The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1922-02-22
PASSES AWAY LIKE
FALLING ASLEEP
COLONEL w. ID. HUMPHREYS,
CROWNED WITH HONOR
AND YEARS, Is NO MORE
PASSED ON MONDAY
No Pain, No Struggle, Marked
His GOing.-Falls Into Eter-
nal Slumber As Babe
Going To Sleep.

It is tragically pathetic how thin
the "thin gray line is becoming.
Sixty years ago the most maguIfc-
ent body of fighting men the world
ever saw went upon the battlefield
to defend the principle Of the rights
Of Individual states.
Histories written by northern men
will tell you that the Confederate
soldiers fought to keep the negro in
slavery. But this is not true They
fought for the rights, the indcpend-
ence, the integrity, the sover-
eighty of the separate states of the
South. Fair-minded men, welI-in-
formed men, know full we'll the causes
that led up to the Civil War. The
story need not be repeated.
Today this splendid body Of sol
diers has been so decinated by the
ravages Of death that it is tenderly
and sorrowfully referred to as ''The
Thin Gray Line"
Colonel William d. Humphries,
crowned with honor and we'll stricken
in years, possessing in unstinted
measure the love Of his comrades and
the respect Of his countrymen, fell
asleep at $3.50 o'clock Monday night
and is numbered no more among the
sons Of men.
Colonel Humphries, when the morn
ing of the first day Of the new year
dawned, was apparently as well as a
man of his years could expect to be.
In fact, he was much stronger bright
er and more active than men of
eighty-seven usually are. He was liv-
ing on borrowed time, and on spirit.
January fifth his sister died. Eight
days later Captain Pope died. The
passing of his sister and his loved
eomradc broke his spirit and he be-
gan to fail Steadily, surely, day aft
er day, he declined until the end
came.
Monday night, as Mrs. Richard
Bradley and Mr.. Billups Harris sat
by his side, he fell asleep. Slower
and slower were the inbaIations and
until the tired heart ceas-
ed to beat, The splendid spirit Of
Colonel William d. Humphries went
out through the night, into the light,
to re-ioin his sister, Captain Pope,
General Sykes, and all his loved ones
who before him had gone on the long
journey that brings good men and
good women into the joys Of eternal
life.
William d. Humphries was born in
Alabama, but lived in Columbus al
most his entire life. The date Of
his birth was November II, 1895. Had
he lived until the twelfth Of next
he would have been eighty
seven years Of age.
One Sunday morning, a couple Of
years ago, the present editor Of the
Dispatch and its editor at that time,
Hon. Percy W. Maer, were sitting
at the front Of the office in CONVERSE
ton, when Colonel William d. Hum
phries passed by on his way to the
Presbyterian Church, Of which, for
many years, he was a ievout member.
Mr.. Maer looked at the patriarch ad.
and said: There lives to-
lay no higher type Of the truly
Southern gentleman than
Colonel Humphries."
Colonel Humprics was loved. re-
,peeted and admired by all our peo-
lle. When he stated a proposition,
III who knew him knew that be spoke
he truth. In every relation Cf life he
.vcr lived up % all that might be cx-
lected Of a citizen and soldier OF tho
south. In his passing, not only Coz
umbus, not orly the Magnolia state,
.ut the entire South sustai1s an ir-
eparab,c loss.
Funeral services were L.ld yestcr-
ay afternoon at $3.50 at the First
Presbyterian Church. conducted bv
he Rev Jesse G.. Rowan. a large
0ncoursc of sa5dered. sorrowing
elativcs ard friends assembled Co pay
tribute 0f respect to the memory
{ this noble man. The Confederate
eterars and the Daughters Of tho
attended In a body
At Friendship Cemetery. before the
.sket was consigned To the grave. a
lk Confederate battle faz was af-
placed over the aucs
art that for So long bad throbhci
th tender, patriotic and sympathe-
emotions When tire mound bad
en- formed. and had been compllte-
covered Win beaurIrll rorll otter
Is. another Confederate battle flag
is placed Cn the grave
The pau-bearcrs were Messrs Z. r..
ayfeld. J.. T.. Wood. Thos. Harris.
T. sanford S. b. Street. Sr- Prank
Phillips, John +. Frierson. y. T.
arcy and Charles c. Bu61r.
The flower committee was couu1s-
~vt--