The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-12-31
CHILDREN LAID TO REST.
MOURNING ON STREETS OF CALI.
MET AS MINERS BURY THEIR
DEAD.
Fifty-nine Little Bodies are Laid i'm
Their Graves by Western Fedora
tiOn-Funeral Services in Many
Churches-ChOrus Follows Bodies
to Grave.

Calumet, Mich, Dec. 2S.-The
Western Federation of Miners buried
it's dead today. Fifty-nine bodies, in
cluding those Of A children, were
carried through the streets, down a
winding country highway and laid in
graves in a snow enshrouded GENE
terry within sight of Lake Superior.
Thousands Of saddened miners form
ed the escort Of the funeral parties
and passed between other thousands,
who, as spectators, testified to the
grief that has oppressed the commu-
nifty since 72 men, women and chill
dren were killed in the Christmas Eve
panic in Italian hall.
For hours the Sabbath calm was
broken by the tOlling Of bells and the
sound Of voices intoning burial
chants. In half a dozen churches
services were held earlier in the day,
| and the mourners went about the
streets, passing from their homes to
the churches anI back to their homes,
| after brief respites, and again to the
| churches to prepare for the last sad
trip to the grave sides.
Delegations of strikers began COM
| ing into Calumet early in the day. The
special train Of nine coaches brought
hundreds Of the federationists from
the iron mines Of Negaunee and Ish-
peming and every town and mining
location in the copper country sent
members and friends of the union To
swell the ranks Of marchers in the
afternoon.
BY noon the union hest was assem-
bled. Months Of experience in demon
strating their numbers by parades had
taught the men to form ranks quick
ly and with little delay they lined
up four abreast.
The supply Of hearses was made
quate and there were only IA Of these
vehicles in the van. Then came three
undertakers' wagons and an automo-
bile truck, the latter carrying three
collins. These vehicles contained the
adult victims and the older children.
Beside one marched eight women who
acted as pallbearers for a member OF
the Women's Auxiliary OF the West
ern Federation.
1t was this woman's organization
which was distributing gifts OF can
dy, shoes, caps and mittens to the
children Of strikers when the panic
broke out.
Behind the hearses was a section of
the procession which brought tears
and sobs from onlookers. Thirty mine
white collins, their sizes testifying to
the. short life of the little forms with
in, were carried by relays of strik-
ers. Four men bore each coffin and
as their arms grew weary or their feet
slipped on the roadway, companions
relieved them Of their burden.
Persons drawn to Calumet solely
by curiosity became nourners as this
contingent passed them. Men turned
away to brush tears fro n their
cheeks. Women, especially mothers,
sObbed openly. Dozens, unable to en-
dure the sight, rushed from the
streets, taking refuge in homes where
Yuletide had not directly been sad
dened by death. Other mourners were
| in evidence among the toll hardened
men who carried the collins. They
bore the bodies Of their companions
children and many rough sleeve was
brushed hur -iedly across down turned
faces, the eyes Of which were con-
cealed by peaked caps, drawn far for
ward.
Fifty singers chanted hymns in the
wake Of those carrying the children's
coffins. Most Of thees men were Eng
lish miners, who had learned in Corn
wall to chant Christmas carols in the
streets and years ago Brought this
old custom to the copper country. To-
day, however, they did not sing songs
Of new life born. Jesus Lover Of
My Soul" Rock of Ages" and
Nearer My God, to Thee" came
from throats thick with emotion, but
the harmonies were full and rich.
AS the singers turned into Hinc
street, which led to the cemetery
road, the opening ranks of marchers
wheeled into line. Ishpeming and
Negaunee men came first, followed
by brass band and the members Of
| the copper country locals.
The last marcher had scarcely start
ed from Calumet before the head of
thn nrnraccinn ho