Rensselaer Union, Volume 8, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 January 1876 — A Japanese Military Funeral. [ARTICLE]

A Japanese Military Funeral.

One of the marines of the Japanese steamer Tsijkuba having died on Monday night, a Japanese funeral took place yesterday morning. It was the first of the kind ever held in the United States, and is worthy bf more than passing notice. At 6:30 o’clock yesterday morning the body teas conveyed to Vallejo-street wharf, in a cutter, which was towed by a steam-launch belonging to the Tsukuba. In accordance with the national custom the4t>ody rested in a box-shaped coffin, about two and a half feet high, covered with the national flag and surrounded by sixteen marines, ‘all in full dress and armed. Four officers in full-dress uniform were in the steam-launch. On reaching the boat-stairs tbe coffin w-as placed in the undertaker’s wagon and covered with the flag. The officers were placed in a carriage, while the marines occupied one of the Central Railroad cars.' On arriving at Cemetery avenue the marines, as a guard, preceded the copse and,on reaching the grave, formed in double line, througu which the coffin was borne. The coffin, which was covered with Japanese writing, was deposited in the grave, so that the corpse, which was in a sitting posture, faced toward the east. Three volleys of musketry were then tired and the grave filled up by the usual attendants. After this, an officer made an address to those present and the marines, taking the shovels, smoothed the grave over and made the sand into a square-shaped pile, resembling the coffin. On this pile each marine, with his sword, made sundry marks in the sand, which concluded the ceremonies. After a few minutes’ stay in the cemetery the marines formed in marching order and, preceded by a band composed of a drummer, titer and bugler, marched to the cars and proceeded to their ship’ Tlie funeral cortege on Cemetery avenue attracted the attention of many -citizens, who accompanied it to the grave. The ceremonies were conducted with great solemnity and every appearance of sincere respect to the dead. —San Francisco Chronicle.