South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-12-29
CALUMET WEEPS
AS MINERS BURY
THEIRLOVED ONES
Fifty-Nine Bodies Including ~
Children Laid to Rest in
SnoW-COvered Cemetery in
Sight of Lake.

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Western Federation or Miners buried
its dead Sunday. Flfty-nine bodies,
including those OF A children. were
carried through the streets down a
winding country highway and laid in
graves in a snow enshrouded cemetery
within sight of Lake Superior. Thou
sands of saddened miners formed the
escort OF the funeral parties. and
passed between other thousands who
as spectators testified to the grief
that has oppressed the community
since ~ men, women and children
were killed in the Christmas eve panic
in Italian hall. For hours the Sab
bath calm was broken by the tolling
Of bells and the sound OF voices in
toning 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, back to their
homes after brief respites and again
TO the churches to prepare for the
last sad trip TO the gravesides.
Strikers Arrive Early.
Delegations of strikers began COM
ing into Calumet early in the day
The special train OF nine coach es
brought hundreds OF federatiOnists
from the iron mines of Negaunee and
Ishpeming and every town and mining
location in the copper country sent
members and friends of the union 10
swell the ranks of the marchers in
the afternoon.
BY noon the union host was as
sembled. Months of experience in
demonstrating their numbers by
parading had taught the men TO form
ranks quickly and with little delay
they lined up four abreast.
The supply of hearses was made
quate and there were only IA of these
vehicles. Then came three under
takers wagons and an automobile
truck. the latter carrying three COT
fins. 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 Western
Federation.
80 White Collins Bring Tears.
1t was this woman's organization
which was distributing gifts of candy
shoes, caps and mittens to the chill
dren of strikers when the panic
broke out Behind the hearses was
a section OF the procession which
brought tears and sobs from on
lockers. Thirty-nine white collins
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 re-
lieved them of their burden.
Persons drawn to Calumet solely
by the curiousness Of the spectators
became a mourner as this contingent
passed them. Men turned away to
brush tears from their cheeks.
Women, especially the mothers in the
crowd, sobbed openly and dozens, un-
able TO endure the sight, rushed from
the streets, taking refuge in homes
whose Yuletide had not been directly
saddened by death. Others, too. were
in evidence among the toil-hardened
men who carried the collins. They
bore the bodies Of their companions
children and many a rough sleeve
was brushed hurriedly across down
turned faces, the eyes of which were
concealed by peaked caps drawn far
forward.
Fifty Singers in Line.
Fifty singers chanted hymns in the