among the stumps, with its few head
boards, and many unmarked, mounds
Down In a corner, where the sea
tried pitifully with its highest tide to
hide the barren mounds a new-made
grave was ready. AS we gathered
around to hear the words "earth to
earth; dust to dust, ashes to ashcs.".
a big dog jumped over the grave and
his owner tried to kick him. The
small boys had climbed on the fence
as II TO see a circus. Thinking to
drive them away, some one threw a
stone, and the resulting yelp was a
signal for fight In which every log
engaged. The boys giggled.
What could the pastor say TO help
the living hearers? Whisky Mike
like you and me-was once a babe.
kissed in its innocency by a loving
mother and glad father How proud
they were because Of the center OF
their hopes. But something had gone
ho, taA ia
own way against that of his mother
or father? How they must have miss
ed him, longed for him. What II they
could see the little group shivering
around the grave Of their son-buried
a pauperY "How would you like 1t,
boys, to have a funeral like this?"
oh, II seemed that blow reaching
the heart had been struck each one,
and they looked almost pleadingly to
the pastor TO spare them. A gust of
wind brought a Whit of whisky-laden
breath. nauseating, slckening. What
could be said to help them, these men
who respected "the preacher" ItI
seemed to him every spring was dry
the sky had turned to brass, and
that he could hear the muffled laugh
Of the gloating devil.
Men, we always close service
like this by asking all to unite In re-
peatlng the Lords Prayer" Every
head bowed. "Our Father, vino art IN
heaven, hallowed be Thy name
Lead us not into temptation, but de-
liver us from evil, FOR Thine Is the
kingdom, and the power, and the
glory forever and ever, Amen"
The small boys clambered down
from the fence, and men and dogs
started for town. AS we reached the
main street, one said with a thick
tongue. ''Yes, boys. that's the way
we'er all of US going all going. |