THE LATE REV. W. D. RUSZ

Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1064, 18 April 1873, Page 2

THE LATE REV. W. D. RUSZ

"We extract from the Charleston Herald the following particulars of the death and burial of this unfortunate gentleman:— At the inquest held before T. Q> Macarthy, Esq., Deputy Coroner, on Tuesday, the Bth instant, the chief evidence given was that of Mi* M L. Browne, who deposed that having, ac-'/' cording to frequent custom, accompanied the deceased for a mofning bath in the Second Bay, they both plunged into the water .together, and Mr Browne saw him strike out appafently all safe for the beach. A few seconds afterwards the deceased cried out for help, and his companion turning towards him saw him seemingly flurried from a heavy sea rolling in. Mr Browne caught him by the arm, but he then seemed to have lost the power of swimming, and struggling wildly, he got his arm round Mr Browne's neck, and nearly rendered him powerless also. Mr Browne at last got free, and then again caught the drowning man by the arm, but just then three heavy seas broke over them, and the powerful drawback of water carried the deceased away seaward beyond all rescue. Mr Browne too exhausted to do more than keep himself afloat by paddling, was at last thrown on to the beach in about two feet of water, and there lying, unable to stand, he called as loud as ho could for assistance, and attracted the attention of Mr Jamea Brown, living opposite the Bay. Some other men soon assembled, and in the course of fifteen minutes or so the body of Mr Rusz was discovered washed up into a small bight of the beach. Mr James Brown jumped in and pulled him out and laid him resting on his knee. In hi* evidence at the inquest Mr Brown said " I thought there was life in him as his belly was heaving." He left the body to the care of some other men, and ran away for medical assistance, the men meanwhile doing the best they could to restore animation. When Dr Henry arrived the body was to all appearance lifeless, and the usual remedies adopted tailed in producing the slightest symptoms of resucitation. The jury returned a verdict of death by drowning, and a rider was added that the jurv considered Mr M. L. Browne had done all in his power to save the life of deceased. On the the following day the obsequies of the lamented deceased were attended by nearly the entire population in the district, the miners knocking off work, and the business people, whose shops had been partially closed throughout the two days, closing up altogether until after the' ceremony.

About ten muintes to four o'clock the Rev. Mr Flavell rode into town, having travelled hard from the moment he received the telegram informing him of the occurrence. At four o'clock the mournful tolling of the bell announced the commencement of the sad ceremony, and the church filled to overflowing, large numbers having to remain outside. The church presented a mournful aspect, the reading desk pulpit, communion table, communion rails and baptismal fount, being fuliy draped. The coffined body having been brought in, the service opened, being conducted by the Revs. Favell, and Soutar, both of whom were most visibly affected. Service commenced with the reading of the 90fch paslm by the Rev. Mr Flavell, after which the 333 rd hymn from Mercer's Hymn Book,

When I can read my title clear, was sang, Miss Armstrong presiding at the harmonium. Then was read the loth chapter of the Epistle to the Corinthians, commencing at the 20th verse, after which the Rev. Mr Flavell announced his inability, under the circumstances of his late arrival in town, and the sad occasion which called him there, to say anything re* lative to .the occurrence just then, but informed those present that a special

service would be field in the evening. ■After the rendering of another appropriate hymn, the 466 th,

Happy souls, thy days are ended,

The cortege started from the Church, and following the coffin as chief mourners were the Revs. Flavell and Parkin, Dr Giles, Resident Magistrate and Warden, and Dr Henry, J. P. The order of procession then was the Sunday School Children, the Churchwardens and Vestrymen, the Oddfellows, the Forester's (each without regalia) and then others of the populace. The poeession was about a quarter of a mile long, and must have contained from 400 to 600 people. .Not a few ladies also followed aside of the procession to the cemetery. The burial took place in the newly selected cemetery, of which, strangely enough, the deceased gentlemen was one of the selectors a week or two since, the occasion being the burial of a child. At the grave the funeral service Was conducted by the Rev. Mr Soutar. In the evening the Church was crowded to excess, and after the Litany had been read, and a hymn sung, the Rev. Mr Flavell delivered a very eloquent and affecting sermon, his text being taken from the sixteenth chapter of St. John's Gospel, the latter part of the 32 ad verse,' The Father is with me," in the course of which he referred in affectionate terms to his late friend, and his mother and sisters who are at present dwelling in London. No need is there for further referance to the respect in which the deceased gentleman was held by all classes of the community;; that respect was personally testified to on Wednesday, on the occasion of the funeral ceremony. As a scholar, the deceased gentleman stood high in classics, having taken high honors at King's "College, London, for Hebrew, Greek, and we believe Mathematics. As a Hebrew scholar he was, by bra brother clergy, admitted to be the best in the Diocese.

The Vestry of St. Mark's, at its meeting on Thursday passed a vote •expressive of condolence to the deceased's mother, Mrs Eusz, at the loss •of her only living son. Her exceeding sorrow may be soothed in knowing and hearing of the respect which was shown to him in life, the sincere-sorrow expressed for bis untimely and sudden death, and the consciousness that he led an honorable, true and sincerely ■christian life.