Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1913-12-30

carried through the streets, down a
winding country highway, and laid in
{, graves in a:Esnow enshrouded ceme-
terFSS 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 70 men, women and chill
dren were killed in the Christmas
Eve panic in Italian Hail. :
The Toiling of the Bells.
For hours the Sabbath cain was
broken by the tolling o. bells and the
sound Of voices intoning burial
chants. In half dozen churches
services were he'd earlier in the day,
and the mourneru 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 COM
ing into Calumet early in, the day.
The special train of nine coaches
brought hundreds of federationists
from the iron mines of Negaunee and
lshpeming, and every town and min
ing location in the copper country
sent members and friends of the un-
ion to swell the ranks of marchers
in the afternoon.
BY noon the union host was assem-
bled Months Of experience in dem
onstrating their numbers by parad-
ing had taught the men to form
ranks quickly, and with little delay
they lined up four abreast. F.:
The supply Of hearses was made
quate, and there were only fourteen
b. of these vehicles in the van. Then
came three undertakers' wagons and
an automobile truck, the latter carry
ing three collins. These vehicles con-
tanned the adult victims and the sold-
er children. Beside one marched
eigh women, who acted rs pallbear-
ers for a 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 chill
dren OF strikers when the panic broke
out
Behind the hearses was a section
of the procession which brought tears
and Sot] frUm ou'00rar7 ~r'rtv-
nine white eo.hus, .nr'r s;uu TESTIFY
iua rr IN, :aost Nro OF the utJe
'onoe N..h'a wn,. carried nv ral.ya
oi @I.a'a. Egvr men bDr. ,.Iyo
coffin and as their arms grew weary
or their feet slipped on the roadway,
companions relieved them of their
burden ... Is'f.ta.
Persons drawn to Calumet solely
by curiosity became mourners as
this contingent passed them. Men
turned away to brush tears from
their cheeks. Women, especially mo-
theirs, sobbed openly. Dozens, una
Bile to endure the sight, rushed from
the streets, taking refuge in homes
where the Yuletide had not been di-
rectly saddened by death. Other
- mourners, too, were in evidence
among the toil-hardened men who
carried the collins. They bore the
bodies of their companions children,
and many rough sleeve was brush
Il
faces, the eyes of which were con-
ceaed by peaked caps, drawn far
forward.
Fifty singers chanted hymns in the
wake of those carrying the childrens'
collins. Most Of these men were Eng
lish miners, who had learned in
Cornwall to chant Christmas carols
in the streets, and years ago brought
this old custom to the copper coun-
try. To-day, however. they did not
sing songs of new life born.
Jesus, Lover of My Soul" Crock
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 Hine
street, which led 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
marcher had scarcely started from