OCR Text |
Show CHINESE CHIEF BORNE TO THE GRAVE IN STATE Nover has Chinatown seen a more Imposing funeral procession than that which followed to tho grave Chow Qui Yot, president of tho Kong Chow asy-, him, tho oldest and richest of tho Six Companies, says tho San Francisco Chronlclo. Chow Qui Yet had beon a noted Canton Judgo, and wns called to San Francisco many months ago to servo a two years' term as head of the powerful Kong Chow asylum. Ho-sldo Ho-sldo the body stood numbors of brilliantly bril-liantly clad dolls In the dress of mandarins man-darins nnd court ladles, which wero to bo burned nt tho grave of tho great man, nnd thus accompany his spirit Into tho othor world thnt ho might bo attended by such bcrvants and friends as befitted his station. ' Tho room was filled with mourners In blue and white robes mingling with tho many visitors. Outside In a court thero was a glorious glori-ous feast wholo roasted pigs that might tempt tho nppotito of tho most spiritual ghost and cakes and other material delicacies to bo placed upon tho grave. When tho funeral procession started from tho houso It was preceded by a regulation American band, playing a classic dlrgo, behind the band wns a two horse trap, in which woro seated two mourners, bearing a hugo portrait of tho dead man wreathed in flowers. Then camo mourners In whlto robes, carrying lanterns of dark bluo and gold, and ono lofty red banner, which recited tho history of Chow Qui Yet nnd told what a remarkablo man ho had been. Then followed 'a group ot men beating upon fho tomtom in. a quaint and weird way, that, combined with tho dlrgo of tho band at tho head of the procession, proved trying to equestrian nerves along tho lino, of march to Chinatown. In the midst of this group wnlkcd the chief mourner on old man, bent nnd feoblo, tottering under tho weight ot tho Jnr of inconso ho bore. Behind him marched tho chiefs of tho Kong Chow ABjium, in tholr light bluo robes and black "caps, a striking body of stately men, none tUo less ImprobslVo becnuso tlioy carried umbrellas. A long lino of carriages In which sat bepurplcd and begllded dignitaries, dig-nitaries, and prominent Chlncsb merchants mer-chants In tho robes of mourning closed this unusual and lengthy fuucral procession. |