BACK FROM THE WAR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2474, 14 August 1901, Page 27

BACK FROM THE WAR.

DEATH OF A RETURNED TROOPER.

Trooper Hoenan, of the fourth contingent, died at the Dunedin Hospital at 3 a.m. on Wednesday, thus adding to the somewhat lengthy list of deaths of those who left Scuth Africa for New Zealand by th 6 The deceased trooper was a son of Mr D. Heenan, an ©lcl and well-knowr-citizen. Trooper Heenan underwent ar operation, irfiilo the Tas*us was at AlbanyOn arrival at Dunedin he was found to b« suffering from an abscess on the liver. He was again - operated upon, and though foi a time he appeared to be making progres towards recovery, his strength gradually sapped away, and he died on Wednesday morning. THE FtTNERAX. The funeral of the late Trooper Heenan tool place on Sunday afternoon. Trooper Heenai was a son of Mr D. Heenan, an old and r« j spected citizen, and underwent an operatios ! on board the Tagus at Albany. On arriving at .Dunedin it was found that he was suffering from an abscess tin the liver, and he was again operated upon, and, though for a time he .»pi peared to be making progress towards recovery, | he gradually sank and died in the Hospital early on Thursday morning. Long before the J time appointed for the funeral procession to leave the residence of the deceased's father in Cumberland street on Sunday orowds had as- ' sembled to see the remains of the young man conveyed to their last resting place in the Northern Cemetery, and at the time the cortega moved off there must have been several thqu- - sand persons in the vicinity. In the van of the procession came the firing party, consisting of r a sergeant, a corporal, and 12 men of the North Dunedin Rifles with arms reversed, and following was the^ Garrison Band with signs of mourning upon their instruments. The gun carriage bearing, the coffin, covered with the 1 Union Jack, upon which were heaped many | beautiful wreaths, the gifts of many friends I and sympathisers, was next in the order of prpl cession, and in the rear of it came some of thg-.relatives and more intimate friends of the family. Returned members of the contingents turned out ih strong fore» to assist in the sad ' ceremony of burying their: old comrade, there being over 50 of them among the following. As a mourning coach and two or three private closed carriages, which were known to contain the sorrowing members of the family, passed along, glances of genuine sympathy could be detected upon the faces of the thousands of onlookers, and it was noticeable that m the carriages were a largo number of wreaths of great beauty. The volunteers, who had lined the streets to keep the crowd back, fell in, two deep, behind the carriages, and a large body of the general public, at the head of which was the Mayor (Mr G-. L. Denniston), and Brigade-surgeon Lieutenantcolonel de Lautour brought up the iear. The procession altogether was a .very long one as it marched sadly and slowly along Cumberland street to the strains of the "Dead March" played by the band. On reaching the gates of the cemetery the coffin was borne from the gun carriage on the shoulders of six members of the fourth and fifth contingents to the grave, where already lay other members of the family, and prayers were read by the Rev. Father Murphy. The service, though short, was solemn and impressive, and was listened to in perfect silence by the crowd gathered about the space kept clear by the Dunedin Naval Brigade, who had taken up a. position round the grave previous to the arrival of the funeral train. On tho completion of the church service by the Rev. Father, the firing party, which had been stationed close to the grave, fired three rounds of blank ammunition over the grave, the bugles lang out, and the crowd that had"been standing .reverently by moved quietly away conversing in subdued tones, piobably about the sad end of the young soldier who had bravely sacrificed his life to his country's cavise.

The volunteers assembled in very large num. beis as will be seen from the paiade state, v.'hich was as follows . —

District staff. Brigade-surgeon Lieutenantcolonel de Lautour, JMpjor Beal (in charge), Lieutenant Robertson, Staff-sergeant-majoi Taylor. Officers of contingents returned fiorn South Africa: Captam N!cols.oi., Lieutenants M'Millan and Macdonald.

Dunedm Garrison Band- 1 bandmaster, J. drum-major, 2 colovtr-sergear.ts, 1 sergeant, 22 bandsman; — total, 27.

Dunedin Navals: 1 captpin. 2 lieutenants, 2 colour sergeants, 4 sergeants, 71 rank and file ; —total, 80. Port Chalmers Xavals 1 sergeant, 7 rank and file; — total, 8 B Batteiy. 3 seigeants, 33 rank and file, — total, 36. Dunedin Engineer" 1 captain, 3 lieutenants, 1 colour-sergeant, 3 sergeants, 79 rank and file,— total, 87. Dunedin City Guards • 1 lieutenant, 1 colourseigeant, 2 sergeants, 22 rank and file, — total, 16 Xorth. Dunedm Rifles. 2 lieutenant I*.1 *. 1 colowrseigepnt, 3 =erec *iits, 44 rank and lilc . —total, 50. Dunedin Highland Rifles 1 sergeant, 21 rajik aud file,- total, 22. Dunedin City Rifles 1 lieutenant, 3 sergeant*, 27 rank and file, — total, 11. Dnuedin Rifles 1 lieutenant, 3 sergeants, 23 rank and file, — total, 27. Wakan Rifles- 1 captain, 1 lieutenant, 1 coloiir-sergeant, 4 sergeants, 44 rank and hie. — ■ tctal, 51. . Civerstiam Rifles 2 sergeants, 24 rank and file,— total, 26. Dunedin Cycle Corps 2 lieutenants, 1 coluraergeant, 1 seigeairt, 12 r?nk and file,— total, 16. Dunedin Bearer Corps 2 seigeant-,, 30 rai.k and file,— total, 32 Dunedin Engineer Cadets, (m charge of Lieutenant Ro«s) 2 ccloui-bergeaiits, 1 tii-gciits, 04 unk and file, — total, 7(T High School Cadets 1 c.iptß'n, 1 lieutenant, i 1 colom -sergeant, 3 sergeant*. 31 rank and hie, I —total, 37. I Returned contingent meii'bets. 1 caiiUiii*. 8

lieutenants, 2 colour-sergeants, 3 sergeants, 4S tic-opers; — total, 51. (rra-nd total on parade. 679.