The Columbus commercial. (Columbus, Miss.) 1893-1922, 1916-07-09
CAPT. MULLINS FUNERAL
MARKED ny IMPRESSIVE
CEREMONIES.
GUARD OF HONOR
ESCORTS UEARSE
Ministers Pay High Tribute to
Soldier and Stores Close for
Funeral.

With military honors and with the
stores in the business district closed
while the funeral was in progress.
the body of Capt. w. s. Mullins,
commander Of the Columbus Rifle
men, who died in Jackson last We'd
nesday afternoon shortly after hav-
ing undergone an operation for APP
pendicitis, was laid to rest Friday
afternoon, funeral services having
been held at the First Baptist church
and interment having taken place at
Friendship cemetery.
The obsequies took place at $3.50
o'clock Friday afternoon, and al
though the day was dark and dis
NAL there was large concourse of
people present, the congregation
having filled almost to capacity the
spacious auditorium of the temple of
worship. DR.. j. L. Vipperman, the
pastor of the church, was the ofiici-
ating clergyman and was assisted by
Rev. W. S. Slack, pastor of st.
Paul's Episcopal church, and Rev.
w. L. Duren, pastor of the First
Methodist church. DR.. Vipperman
delivered an impressive sermon and
took occasion to pay high tribute to
the dead soldier, having praised him
for his patriotism, for his loyalty
and for his unfailing devotion not
only to his country but to his family,
his friends and his duty.
1t was impossible for the Colum-
bus Riflemen to send guard of
honor from Jackson, as the compa-
ny was almost momentarily expect
ing a call to the front, but delega-
tion made up of Meridian militia
men accompanied the body from
that city to Columbus. This delega-
tion consisted of Capt. j. A. Ham
mond, First Lieutenant H. E. Hall
Privates G. p. Page, Paul Temple
ton, W. J. Buie, Harry Nelson, c. E
Bardwel, ]. c. Powers, w. C. Beg
gerby, C. Robinson, j. g. Griffin, AL
bert Achamber and +. l.. Hancock
The militiamen, as web as practical
ly the entire membership of Tom
bigbee Lodge No. IL, Knights OF
Pythias, of which deceased has been
a member for many years, attended
the services at the church and
marched on either side of the hearst
as that vehicle wended its way to
the cemetery. AS the body was low
cred into the grave taps were sound.
ed and military salute was fired.
A pathetic feature of the funera
was the enforced absence therefrom
of Mr.. and Mrs. r. A. Mullins, par
ents of the dead militiaman, who
are in Denver attending the bed
side of a younger son, Mr.. Arthur
Mullins, who has been i'll with ty.
phoid fever for several weeks past
The gentlemen who acted as pal
bearers we're: Messrs. B. 4. Lincoln
Myrlol Cox, Louis Shull D J. ses
su~ls Kennith Harrison arl NJ G
Vandiver. The flower committe,
consisted of the following ladies
Mrs. Ward Richards, Mrs. B. A. Lin
coin, Miss Julia Cox and Miss Su,
Mae Lincoln.
The following message of sympa
thy was received from Governor
Bilbo by Mr.. V. M. Higgins, brother
in-law of Capt. Mullins:
"Please convey to the father
mother and relatives of Capt Mui
Inns my profound sympathy in thei
bereavement personally and as gov
ernor. | know that our state ha
sustained great loss and the militia
ry arm of our government one of it
finest officers.
Theo. G. Bilbo,
Governor.
The following tribute to the lat
Capt. Mullins appeared in the Jack
son Clarion-Ledger of Thursday:
"A beautiful tribute was paid tn
memory of Captain Mullins las
night when the remains we're escort
ed to the train by his company ur
der command of Capt Harper o
Natchez and the regimental officer
under the command of Lieutenan
Colonel Boyd.
"The troops marched through tn
streets, Company | preceding tn
hearse, while on each side wake
three captains and IN the rear cam
the officers of the regiment.
"The troops marched into the er
closure at the station and lined u
until the train going east MAD arr,
ed. Capt. Harper gave the ords
present arms" and with the trooI
at present, the officers with the