Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 112, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 May 1911 — MERLE J. HOPKINS BURIED BY MILITIA COMRADES. [ARTICLE]

MERLE J. HOPKINS BURIED BY MILITIA COMRADES.

Officers and Soldiers Come from Mon* ticello and Pay Last Tribute of Respect to Him. Merle J. Hopkins, 22 years of age, son of Mr. and Mrs. Homer Hopkins, of Monticello, and grandson of Mrs. Mary J. Hopkins, of thi« city, who was »ccidently killed early Monday morning while trying to alight from a fast moving train at the crossing of the Monon railroad and Massachusetu avenue in Indianapolis,-was buried in Rensselaer today, Thursday. The funeral was conducted at the residence of the grandmother on River street .and was under the charge of Rev. C. L. Harper, pastor of Trinity M. E. church. A quartette composed of Mrs. J. W. Medicus, Mrs. E. C. English. J. D. Allman and Dr. H. L. Brown, furnished the music. Several members of Company C, of the 3rd regiment of infantry of the Indiana National Guard, including Captain Edward G. Davis and Second Lieutenant Everett L. Gardner, came here to attend the funeral. They were uniformed and assisted by a squad from the local company, the buria' being made a military ceremony. Cap--tain Davis and Lieutenant Gardner acted as flowed bearers, the pallbearers were members of the deceased young man’s command and the remainder of the soldiers formed an escort to the cemetery. There a salute of three volleys was fired over the grave' and Lieutenant Gardner, who was formerly the regimental trumpeter, sounded "taps,” an honor paid to faithful soldier dead. X No further particulars of" the sad death have been learned. His sudden taking away has been a great grief to his parents, to his brother, his grandmother and other relatives He was a light hearted boy, full of life and vigor and was universally liked. There were a number of floral offerings, including gifts from the local militia company and his own company Some two years ago he came to Rensselaer with Jim Deggerman, of Wolcott, and George Simonds, of Monticello, both of whom were engaged in making ballon ascensions. He traveled with them to several points and made one or two ascensions himself but withdrew from the business at the earnest desire of his mother, who feared for his safety. Both Deggerman and Simonds were here to attend the funeral. Burial was made in Weston cemetery.