Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1916-07-28
ESTABLISHED 1S45.
Twelve to Fifteen Hundred Pao.
pie Present at Services
Body Reached Here on
Special Train Sunday.

w. Litz, whose death was mentioned
IN the last issue of the News, occurred
here last Sunday afternoon. The funer-
al services occurred at the home of
"A. u. Litz in this town; the burial
took place in the new cemetery.
The body arrived here Sunday
morning on special train from st.
Paul. The funeral party left Gas
tonia, N. c., carly Friday morning, and
on account of the recent floods in
North Carolina and the washing out of
many railroad bridges, the party was
compelled to travel several hundred
miles OFT of direct route to reach
Tazewell. The special reached the
iazeweii station at 3:15 Sunday morn
ing, and was met by dozen or more
automobiles. Upon the request of
Mrs. George Litz the body was remov-
ed from the baggage car and taken
to the home of Mr.. A. z. Litz. In
the party, besides Mrs. Litz end her
young daughter. were her father and
mother, Mr.. and Mrs. Wakefield, of
Ashland, KY, the brothers and sisters
of the deceased, Judge James French
Strother, of Welch, and J. Powell
Royal, of this town, who made a spec
ial trip to St. Paul to meet the party.
A number of the passengers on the
special remained in their berths until
later in the morning.
The funeral services at the home of
the brother of the deceased. A. u.
Litz, were held at o'clock, and it is
estimated that there were from 1900
to 1900 people present The Rev.
w. w. Arrowood, of the Presbyterian
church, was in charge of the service,
assisted by Rev. Mr.. Clark, of Grundy
and Rev. r. B. Platt, jr., of Tazeweli.
Mr.. Clark had been associated with
the deceased in religious work at
Grundy, and spoke feelingly of their
association, and recounted may of the
good deeds performed by the dead man
who was one of the main supports
of the church at Grundy. The speak
er stated that he had lost one of the
best friends he had ever had and that
the cause he represented had suffer
ed irreparable loss. Mr.. Arrowood,
who also knew personally of the bene-
factions of Mr.. Litz. paid him beau
tiful and touching tribute. After a
duet by Mrs. Sheb Gillespie, of North
fork and Mrs. C. W. Steele, of Taze-
well, prayer was offered by Rev. Mr..
Platt, after which the Masonic fra
ternity took charge of the remains
and concluded the services at the
grave.
The burial service was under the
direction of the Tazewell Lodge.
assisted by members Of the frater-
nifty from Welch, Grundy, Bcrwind,
Jaeger, and other points in the coun-
ty.
Clinch Valley Commandery, of this
town, acted as escort to the Masonic
body. The line of march was formed
at the Litz home and il is stated there
were 112 automobiles in the process
sion, not counting number of car
riages. On arriving at the grave the
usual ceremony was followed. The
solemnity of the ceremony was great.
ly interfered with by heavy down
pour of rain.
The largest and most profuse floral
tribute seen in TaZewell was displayed
at the burial. There were beautiful
designs of wreathes, crosses, crowns,
etc, the perfection of the florists art,
and silent tribute that spoke louder
than words of the affection and es-
teen of absent friends.
In the large crowd that attended
the funeral and burial here were many
men from the works of the w. NJ.
county. A special train was run
Western connection at Devon to. ac-
commodate the large number of citi-
zens of Buchanan who wanted to come
to the funeral A travelling man re-
turning here from the lumber camps
in Buchanan said that the announce
ment of the death of Mr.. Litz was re-
ceived at the various works of the
Company with the profoundest sor-
row. The laborerS came down out
Of the mountains and off the lumber
piles, and out of the saw mills and in
silent groups mourned the passing of
their friend
A Friend to the Last.
A striking example of true friend
ship was exhibited by Judge James
French Strother, of Welch, who was
intimately associated with Mr.. LitZ for
years. The Judge was among the
first to reach the bedside of the dying
man at Gastonia, N. c., and when
death had released the sufferer from
to Tazewell begun, Mrs. Litz charged
the friend of her husband to "stay
with George Litz." as she always call
ed him, and Judge Strothcr obeyed
that solemn request, and through
sleepless nights he stood guard over
the remains of his friend until the
body was safely borne to his native
county and deposited beneath the soc
to await the final summons. The af.
fection of Judge Strother for George
Litz was such that only death coult
break the ties that bound them.
The Pail Bearers
The following pall-bearers were Sc
lected for the burial:
R. r. Smith, c. E. Griner, and w
A. Barker. and E. r. Combs, of Grun
dy; f. C. Brawley, j. N. Harman, jr.
r. H. Miller. of Wclch; S. d. Hatfield
of Jaeger; E. r. Pryor, of Berwind
w. T. Gillespie, j. Powell Royal, r
OF Crockett. f. l.. Greevcr, II. S. Bow
en-, and H. E. Harman, Of Tazewell.
Eighteen flower bearers were sc
lected-six from Welch, six from
Grundy, and six from Tazewell.
Born In Burke's Garden.
Goorra w T Jitz Iuoc horn in Rurk n,