A PUGILIST'S FUNERAL.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2218, 25 September 1886, Page 2 (Supplement)

A PUGILIST'S FUNERAL.

Recently a very singular scene was witnessed in. Bethhal-greeu by reason of a funeral of " Bill " Richardson, the once celebrated pugilist. As a consequence of the fame of the deceased atnoog a certain class, a large and motley conoourse assembled in the neighbourhood of the hostelry in which Richardson died. For fully an hour before the departure of the cortege, mutes were stationed at the doors, and cabs, omnibuses, costers' carts, waggonettes, &c, stood in line in the by-streets. The funeral arrangements were of a most elaborate description, the body beiue: encased in a massive oak coffin, with heavy brass furniture, and borne to the grave in an open hearse, heavily plumed and drawn by half-a-dozen horseh, also velvoted and plumed. Then followed four mourning coaches and pairs, with velvets and plumes?, and next the most miscellaneous collection of horses, vehicles, and o- cupants that could be imagined. The indications of mourning ! by the partial closing of shops were numerous, but in the fuueral procession people appeared to be determined not to be denied participation in tho event by the lack of mourning habiliments. Coloured ribbons, indeed, wero almost; as numerous as blaok. It was generally estimated whou tho procession moved oft for Abnoy-piu-k oometery there wore at least 20,000 people present and a close line of vehicles nosulya mile in extent.— Lloyd's JNovreftaitor,