The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-12-29
BURIAL OF CALUMET DEAD.
SO Bodies Were PLACED in Graves on
Sunday.

Calumet, Mich, Dec. 29.--The Western
Federation of Miners buried its dead
yesterday afternoon. Fifty-nine bodies,
A of them children, were laid in graves
in a snow -enshrouded cemetery within
sight of Lake Superior. Thousands OF
saddened miners formed the escort OF
the funeral parties and passed between
other thousands who as spectators tes-
titled to the grief that has oppressed the
community since 70 men, women and
children were killed in the Christmas
eve panic in italian hall.
For hours the Sabbath calm was brok-
en- by the tolling of bells and the sound
of voices intoning burial chants. In halt
dozen churches services were held ear
ler in the day and the mourners went
about the streets. passing from their
homes to the churches, 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 coming
into Calumet early in the day. A special
train of nine coaches brought hundreds
OF federationists from the iron mines of
Negaunee and Ishpeming and every town
and mining location in the copper coun-
try sent members and friends of the
union to swell the ranks of the marchers
in the afternoon.
By noon the host was assembled.
Months of experience in demonstrating
their mum bers by parading had taught
the men to form ranks quickly and with
little delay they lined up four abreast.
The supply of hearses was inadequate.
There We're only IL of these vehicles in
the van. Behind these came three un-
dertakers' wagons and an automobile
truck, the latter carrying three coffins
These vehicles contained the adult vie
tins and the older children Beside one
marched eight women who acted as pail
bearers for member of the women's
auxiliary of the Western Federation.
1t was this woman's organization
which was distributing gifts of candy,
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 ana
sobs from onlookers. Thirty white
cofiins, their size testifying to the short
life of the little forms within, were car
ried by relays of strikers. Four men
bore each coffin and as their arms grew
weary or feet stumbled on the slippery
roadway, companions relieved them of
their burden.
Persons drawn to Calumet solely
through curiosity became mourners as
this contingent passed them. Men
turned away to brush tears from their
cheeks; women, especially mothers,
sobbed aloud, and dozens, unable to en-
dure the sight, rushed from the streets,
taking refuge in homes where yuletide
had not been directly saddened by DEATH
Others, too, were in evidence among the
toll hardened men who carried the cof-
fms. They bore the bodies of their com
panions' children and many a rough
sleeve was brushed across the down
turned faces, the eyes of which were
concealed by peaked caps drawn far for
ward.
Fifty singers chanted hymns in the
wake of the children carriers. Most of
these were English miners, who had
learned in Cornwall to chant Christmas
carols in the streets and years ago
brought this old custom to the copper
country. Yesterday, however, they
didn't 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 Pine street,
which leads to the cemetery road, the
open 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 marcheT had scarcely started
from Calumet before the head of the
procession had reached the cemetery
gates, two miles away. All but half a
dozen of the burials were in common
graves dug Saturday by members of the
union. The ground belongs to the fed
Grafton and it was stated that monu
ment would be erected there, the formal
dedication to take place year hence.