ll7 
     
    
   
   
    
     pallbearers. 
     
    

    
     At the cemetery burials were much 
     
     more insensitive than they are today. 
     
     The artificial turf that covers the 
     
     gravesite today was not used. The coffin 
     
     was placed over the open grave on two or 
     
     three wooden slats. Draped under the 
     
     casket, and extending out several feet on 
     
     each side, were three long canvas straps. 
     
     When the slats were removed, the weight 
     
     then rested on the straps, which the 
     
     pallbearers held. The six men manually 
     
     lowered the coffin into the grave, often 
     
     unsteadily. The cover of the rough-board 
     
     box, in which the casket then rested, was 
     
     put in place. Then the pallbearers began 
     
     to shovel the rocky earth into the grave. 
     
     This was all carried out as the grieving 
     
     family members slowly moved away to 
     
     wend their way home