San Antonio Light
September 21, 1883

LAID TO REST
The Remains of August Siemering are Follwed to the Grave by Many Friends

Dr. B.E. Hadra and Ex-Judge Devine Pay Fitting Tributes to the Life and Character of the Deceased.

The remains of the late August Siemering, editor of the Freie Presse, were yesterday consigned to Mother Earth, and the procession to the grave, notwithstanding the inclement weather, was very large. Men of all shades of political and religious principles were there to do honor to the deceased, and it is no figure of speech to say that many hearts were there sticken with sorrow at the death of the verteran journalist. When the friends assembled at the late residence of the deceased on North street, they found the mortal remains of the dead enclosed in a handsome metallic casket, which bore a tablet inscribed, "Rest in Pease," and was covered with floral tributes of affection. Looking into the coffin they saw the attenuated features of the deceased bearing the outward indication of suffering, and yet, withal, there was a placid look, as though the tired man was simply resting from his labors. At the appointed signal the pall bearers, G. H. Noonan, Judge of the District court, ex-Judge Jacob Waelder, Colonel G. W. Brackenridge, Frank Price, editor of the Express, H. Hauschke, B. J. Mauermann, W. Seffel, C. H. Guenther, C. H. Mueller, J. B. Lacoste and H. Barbeck took the places by the side of the casket and bore it to the hearse. The cortege followed, among whom were delegates from the Volksfest association, Casino association, Turner Verein, Arbeiter Verein, and the Beethoven Maennerchor. On wouded the procession to the city cemetery, where the mourners alighted and the hearse was borne to the grave by the pall bearers, as the Beethoven Maennerchor effectively sang the Scollechen Maennershor (Scottish bards chorus). When the was done Dr. B. Hadra delivered in German a eulogy of the life, character and abilities of the deceased, no nauseous flattery, but a tribute that he had merited. Then ex-Judge Devine, who was much affected, followed in English, in which he said it had been his pleasure to have been the deceased's friend from his arrival in the city until the day of his death, although their views widely differed. The dead was a man of strong convictions and had the courage to express those opinions. He spoke freely of the deceased's life as a judge and as a journalist, and said that in his case the proverb "a prophet is not without honor save in his own county," had not been exemplified, for he had achieved success here as a journalist and it was considered that he had few equals and no superiors in the State. His life had been active and useful, and since he had made this country his home he had labored for the welfare of the people. In consigning his body to the grave all could say: "Well done thy good and faithful servant." The sorrow sticken friends could find reflection in his honorable career which would be fondly remembered when the flowers on the casket had faded, and the grass took the place on the sod above his grave.

The casket was then lowered into the grave and the Beethoven Maennerchor sang "Under the boughs of the tree there is rest." Then the friends took a last look into the grave, it was filled up, and a heap decorated with flowers alone indicated the resting place of the dead. Dead, it is true, in one sense, but such men live long after vitality ceases, for their works and recollections keep them alive in the hearts of their friends and in the memory of the people.