Joplin Woman Discovers
Newspaper Printed in January, 1800.
By Associated Press.
JOPLIN, MO., February 26_ A newspaper account of the funeral
of George Washington was uncovered here recently by Mrs. E. H.
Coats of this city when she found a copy of the Ulster County
Gazette, published at Kingston, Ulster County, N. Y., January
4, 1800, in which the story of the funeral was printed. The paper
was discovered in an old trunk containing family heirlooms and
gives the following description of the funeral:
"In the long and lofty portico where oft the hero walked
in all his glory, now lay the shrouded corpse. The countenance,
still composed and serene, seemed to depress the dignity of the
spirit which lately dwelt in the lifeless form. There those who
paid the last honors to the benefactor of his country took an
impressive farewell view.
"On the ornament of the head of the coffin was inscribed,
'Surge de J___ cum'; about the middle of the coffin, 'Gloria Deo'
and the silver plate, 'Gen. George Washington. Departed this life
on the 14th day of December, 1799.'
" Between 3 and 4 o'clock the sound of artillery from a vessel
in the river, firing minute guns, awake afresh our solemn sorrow;
the body was removed - a band of music with solemn melody melted
the soul into all tenderness of woe."
Then follows a long descriptive of the procession, in which Washington's
horse with his saddle, holsters and pistols followed the casket,
which was mounted on an artillery wagon.
Continuing, the article states: " When the procession had
arrived at the bottom of the elevated lawn, on the bank of the
Potomac, where the family vault is placed, the calvary halted,
the infantry marched toward the mount and formed their lines_the
clergy, the Masonic brothers and the citizens descended to the
vault and the funeral of the church was performed. The firing
was repeated from the vessel in the river and the sounds echoed
from the woods and the hills around.
"Three general discharges by the infantry, the calvary and
eleven pieces of artillery which lined the bank of the Potomac
back of the vault paid the last tribute to the entombed commander-
in- chief of the armies of the United States and the departed
hero.
( The last paragraph is torn) In part: "will triumph
in faith unclouded brightness ____
glory will illuminate the future for us."
Found Washington's history tucked away with family obits that
was saved by my Grandmother's sister, Elizabeth Simmons Kerley.
It was a point of interest and no kinship involved. The date of
the reprint is 1921.
What a comparison with our communications today! It took about
two weeks for this news report to be printed in N. Y. We have
instant access to any major event any place via of the media today.