Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-09-19
MANY SHARE IN
JOHNSON s GRIEF
Thousands Witness Strange and
Spectacular Funeral of Wife
Of Champion.

Chicago. Sept 15-strains Of "Noarer
My God, to Thee" seldom roach ,bo On.
of the hardened fighter of the nrize
ring. Clang of the bell and the shout
OF the referee and of the crowd arc tbe,r
music.
| Yet, when this song rose from III,
throat of a vested choir of colored girls
in the crowded little St. Marks African
Methodist Episcopal Church, where fun.
! eral services were conducted Yesterday
for Mrs. Jack johnson. who ended her
| Ire with bullet, tears coursed I'M
restrained down the checks OF the widow
or. worlds champion heavyweight, and of
other battle-scarred pugilists
The scene was remarkable Massed
together In the church and for biocks
around the Johnson residence and the
Ichurch were prominent white men and
women, negroes, prize fighters and the
thousands drawn by morbid curiosity
alone
| fut there were genuine mourners
white and black, for Johnson has MANY
friends among white business men.
common grief for a friend In distress
Drought all this motley assemblage to-
gether on a common plane.
| IL was strange and spectacular fun
erai that an excited assemblage num-
perihg many thousands. men, women
an" children. witnessed. Before the
procession Of automobiles that compos-
so the cortege speeded their way to
the little church, q huge gathering OF
curious spectators thronged ana blocked
inc street In front of the Johnson home,
3'aA Wabash avenue. fighting with a
score or bluecoats. who showed ana
pushed In vain that a passage might be-
made for the automobiles. Women faint
ed ana had to be carried away.
CROWDS AT SERVICES.
A brief prayer was said over the bodv
at the house by the Rev. John w. Rob-
inson OF ST. Marks Church. The coffin.
covered with lilies of the valley. Law
virtually In conservatory. There were
flowers of every color and description.
enhanced by a soft yellow sheen that
| came from q tiny candle
The mourners and friends filed SLOWLY
from the house to waiting automobiles,
into which they climbed and rode to
the church. Mrs. Johnson's mother and
sister. Mrs, David Terry and Miss
Elaine Terry of Brooklyn, N. Y, APP
peared in the doorway, the former SUD-
She was sobbing bitterly and as she de.
scended the stairs the pugilist half-sup-
ported, half-carried her Both mother and
| daughter were heavily yelled.
| Hundreds Of curious spectators, black
and white. crowded the church. When it
was impossible to enter the structure by
the doors. the crowds made use Of the six
windows. The air of the interior of the
ri hat Nfrc oh
sister OF Johnson. tainted and had to be
| taken outside by Jack Curley.
The Rev. Mr.. Robinson announced that
the mixed choir would sing the faVoritc
song of Mrs. johnson, Take the Name II
Jesus with YOU" which she had learn |
to love at St. James's Methodist Church
OF Brooklyn, y. Y At the close of tine
song the minister declared that its them
emphasized the peace that had entered
the life of one who had been troubled ar |
whohad found the struggle Of life weary.
CHURCHMAN'S EULOGY.
is there any one in this church WIG
can be so cruel n S to deny one star of hope
TO the weary one2" he asked. rs there
any who cannot let the great mantle of
charity cover the call of a dsquieted
hearth"
Mr.. Robinson cleared up point not
generally known to the public when Id
declared In a short sketch Of Mrs. john
son that she was married to John Ar
THUR johnson on February II, 1910 He
said she was born September g. 1881. at
Hampstead i. I. He euiogized her,
speaking of her as 'lovable and faith
full wife,
At the close OF the services the COT
Inn was opened and those assembled in
the church We're given an opportunity
to see the features of Mrs. Johnson for
the last time.
johnson himself was the first one to
pass the bier and as he did 20, the
crowd became hushed and movement
lin the aises ceased. johnson bent
ldown and kissed his dead wife on the
brow and then. turning away with an
effort, stood at one side while those
present passed by,
AS the procession was formed for the
trip to the cemetery the 20 policemen
found their numbers hardly adequate to
the rush of the crowd. A number OF
mounted police were required to clear
a way for the automobiles among the
J thousands Of spectators massed in front
} of the church. Burial was at Graceland
; cemetery.