Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-10-21

Rev. ]. A. McClenahan of the Presby-
terrain church. THE lesson he taught |
should be engraved on the open tablets !
Of all our lives. His example Of I'M
selfshness is a most inspiring one"
Not more than half those present
could understand what the minister
said. A breeze from the south made
it impossible for those on that side of
the casket to hear anything. But they
stayed to get last look at the body.
When the services were closed with
a PRAYER, a band began Chopin's fu-
neral march. The undertaken lifted
the lid from the casket and the police
opened a lane for the friends of the
newsboy TO pass out after they had
viewed the body.
SMILE on HERO'S FACE.
Cheerful Billy" died hard. But the
doctor said he didn't know he was 60
| ing. and that may or may not explain
the smile which fingered. Five min
utes after the lined had formed a wo-
man in brown sank to the pavement in
| front of the coffin. She was the first
| of four women who tainted during the
review. They were taken by the po-
! lice into the church, where they were
revived in few minutes.
1t is estimated 10000 were in line.
Many were strangers who came to see
the man who gave his life in the Gary
General hospital for a girl he did not
know. But the great majority were
persons who had seen Billy" daily
hopping about his newspaper stand at
Sixth avenue and Broadway.
CITY OFFICIALS ON HAND.
At + o'clock it was decided to take
the body to the Lake Shore station.
The uniformed pallbearers lifted the
casket into the fire wagon, then they
cleared the way for Wards Gary band.
Next came the fire truck, its brass
trimmings wrapped in black crepe
Mayor Knots, other city officials, and
the three members of the committee
on arrangements followed in automo-
biles. They were responsible for the
big way the funeral was handled.
There were about 500 marchers in the
procession members Of the Masons,
knights of Pythias, Elks, Eagles, the
Order of Moose, the teamsters' union,
and the Lake County Marching club.
The Masonic band of Whiting, Ames
band of Michigan City, and the Ham
mond Union band also furnished
music.
Five thousand persons lined Broad
way. AT Sixth and Broadway, where
Billy" had hustled, there was an es-
pecially large crowd, attracted by his
paper stand, which was draped in
black. Slowly the funeral cortege pro-
ceeded TO the station, where a thous-
and persons had congregated. They
lined the viaduct above the street; ev-
cry point Of vantage was occupied.
BURIAL AT ORION, ILL.
! The body was shipped to Orion, Ill,
where it was buried today beside
!. "Billy's" mother. 1t was accompanied
: by Harry Rugh Stearnes, "Billy's''
brother. and Mrs. Ida McCabe of Rock
Island. his cousin.
Among the floral offerings were those
sent by =. E. Smith and family and
; Roy Roberts, William Otto, Mr.. and
, Mrs. &c. Simpson. the W c. T. T.,
Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen,
Elks, and Lady Maccabees.
c. E. Smith, father of the girl whose
: life was saved by use of the skin from
: Billy's crippled leg, and his two sons,
attended the services. Mrs Smith re.
) manned at home to care for her Gaugh-
= ter. who Is not yet able to leave her
/ bed.
There will be meeting tonight at
the Gary hotel TO raise additional funds
) for monument to Billy Rugn. II
will be in charge of A B. Keeler. w
r P. Gleason AID W a Writ, who were
/ appointed by the mayor 10 secure sub
? 5cripticns. About $500 already ha:
+ been raised.