Procession After Procession Moves Along the Streets, and Hearses Are Common Sight – Bodies Sent From Town
“Darker and darker
The black shadows fall;
Sleep and oblivion
Reign over all.”
All morning hearses and cabs moved through the streets of Canonsburg; all morning the mourners went about the streets while the rain fell in a steady downpour.
It was the day set for burying the dead, and it was a sacred day. The business interests recognized it as such, and many stores closed at 10 o’clock, to remain closed until late in the afternoon.
Throughout the whole forenoon the deep tolling of the bell in St. Patrick’s church sounded throughout the town. For a while during the early part of the day it seemed as if there was nothing in town but funerals, for hearses, some of them white, were going or coming from houses where the dead lay or had lain. Death had passed over our home town, and those who survived were engaged in tenderly laying away the bodies of dear ones.
There were too many funeral processions for any one to attract any particular attention, and the steadily falling rain prevented the gathering of curious crowds in the streets.
High mass was held this morning at 8 o’clock at St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic church by the Rev. Father James H. Gilmore of Washington, assistant pastor of the Church of the Immaculate Conception of Washington, for Mary Ann Laird Campbell, aged 45, and her daughter, Annie, aged 8 years. Father Gilmore said that all should be prepared for death and that the greatest kindness the friends could do was to pray for the souls of those who had perished. After the service the burial of the mother and daughter was made in St. Patrick’s cemetery, north of town.
Three services were held at 10 o’clock. The services for the two babies of Mr. and Mrs. Wilmer Lane were held at the home of the uncle, Charles Neely, in South Jefferson avenue and were conducted by the Rev W. P. Aikin, assisted by the Rev. W. B. Smiley, D. D. the caskets containing the bodies of the babies, Carl aged 2 ½ years, and Margaret aged four months, were arranged in a semi circle with the casket of Mrs. Charles Young, their aunt. No music was used on account of the nervousness of Mrs. Lane, who attended part of the service and the general trend of Rev. Aikin’s address was on the subject, “Suffer the little children to come unto Me.”
Requiem high mass was conducted for Margaret Gibb, 6 year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Gibb of East College street, at St. Patrick’s by Rev. Father Thomas Zachasrki, pastor of the church. The church was crowded and besides two large floral pieces was a wagon load of flowers contributed by different societies. The bearers were little girls, clothed entirely in white, who had celebrated their first communion with Margaret Gibb. Burial was made in St. Patrick’s cemetery after service.
George Owen Cole was buried in Oak Spring cemetery this morning at 10 o’clock without a song and without a service. Nearly unknown, Cole, a Welshman and without friends or funds, was given a decent burial by means of the liberality of the employees of the Continental Can company, where he had worked. Cole had lived at the home of Walter Jones, 154 East College street, and it was mainly through Mr. Jones’ efforts that sufficient funds were raised to enable a fitting disposition of the body. Monday evening a number of Cole’s fellow workmen viewed the body at Hopper brothers’ morgue.
The Rev. Herbert F. Loomis, pastor of the First Baptist church, conducted the funeral service for Sidney at the home near the plant of the Canonsburg iron and Steel works. The service was held at 10 o’clock and music, consisting of several hymns was furnished by the choir of the Baptist church. Rev. Loomis spoke and said that while the disaster had been terrible, he believed that good would come of it, that human life would be valued higher and that more sympathy toward one another would be shown. Burial was made at Oak Spring cemetery.