Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2017 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Alton (Illinois) Telegraph Thursday, January 17, 1884 REQUIESCAT IN PACE. Burial of the Victims of the Belleville Fire Impressive Ceremonies - The Largest Funeral Ever Held in Belleville - Over Forty Clergymen Participate. BELLEVILLE, Ill., Jan. 10. - The funeral of Mother Superior MARY JEROME and her co-laborers, SISTER ANGELIA, SISTER MODERATA and SISTER EDWINA, and two pupils, Misses GERTRUDE STRUNCK of Duquoin, Ill., and KATIE URBANA of Vandalia, Ill., who per- ished in the convent fire here on the night of January 5, took place yesterday from St. Peter's Church to Green Mount cemetery. The bodies, or what was left of them, were conveyed to St. Peter's church Wednesday evening, where they lay in state until 10 o'clock yesterday morning, when the church funeral ceremonies took place. Up to 10 o'clock Wed- nesday night and from early break of day Thursday morning till the time set for the funeral, the Church was continually thronged with people of all classes and conditions, who came to look upon the coffins, for that was all that could be seen or that one would desire to look at. The coffins con- tained the charred remains of the unfortunate victims. The morning trains brought in large numbers of the clergy from this diocese and from St. Louis, as well as people from St. Louis, Alton, East St. Louis and the various villages in this and Madison county. Some 75 sisters of the same order to which the dead sisters belonged, came from St. Louis and were present in the church during the services. SERVICES AT THE CHURCH By 10 o'clock the large church was filled, every seat being crowded and the aisles the same, and it was estimated that between 4,000 and 5,000 people were in the church during the entire service, which lasted two hours. On the left side of the main aisle and in front sat the seventy-five sisters from St. Louis. On the right side of the aisle about twenty seats were occupied by the relatives of the dead, and the members of the city council occupied the head of the aisle. Others accommodated themselves as best they could in the crowded church, except the clergy, who all had seats inside of the altar railing and directly in front of it. The clergy numbered forty-five, and all took part in some portions of the sad and impressive ceremonies. The tolling of the church bell announced that the time for the services had arrived, and though the church was filled, thousands were on the out- side, unable to get in, and there they remained until the two hours' services were finished and the procession had formed. Before the mass was begun the office of the dead was chanted in the most solemn manner by the entire clergy. THE BISHOP IN CHARGE Then commenced the celebration of the pontifi- cal requiem mass, which was most impressive and solemn throughout, the music by the choir being not the least impressive. Rt. Rev. Bishop I. J. BALTES, of Alton, officiated in person, the assistant priest being Very Rev. J. JANSSEN, vicar-general of the diocese. Deacons of honor were Rev. Father CASSIDY of Alton, and Father PIEKE of Mascoutah; officiating deacon, Very Rev. P. J. O'HALLORAN of East St. Louis; sub-deacon, Rev. JAMES GOUGH of Belleville; master of ceremonies, Father Innocent, O. S. F., St. Louis, assisted by Rev. CHARLES GEIER of Vandalia. The pontifical requiem was celebrated in all its grandeur. The following priests were also present and participated in the services: Rev. Father ABBELON, chaplain of mother house, Notre Dame sisters, Milwaukee; Rev. Father KLOECKER, Duquoin, Ill.; Rev. Father KOENIG, East St. Louis; Rev. Father LUCAS, O. S. B., Belleville; Rev. Father STEPHEN, O. S. B., Rev. Father KAERSTING, Highland; Rev. Father MECKEL, Highland; Rev. Father CIPRIAN, O. S. F., guardian of St. Anthony, St. Louis; Very Rev. J. JANSSEN, V. G. of Alton; Rev. H. GESENHULS of Bethalto; Rev. A. WIRDSCHERESK; Freeburg; Rev. F. BOUSE, of Trenton; Father CLUSE of Germantown; Rev. DEGENHART, Collins- ville; Rev. SWITZLER of Alton; Rev. KEMPEN of Fayetteville; Rev. KRUG of Pinckneyville; Rev. Urban RADOM; Rev. PETER, O. S. F., Effingham. The St. Louis priests present were: Vicar General MUEHLSTEPEN, Father GOLLER of St. Peter and Paul's, Father ETTEN of St. Joseph's, Father FAERBER of St. Mary's, Father McLAUGHLIN of St. Malachy's, Father GROLL of St. Peter and Paul's, Father HOEYUCK of St. Liborius, Father SCHILLING of Mary of Perpetual Help, Father WILLENBRINK of St. Bernard's, Father SCHAGE of St. Agatha's and Father REIS of St. Liborius. They held lighted candles in their hands, and from time to time took part by chanting, and this greatly tended to make the scene sad, solemn and impressive. Near the close of the services, Rev. CHARLES JOSEPH ZWIESLER, Rector of the Cathedral at Alton, ascended the pulpit, and in a clear voice delivered the English ser- mon of the occasion in an eloquent and touching manner. He was listened to with the deepest interest, and at times there was not a dry eye in the sacred edifice. After Father ZWIESLER closed, Rev. Father GOLLER, of St. Peter and Paul's church, St. Louis, delivered a sermon in German, which was also an able and eloquent one and made a deep impression. THE PROCESSION After this the church services were finished and then the people moved out of the church and the procession for the cemetery was formed. At the head walked two members of the police force. Then came FATHER GOUGH dressed in his robes carrying the holy cross, assisted by an acolyte on each side. The came the parochial school of boys numbering about 250 or 300. Then the girls' parochial school of 200 girls. Then the ladies' sodality of 150 members. Then St. Peter's Benevo- lent society of 300 members in regalia. Then the Orphans' society, men, and youths, of about 250 in number. Then lodge 125, Catholic Knights of America. Then officiating priests, twelve in number, BISHOP BALTES among them, and in car- riages. Then the hearse containing the remains of the Mother Superior. Then two hearses contain- ing the remains of the other three sisters. Then a white hearse containing the remains of Miss URBANA. Then a hearse containing the remains of Miss STRUNCK. On each side of each of the hearses were three young ladies on foot. Then seven car- riages with sisters of the Order of Notre Dame. Then ten carriages containing priests other than those who officiated. Then the mayor and city council on foot, they having given up their carriages to the sisters. Then came a number of carriages and other vehicles, which numbered over 100, and there would have been many more if they could have been obtained. The funeral cor- tege started from the church, went north on Race street to main, thence east on Main past the pub- lic square and to the eastern suburbs, where the Mascoutah road was taken, and after a march of three and a half miles the beautiful Green Mount cemetery was reached, where the interment took place in graves set apart for them. AT THE CEMETERY The usual ceremonies took place at the graves, they being conducted by Rev. Father ABBELEN, chap- lain of the Mothers house of Notre Dame at Milwau- kee, officiating, and the remains of the unfortu- nate victims were left at rest. The streets all along the route, through the city, were crowded with people, and it was probably the saddest day Belleville ever saw. In many of the stores busi- ness was suspended and flags on several buildings were at half-mast. It was 4 o'clock when the cortege reached the city again, and the out-going evening trains were crowded with those who had been in attendance upon the funeral. On next Sunday the supposed remains of the Misses BAILEY, HORN, two SCALINGS, PLOUDRE, BIEN, SCHLERNITZAUER, STOCK and PEARSON will be interred in one coffin, in the same cemetery, and by the side of those interred yesterday, and a monument will be erected to their memory. DIGGING IN THE RUINS The work of searching the convent ruins for the remains of more victims was finished at 11 o'clock yesterday, no more remains being found. The loss of life is, as stated, twenty-six, with seventeen identified and nine unidentified. These will all be buried on Sunday. A small bank and a bracelet were found under the study-room yesterday, which have been identified by MR. BAILEY as the property of his lost daughter. A gold chain and locket were also found yesterday in the ruins, which were identified by MR. SCALING as the property of his daughter AGNES. Also a piece of dress was found which MR. SCALING decided was of that worn by his daughter MAMIE. The remains of the two SCALING girls and Miss BAILEY have not been identified. There will some more searching among the ruins for lost jewelry, etc., but no more human remains are expected to be found. The coroner's jury did little yesterday except to take the testimony of a couple of sisters, who came up to attend the funeral, but who were in the convent on the night of the fire. Their testimony sheds no new light on the affair. ==========================================================================