Three Boys Drowned on a Raft of Logs, and a City Mourns

The funeral services over the remains of Louis F. Blanchard, Albert Birkel and Willie Birkel, who were drowned in the harbor last Tuesday afternoon while playing on a boom of logs, were held yesterday afternoon at 2 o'clock. The services over Blanchard were at the Church of Our Lady of Good Help, and those of the Birkel boys at the Atlantic house, corner of Washington and Commercial streets. In both cases the interments were in Lake View cemetery.

The remains of the Blanchard boy were taken from the family home in the Squire-Latimer block to the church a short time before 2 o'clock, and when Father commenced the services the church was well filled with people. Flowers fairly covered the white casket and the floor about it. There were many set pieces and numerous bouquets. After the services the remains were taken to the cemetery in a white hearse drawn by white horses. The interment was in Mrs. Celia Mitchell's private lot. Mrs. Mitchell was a great friend of the boy, and it was her special wish that she should name the place where his remains should lie. The pallbearers were Joseph Tredeau, John Lane, Peter Fountain, Arthur Scullin, Frank Sildel and James Valentine.

The services over the remains of the Birkel boys commenced at the same hour and were conducted by Rev. John F. Damon. The house was crowded with people and the streets outside were almost blocked. The flowers were enough to have filled a park alone.

In his remarks Mr. Damon dwelt on the sad fate that had robbed a loving father and mother of two bright, promising boys, and spoke feelingly of the heroism of Albert Birkel and Blanchard in trying to save Willie Birkel's life. He spoke of a pathetic incident in Willie's life. In January, Charles Hubert, ex-city treasurer of San Francisco, died in this city and some wreaths were being made for the funeral services. Willie was very little then, and a slender voice piped up, saying that when he died he wanted some "wreaths just like them." His wish was complied with yesterday, and Mr. Damon spoke of it in a feeling manner. The pallbearers were: Harry Soper, Joseph C. Cameron, Willie Gatz, Jacob Close, Paul Hink, John Perkin, Robert Lockhart and Robert Anthony.