The Topeka state journal., 1914-02-14
Wilmarth Funeral Was an Inn.
pressive Ceremony.
MANY STORES WERE CLOSED
Lodges, Officials and Citizens
Were MOurners
For Man Who Had Done His
Duty So Well So Long.

The greatest and most trying hero
ism is that Of faithful. self-sacrificing
and long-continued service. The city
OF Topeka paid tribute to this kind
Of heroism today. Traffic was suspend
ed and places Of business were closed
while the last rites were being per-
formed in the placing Of the body Of
George o. Wilmarth, who excelled all
others in length and faithfulness as
chief Of a fire department, in it's final
resting place.
With services semi-military in char
Of fire-fighters. the funeral was i'm
pressive. beautiful and sorrowful. The
casket banked by floral tokens from
the most high of fraternal. civic and
commercial bodies. and also from the
most humble Of citizens, and with uni
formed f1remen standing at guard. was
viewed by the many who sought to
hold in memory a face to them dear.
This opportunity was given between
the hours of and IL o'clock at the
residence. 1101 West Eighth street.
At 2 o'clock the body. accompanied
by an escort Of 80 fremen, and a detail
of police. was taken to the First Con-
gregatiOnal church, Seventh and Har-
were held beginning at 2:3O o'clock.
The services were conducted by the
Rev. Arthur Henderson. pastor. assist
ed by the Rev. D. M. Fisk. Of Wash
burn college. who was an intimate
friend of the departed chief, and who
made a short. but eloquent address.
The honorary pallbearers were
Mayor r. L. Cofran. Commission w.
G. Tandy, Commissioner Frank M.
Newland. Commissioner Roy L. Bone.
Commissioner w. L. Porter, City Clerk
N. B. Burge and City Auditor w. H.
Wasson.
The captains of the six fire stations
of the city were the active pallbearers
and are:
Captain William Cawker of Station
No. 1; Captain A. M. Robinson, of Sta
ton No. 2; Captain Lewis Knott. of
Station No. 3. Captain Joseph Waide-
Itch, of Station No. 4; Captain Thomas
Higbee of Station No. 8, and Captain
H. N. Gilman. of Station No. 6.
Following this service came the reg
Templars. lasting about twenty min
utes. The funeral procession then
proceeded to Topeka cemetery. where
the services at the grave were con-
Quoted by Topeka Lodge No. II, A. F.
& A. M. Of which Chief Wilmarth was
a member.
1t is doubtful whether there has
ever been a funeral held in Topeka at
which the floral remembrances were
more numerous, or the designs more
elaborate and beautiful. Conspicuous
among the mass of flowers, wreaths
and other emblems, was broken
wheel design from the members of the
fire department, bearing the words
"Our Chief" This wheel was sixty
inches high.
Another floral offering emblematic
of the chiefs position was wrought IN
white and purple flowers depicting
two trumpets Of fire captains crossed
above the intersection with fire
chiefs helmet and bearing the word,
"Chief."
A large wreath was the token of ap-
probation from the Topeka CONNER
cial club and a square and compasses
in flowers of purple and white was
the remembrance from Topeka lodge
No. IT, A. F. & A. M.
In response to the proclamation Is
sued by Mayor r. L. Cofran, that
places of business close from 1890
until 4:3O o'clock, many complied
either in full or in part. All street
cars stopped from 3 to 3:O2 O'Clock.
Among those in attendance at the
funeral was John McNarry, chief OF
the Kansas City, Mo-. fire department.
Chief Wilmarth and he were very inti-
mate friends, and as soon as Chief Nc
Marry learned that Chief Wilmarth
was ill he came to Topeka and re-
manned to give whatever assistance he
could.
The death of Chief Wilmarth has
called forth many resolutions of regret
from lodges and churches for his loss,
and sympathy for his widow.