Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-12-29
MINERS BURY THEIR
DEAD AT CALUMET
Pathetic Scenes at Last Sad Rites for
Fifty-Nine Victims Of Panic at
Calumet
coFFINs OF CHILDREN
ARE BORNE BY MINERS
Great Crowd Gathers From Other Cities
to Participate in Procession Two
Miles Long.
[uNIrnD PRESS LEASED w1RE.l

ern Federation Of Miners buried its
dead yesterday. Forty.nine bodies, in
cluding those of A children, were car
ried through the streets down winding
country highway and laid in graves in
snow enshrouded cemetery within
sight Of Lake Superior.
Thousands Of saddened miners
formed the escort Of the funeral par
ties and passed between other thou
sands who, as spectators, testified to
the grief that has oppressed the com
munity since 70 men, women and chill
dren were killed in the Christmas eve
panis in italian hall.
~ Series Of Services Held.
For hours the Sunday 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 mourn
ing went about the streets, passing
from their homes to the churches, back
to their homes after brief respite and
again to the churches to prepare for
the last sad trip to the graveside.
The delegations Of strikers began
coming into Calumet early in the day.
The special train brought hundreds Of
Federationists from the iron mines of
Negaunee and Ishpeming and every
town and mining location in the coun.
try sent members and friends Of the
union to swell the ranks Of the march
ers in the afternoon, BY noon the
union host was assembled. Five months
of experience in demonstrating their
number by parading had taught the men
TO form ranks quickly and with little
delay they lined up four abreast.
Supply of Hearses Inadequate.
The supply of hearses was made
quate and there were only IA Of these
vehicles in the van. Then came three
undertakers wagons and automobile
trucks, the latter carrying three cof-
fins. Beside one marched eight women
who acted as pallbearers for member
Of the women's auxiliary Of the West
em Federation.
II was this womens organization
which was distributing gifts to the
children of strikers when the panic
occurred.
Behind tho hearse was a section Of
the procession which brought tears
and sobs from onlookers. Thirty.niue
white coffins their size testifying to
the little forms within, were carried
by relays Of strikers. Four men bore
each coffin and as their arms grew
weary companions relieved them Of
their burdens,
Persons drawn TO Calumet solely by
the curiosity of the spectacle became
moumers as this contingent passed
them Men turned away to brush tears
from their cheeks; women, especially
the mothers in the crowd, sobbed open,
ly and dozens, unable to endure the
sight, rushed from the streets, taking
refuge in homes whore yueltide had
not been directly saddened by death,
Hymns Sang in Procession
Fathers, too, were in evidence among
the toilhardened men who carried the
coffins They bore tho bodies Of their
companions children, and many a rough
sleeve was brushed across down.
turned face, tho eyes of which were con.
ccaled by a peaked cap drawn far for
ward.
Fifty singers sang hymns in the wake
Of the childrens Is carriers, Most Of
these were English miners who had
learned in Cornwall to sing Christmas
carols in the streets and years ago
brought this old custom to the copper
country Today, however, "Jesus Lov.
or Of My Soul - Crock Of Ages" and
Nearer My God, to Thee, came from
the throats thick with emotions, the
harmonies rich and full
The last marchcr scarcely had started
from Calumet before the head Of the
procession had reached the cemetery
gates, two miles away. An except half
a dozen Of the burials were In common
graves, dug yesterday by members OF
the union, The ground belongs to the
Federation, and Il was said monu.
mont would be dedicated there year
hence
Eulogies Given IN Four Languages
Only brief addresses were delivered
in the cemetery, Eugene A. McNaly
a local attorney, culogi2ed the dead In
English and George Strc2ich, Of 81
Louisi Frank Aaltenen, Of Negaunee
and other foreign leaders delivered adj
dresses In Austrian, Finnish and Croa,
tian. McNally made only passing ref
crcnce TO the deportation Of President
Meyer, Of the Federation, predicting
that bis absence whether temporary OF
permanent would develop into a lead
ership as effective as Il be were pres
nnf