Strange Times 116: Death Halts a Funeral

Strange Times is a newsletter that explores the weirdest news of 1921, one day at a time. If you like it, you will probably like Westside Saints, my latest Jazz Age mystery novel, as well.

Today brings a sole story of tragedy in Chicago. Narrowly predecease your beloved on…

April 26, 1921

• With Georgia helpless to deal with peonage, lynching, and other cases of cruelty to its Black population, it is rumored the state may invite federal help to reign in this lawless bigotry.

• After declaring his university “a hotbed of Bolshevism, Communism and other cults,” the President of Valparaiso University resigns his position.

• Despite an encounter with “a huge fish,” the speedboat Gar II. Jr. is eleven minutes ahead of the Havana Special train in their race to New York City as they pass Savannah.

• The Weather: Fair and Warmer today; Wednesday unsettled, probably thunder showers; fresh south winds.

This story is equal parts sweet and sad, like a terrible cake.

CHICAGO, April 25.—While mourners were going to Oakwood Cemetery today bearing the body of Israel P. Rumsey, of Lako Forest, a messenger stopped them. He had come from the bedside of the widow and a consultation of her physicians and he brought the message:

“Mrs. Rumsey can live but a few hours.”

The relatives decided that the aged man and his wife should be buried together.

The hearse was turned, the coffin was borne into the house, the candles about it were lighted.

Mrs. Rumsey died soon afterward. She will be buried on Wednesday with her husband.

The Rumseys were married on June 12, 1867, when Mr. Rumsey was 34 years old. He had fought through the Civil War, had been made a captain for bravery at the siege of Vicksburg, and had founded the firm of J.P. & J.W. Rumsey. His bride was Miss Mary M. Axtell.

Frequently during their married life of more than fifty years both had said their wish was to die together. Both became ill a few days ago. The husband died on Friday. Mrs. Rumsey was then unconscious and did not know of his death. She had been suffering from pneumonia.